1
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Li F, Xu L, Li C, Hu F, Su Y. Immunological role of Gas6/TAM signaling in hemostasis and thrombosis. Thromb Res 2024; 238:161-171. [PMID: 38723521 DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2024.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
The immune system is an emerging regulator of hemostasis and thrombosis. The concept of immunothrombosis redefines the relationship between coagulation and immunomodulation, and the Gas6/Tyro3-Axl-MerTK (TAM) signaling pathway builds the bridge across them. During coagulation, Gas6/TAM signaling pathway not only activates platelets, but also promotes thrombosis through endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells involved in inflammatory responses. Thrombosis appears to be a common result of a Gas6/TAM signaling pathway-mediated immune dysregulation. TAM TK and its ligands have been found to be involved in coagulation through the PI3K/AKT or JAK/STAT pathway in various systemic diseases, providing new perspectives in the understanding of immunothrombosis. Gas6/TAM signaling pathway serves as a breakthrough target for novel therapeutic strategies to improve disease management. Many preclinical and clinical studies of TAM receptor inhibitors are in process, confirming the pivotal role of Gas6/TAM signaling pathway in immunothrombosis. Therapeutics targeting the TAM receptor show potential both in anticoagulation management and immunotherapy. Here, we review the immunological functions of the Gas6/TAM signaling pathway in coagulation and its multiple mechanisms in diseases identified to date, and discuss the new clinical strategies that may generated by these roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanshu Li
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital & Beijing Key Laboratory for Rheumatism Mechanism and Immune Diagnosis (BZ0135), Beijing, China
| | - Liling Xu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital & Beijing Key Laboratory for Rheumatism Mechanism and Immune Diagnosis (BZ0135), Beijing, China.
| | - Chun Li
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital & Beijing Key Laboratory for Rheumatism Mechanism and Immune Diagnosis (BZ0135), Beijing, China
| | - Fanlei Hu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital & Beijing Key Laboratory for Rheumatism Mechanism and Immune Diagnosis (BZ0135), Beijing, China; State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China; Department of Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| | - Yin Su
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital & Beijing Key Laboratory for Rheumatism Mechanism and Immune Diagnosis (BZ0135), Beijing, China; Peking University People's Hospital, Qingdao, China
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2
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Tutusaus A, Morales A, García de Frutos P, Marí M. GAS6/TAM Axis as Therapeutic Target in Liver Diseases. Semin Liver Dis 2024; 44:99-114. [PMID: 38395061 PMCID: PMC11027478 DOI: 10.1055/a-2275-0408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
TAM (TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK) protein tyrosine kinase membrane receptors and their vitamin K-dependent ligands GAS6 and protein S (PROS) are well-known players in tumor biology and autoimmune diseases. In contrast, TAM regulation of fibrogenesis and the inflammation mechanisms underlying metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), cirrhosis, and, ultimately, liver cancer has recently been revealed. GAS6 and PROS binding to phosphatidylserine exposed in outer membranes of apoptotic cells links TAMs, particularly MERTK, with hepatocellular damage. In addition, AXL and MERTK regulate the development of liver fibrosis and inflammation in chronic liver diseases. Acute hepatic injury is also mediated by the TAM system, as recent data regarding acetaminophen toxicity and acute-on-chronic liver failure have uncovered. Soluble TAM-related proteins, mainly released from activated macrophages and hepatic stellate cells after hepatic deterioration, are proposed as early serum markers for disease progression. In conclusion, the TAM system is becoming an interesting pharmacological target in liver pathology and a focus of future biomedical research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Tutusaus
- Department of Cell Death and Proliferation, IIBB-CSIC, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) Group, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Albert Morales
- Department of Cell Death and Proliferation, IIBB-CSIC, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) Group, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pablo García de Frutos
- Department of Cell Death and Proliferation, IIBB-CSIC, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Barcelona, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
| | - Montserrat Marí
- Department of Cell Death and Proliferation, IIBB-CSIC, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain
- Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) Group, Barcelona, Spain
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3
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Hirai S, Yamada T, Katayama Y, Ishida M, Kawachi H, Matsui Y, Nakamura R, Morimoto K, Horinaka M, Sakai T, Sekido Y, Tokuda S, Takayama K. Effects of Combined Therapeutic Targeting of AXL and ATR on Pleural Mesothelioma Cells. Mol Cancer Ther 2024; 23:212-222. [PMID: 37802502 PMCID: PMC10831449 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-23-0138] [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: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Few treatment options exist for pleural mesothelioma (PM), which is a progressive malignant tumor. However, the efficacy of molecular-targeted monotherapy is limited, and further therapeutic strategies are warranted to treat PM. Recently, the cancer cell-cycle checkpoint inhibitors have attracted attention because they disrupt cell-cycle regulation. Here, we aimed to establish a novel combinational therapeutic strategy to inhibit the cell-cycle checkpoint kinase, ATR in PM cells. The siRNA screening assay showed that anexelekto (AXL) knockdown enhanced cell growth inhibition when exposed to ATR inhibitors, demonstrating the synergistic effects of the ATR and AXL combination in some PM cells. The AXL and ATR inhibitor combination increased cell apoptosis via the Bim protein and suppressed cell migration when compared with each monotherapy. The combined therapeutic targeting of AXL and ATR significantly delayed regrowth compared with monotherapy. Thus, optimal AXL and ATR inhibition may potentially improve the PM outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soichi Hirai
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tadaaki Yamada
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yuki Katayama
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Masaki Ishida
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hayato Kawachi
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yohei Matsui
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ryota Nakamura
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kenji Morimoto
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Mano Horinaka
- Department of Drug Discovery Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Sakai
- Department of Drug Discovery Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Sekido
- Division of Cancer Biology, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute, Nagoya, Japan
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shinsaku Tokuda
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Koichi Takayama
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
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4
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DeRyckere D, Huelse JM, Earp HS, Graham DK. TAM family kinases as therapeutic targets at the interface of cancer and immunity. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2023; 20:755-779. [PMID: 37667010 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-023-00813-7] [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] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Novel treatment approaches are needed to overcome innate and acquired mechanisms of resistance to current anticancer therapies in cancer cells and the tumour immune microenvironment. The TAM (TYRO3, AXL and MERTK) family receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are potential therapeutic targets in a wide range of cancers. In cancer cells, TAM RTKs activate signalling pathways that promote cell survival, metastasis and resistance to a variety of chemotherapeutic agents and targeted therapies. TAM RTKs also function in innate immune cells, contributing to various mechanisms that suppress antitumour immunity and promote resistance to immune-checkpoint inhibitors. Therefore, TAM antagonists provide an unprecedented opportunity for both direct and immune-mediated therapeutic activity provided by inhibition of a single target, and are likely to be particularly effective when used in combination with other cancer therapies. To exploit this potential, a variety of agents have been designed to selectively target TAM RTKs, many of which have now entered clinical testing. This Review provides an essential guide to the TAM RTKs for clinicians, including an overview of the rationale for therapeutic targeting of TAM RTKs in cancer cells and the tumour immune microenvironment, a description of the current preclinical and clinical experience with TAM inhibitors, and a perspective on strategies for continued development of TAM-targeted agents for oncology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah DeRyckere
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Paediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Justus M Huelse
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Paediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - H Shelton Earp
- Department of Medicine, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Douglas K Graham
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Paediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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5
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Ji J, Ding Y, Kong Y, Fang M, Yu X, Lai X, Gu Q. Triple‑negative breast cancer cells that survive ionizing radiation exhibit an Axl‑dependent aggressive radioresistant phenotype. Exp Ther Med 2023; 26:448. [PMID: 37614420 PMCID: PMC10443063 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2023.12147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the aggressive behavior of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells that had survived ionizing radiation and explore the potential targets of TNBC combination treatment. Consistent with the previous literature, Axl was highly expressed in TNBC and closely associated with the degree of malignancy based on immunohistochemical staining. Using a gradient irradiation method, the ionizing radiation-resistant mouse TNBC cell line 4T-1/IRR was established. It was found that Axl expression was upregulated in 4T-1/IRR cells. After irradiation by X-ray, the cell viability and colony formation ability of 4T-1/IRR cells were significantly increased when compared with the 4T-1 cells. Combined radiotherapy with Axl inhibition by treatment with R428 and small interfering RNA lentivirus targeting Axl infection significantly reduced cell viability, colony formation ability, DNA double-stranded break repair, and the invasive and migratory ability of 4T-1/IRR cells. In vivo, the small animal radiation research platform was applied to precisely administer radiotherapy of the tumor-bearing mice. R428 treatment combined with 6 Gy X-ray significantly inhibited the growth of 4T-1/IRR cells-derived xenograft tumors in the BALB/c mouse. The results of western blotting showed that the critical molecular mechanism involved in the radioresistance of TNBC cells was the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway induced by Axl activation. Thus, it is hypothesized that targeted Axl therapy combined with radiotherapy may have significant potential for the treatment of TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianfeng Ji
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, P.R. China
| | - Yuqin Ding
- Department of Breast Surgery, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, P.R. China
| | - Yue Kong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, P.R. China
| | - Min Fang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, P.R. China
| | - Xiaofu Yu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, P.R. China
| | - Xiaojing Lai
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, P.R. China
| | - Qing Gu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, P.R. China
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6
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Pidkovka N, Belkhiri A. Altered expression of AXL receptor tyrosine kinase in gastrointestinal cancers: a promising therapeutic target. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1079041. [PMID: 37469409 PMCID: PMC10353021 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1079041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers that include all cancers of the digestive tract organs are generally associated with obesity, lack of exercising, smoking, poor diet, and heavy alcohol consumption. Treatment of GI cancers typically involves surgery followed by chemotherapy and/or radiation. Unfortunately, intrinsic or acquired resistance to these therapies underscore the need for more effective targeted therapies that have been proven in other malignancies. The aggressive features of GI cancers share distinct signaling pathways that are connected to each other by the overexpression and activation of AXL receptor tyrosine kinase. Several preclinical and clinical studies involving anti-AXL antibodies and small molecule AXL kinase inhibitors to test their efficacy in solid tumors, including GI cancers, have been recently carried out. Therefore, AXL may be a promising therapeutic target for overcoming the shortcomings of standard therapies in GI cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataliya Pidkovka
- Department of Health Science, South College, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Abbes Belkhiri
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
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7
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Predictive value of p53 and AXL immunostaining for the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor-based therapy after osimertinib treatment in patients with epidermal growth factor-mutant non-small cell lung cancer. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2023; 72:1699-1707. [PMID: 36617602 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03370-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current evidence indicates that immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have a limited efficacy in patients with lung cancer harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. However, there is a lack of data on the efficacy of ICIs after osimertinib treatment, and the predictors of ICI efficacy are unclear. METHODS We retrospectively assessed consecutive patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC who received ICI-based therapy after osimertinib treatment at 10 institutions in Japan, between March 2016 and March 2021. Immunohistochemical staining was used to evaluate the expression of p53 and AXL. The deletions of exon 19 and the exon 21 L858R point mutation in EGFR were defined as common mutations; other mutations were defined as uncommon mutations. RESULTS A total of 36 patients with advanced or recurrent EGFR-mutant NSCLC were analyzed. In multivariate analysis, p53 expression in tumors was an independent predictor of PFS after ICI-based therapy (p = 0.002). In patients with common EGFR mutations, high AXL expression was a predictor of shorter PFS and overall survival after ICI-based therapy (log-rank test; p = 0.04 and p = 0.02, respectively). CONCLUSION The levels of p53 in pretreatment tumors may be a predictor of ICI-based therapy outcomes in patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC after osimertinib treatment. High levels of AXL in tumors may also be a predictor of ICI-based therapy outcomes, specifically for patients with common EGFR mutations. Further prospective large-scale investigations on the predictors of ICI efficacy following osimertinib treatment are warranted.
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8
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Yoshimura A, Yamada T, Serizawa M, Uehara H, Tanimura K, Okuma Y, Fukuda A, Watanabe S, Nishioka N, Takeda T, Chihara Y, Takemoto S, Harada T, Hiranuma O, Shirai Y, Shukuya T, Nishiyama A, Goto Y, Shiotsu S, Kunimasa K, Morimoto K, Katayama Y, Suda K, Mitsudomi T, Yano S, Kenmotsu H, Takahashi T, Takayama K. High levels of AXL expression in untreated EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer negatively impacts the use of osimertinib. Cancer Sci 2022; 114:606-618. [PMID: 36169649 PMCID: PMC9899603 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
For non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, the initial therapeutic interventions will have crucial impacts on their clinical outcomes. Drug tolerant factors reportedly have an impact on EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor sensitivity. This prospective study investigated the impacts of drug tolerant-related protein expression in tumors based on the efficacy of osimertinib in the first-setting of EGFR-mutated advanced NSCLC patients. A total of 92 patients with EGFR-mutated advanced or postoperative recurrent NSCLC were analyzed and treated with osimertinib at 14 institutions in Japan. AXL, p53, and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in patient tumors was determined using immunohistochemistry. The AXL signaling pathway was investigated using a cell line-based assay and AXL-related gene expression in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. High levels of AXL and positive-p53 expression were detected in 26.1% and 53.3% of the pretreatment EGFR-mutated NSCLC tumors, respectively. High AXL expression levels were significantly associated with a shorter progression-free survival compared with low AXL expression levels, irrespective of the EGFR activating mutation status (p = 0.026). Cell line-based assays indicated that the overexpression of AXL protein accelerated PD-L1 expression, which induced insensitivity to osimertinib. In the TCGA database, AXL RNA levels were positively correlated with PD-L1 expression in the lung adenocarcinoma cohort. The results show that high AXL expression levels in tumors impact clinical predictions when using osimertinib to treat EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients. Trial Registration: UMIN000043942.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiro Yoshimura
- Department of Pulmonary MedicineGraduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of MedicineKyotoJapan
| | - Tadaaki Yamada
- Department of Pulmonary MedicineGraduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of MedicineKyotoJapan
| | - Masakuni Serizawa
- Drug Discovery and Development DivisionShizuoka Cancer Center Research InstituteShizuokaJapan
| | - Hisanori Uehara
- Division of PathologyTokushima University HospitalTokushimaJapan
| | - Keiko Tanimura
- Department of Pulmonary MedicineGraduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of MedicineKyotoJapan
| | - Yusuke Okuma
- Department of Thoracic Oncology and Respiratory MedicineTokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome HospitalTokyoJapan,Department of Thoracic OncologyNational Cancer Center HospitalTokyoJapan
| | - Akito Fukuda
- Department of Thoracic Oncology and Respiratory MedicineTokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome HospitalTokyoJapan,Department of Thoracic OncologyNational Cancer Center HospitalTokyoJapan
| | - Satoshi Watanabe
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Infectious DiseasesNiigata University Graduate School of Medicine and Dental HospitalNiigataJapan
| | - Naoya Nishioka
- Division of Thoracic Oncology, Shizuoka Cancer CenterShizuokaJapan
| | - Takayuki Takeda
- Department of Respiratory MedicineJapanese Red Cross Kyoto Daini HospitalKyotoJapan
| | - Yusuke Chihara
- Department of Respiratory MedicineUji‐Tokushukai Medical CenterUjiJapan
| | - Shinnosuke Takemoto
- Department of Respiratory MedicineNagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical SciencesNagasakiJapan
| | - Taishi Harada
- Department of Medical OncologyFukuchiyama City HospitalKyotoJapan
| | - Osamu Hiranuma
- Department of Respiratory MedicineOtsu City HospitalOtsuJapan
| | - Yukina Shirai
- Department of Respiratory MedicineJuntendo UniversityTokyoJapan
| | | | - Akihiro Nishiyama
- Division of Medical Oncology, Cancer Research InstituteKanazawa UniversityKanazawaJapan
| | - Yasuhiro Goto
- Department of Respiratory MedicineFujita Health University School of MedicineToyoakeJapan
| | - Shinsuke Shiotsu
- Department of Respiratory MedicineJapanese Red Cross Kyoto Daiichi HospitalKyotoJapan
| | - Kei Kunimasa
- Department of Thoracic OncologyOsaka International Cancer InstitutionOsakaJapan
| | - Kenji Morimoto
- Department of Pulmonary MedicineGraduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of MedicineKyotoJapan
| | - Yuki Katayama
- Department of Pulmonary MedicineGraduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of MedicineKyotoJapan
| | - Kenichi Suda
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of SurgeryKindai University Faculty of MedicineOsakaJapan
| | - Tetsuya Mitsudomi
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of SurgeryKindai University Faculty of MedicineOsakaJapan
| | - Seiji Yano
- Division of Medical Oncology, Cancer Research InstituteKanazawa UniversityKanazawaJapan,Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of SurgeryKindai University Faculty of MedicineOsakaJapan,Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Health SciencesKanazawa UniversityKanazawaJapan,WPI Nano Lifebiomarker Science InstituteKanazawa UniversityKanazawaJapan
| | | | | | - Koichi Takayama
- Department of Pulmonary MedicineGraduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of MedicineKyotoJapan
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Yoshimura A, Yamada T, Serizawa M, Uehara H, Tanimura K, Okuma Y, Fukuda A, Watanabe S, Nishioka N, Takeda T, Chihara Y, Takemoto S, Harada T, Hiranuma O, Shirai Y, Shukuya T, Nishiyama A, Goto Y, Shiotsu S, Kunimasa K, Morimoto K, Katayama Y, Suda K, Mitsudomi T, Yano S, Kenmotsu H, Takahashi T, Takayama K. High levels of
AXL
expression in untreated
EGFR
‐mutated non‐small cell lung cancer negatively impacts the use of osimertinib. Cancer Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/cas.15608 10.1111/cas.15608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Akihiro Yoshimura
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Kyoto Japan
| | - Tadaaki Yamada
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Kyoto Japan
| | - Masakuni Serizawa
- Drug Discovery and Development Division Shizuoka Cancer Center Research Institute Shizuoka Japan
| | - Hisanori Uehara
- Division of Pathology Tokushima University Hospital Tokushima Japan
| | - Keiko Tanimura
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Kyoto Japan
| | - Yusuke Okuma
- Department of Thoracic Oncology and Respiratory Medicine Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital Tokyo Japan
- Department of Thoracic Oncology National Cancer Center Hospital Tokyo Japan
| | - Akito Fukuda
- Department of Thoracic Oncology and Respiratory Medicine Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital Tokyo Japan
- Department of Thoracic Oncology National Cancer Center Hospital Tokyo Japan
| | - Satoshi Watanabe
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases Niigata University Graduate School of Medicine and Dental Hospital Niigata Japan
| | - Naoya Nishioka
- Division of Thoracic Oncology, Shizuoka Cancer Center Shizuoka Japan
| | - Takayuki Takeda
- Department of Respiratory Medicine Japanese Red Cross Kyoto Daini Hospital Kyoto Japan
| | - Yusuke Chihara
- Department of Respiratory Medicine Uji‐Tokushukai Medical Center Uji Japan
| | - Shinnosuke Takemoto
- Department of Respiratory Medicine Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Nagasaki Japan
| | - Taishi Harada
- Department of Medical Oncology Fukuchiyama City Hospital Kyoto Japan
| | - Osamu Hiranuma
- Department of Respiratory Medicine Otsu City Hospital Otsu Japan
| | - Yukina Shirai
- Department of Respiratory Medicine Juntendo University Tokyo Japan
| | - Takehito Shukuya
- Department of Respiratory Medicine Juntendo University Tokyo Japan
| | - Akihiro Nishiyama
- Division of Medical Oncology, Cancer Research Institute Kanazawa University Kanazawa Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Goto
- Department of Respiratory Medicine Fujita Health University School of Medicine Toyoake Japan
| | - Shinsuke Shiotsu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine Japanese Red Cross Kyoto Daiichi Hospital Kyoto Japan
| | - Kei Kunimasa
- Department of Thoracic Oncology Osaka International Cancer Institution Osaka Japan
| | - Kenji Morimoto
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Kyoto Japan
| | - Yuki Katayama
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Kyoto Japan
| | - Kenichi Suda
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery Kindai University Faculty of Medicine Osaka Japan
| | - Tetsuya Mitsudomi
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery Kindai University Faculty of Medicine Osaka Japan
| | - Seiji Yano
- Division of Medical Oncology, Cancer Research Institute Kanazawa University Kanazawa Japan
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery Kindai University Faculty of Medicine Osaka Japan
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Health Sciences Kanazawa University Kanazawa Japan
- WPI Nano Lifebiomarker Science Institute Kanazawa University Kanazawa Japan
| | | | | | - Koichi Takayama
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Kyoto Japan
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10
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Malvankar C, Kumar D. AXL kinase inhibitors- A prospective model for medicinal chemistry strategies in anticancer drug discovery. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2022; 1877:188786. [PMID: 36058379 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Deviant expressions of the tyrosine kinase AXL receptor are strongly correlated with a plethora of malignancies. Henceforth, the topic of targeting AXL is beginning to gain prominence due to mounting evidence of the protein's substantial connection to poor prognosis and treatment resistance. This year marked a milestone in clinical testing for AXL as an anti-carcinogenic target, with the start of the first AXL-branded inhibitor study. It is critical to emphasize that AXL is a primary and secondary target in various kinase inhibitors that have been approved or are on the verge of being approved while interpreting the present benefits and future potential effects of AXL suppression in the clinical setting. Several research arenas across the globe resolutely affirm the crucial significance of AXL receptors in the case study of several pathophysiologies including AML, prostate cancer, and breast cancer. This review endeavors to delve deeply into the biological, chemical, and structural features of AXL kinase; primary AXL inhibitors that target the enzyme (either purposefully or unintentionally); and the prospects and barriers for turning AXL inhibitors into a feasible treatment alternative. Furthermore, we analyse the co-crystal structure of AXL, which remains extensively unexplored, as well as the mutations of AXL that may be valuable in the development of novel inhibitors in the upcoming future and take a comprehensive look at the medicinal chemistry of AXL inhibitors of recent years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinmay Malvankar
- Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be) University, Pune, Maharashtra 411038, India
| | - Dileep Kumar
- Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be) University, Pune, Maharashtra 411038, India; Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA; UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
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11
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WNK1 collaborates with TGF-β in endothelial cell junction turnover and angiogenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2203743119. [PMID: 35867836 PMCID: PMC9335306 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2203743119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis is essential for growth of new blood vessels, remodeling existing vessels, and repair of damaged vessels, and these require reorganization of endothelial cell-cell junctions through a partial endothelial-mesenchymal transition. Homozygous disruption of the gene encoding the protein kinase WNK1 results in lethality in mice near embryonic day (E) 12 due to impaired angiogenesis. This angiogenesis defect can be rescued by endothelial-specific expression of an activated form of the WNK1 substrate kinase OSR1. We show that inhibition of WNK1 kinase activity not only prevents sprouting of endothelial cells from aortic slices but also vessel extension in inhibitor-treated embryos ex vivo. Mutations affecting TGF-β signaling also result in abnormal vascular development beginning by E10 and, ultimately, embryonic lethality. Previously, we demonstrated cross-talk of WNK1 with TGF-β-regulated SMAD signaling, and OSR1 was identified as a component of the TGF-β interactome. However, molecular events jointly regulated by TGF-β and WNK1/OSR1 have not been delineated. Here, we show that inhibition of WNK1 promotes TGF-β-dependent degradation of the tyrosine kinase receptor AXL, which is involved in TGF-β-mediated cell migration and angiogenesis. We also show that interaction between OSR1 and occludin, a protein associated with endothelial tight junctions, is an essential step to enable tight junction turnover. Furthermore, we show that these phenomena are WNK1 dependent, and sensitive to TGF-β. These findings demonstrate intimate connections between WNK1/OSR1 and multiple TGF-β-sensitive molecules controlling angiogenesis and suggest that WNK1 may modulate many TGF-β-regulated functions.
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12
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Jung JU, Jaykumar AB, Cobb MH. WNK1 in Malignant Behaviors: A Potential Target for Cancer? Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:935318. [PMID: 35813203 PMCID: PMC9257110 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.935318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is the major cause of mortality in cancer patients. Analyses of mouse models and patient data have implicated the protein kinase WNK1 as one of a handful of genes uniquely linked to a subset of invasive cancers. WNK1 signaling pathways are widely implicated in the regulation of ion co-transporters and in controlling cell responses to osmotic stress. In this review we will discuss its actions in tumor malignancy in human cancers and present evidence for its function in invasion, migration, angiogenesis and mesenchymal transition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Melanie H. Cobb
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
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13
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Shi W, Feng Z, Chi F, Zhou J, Qiu Q, Jiang Y, Chen S, Zhong Y, Jia H, Huang W, Qian H. Structure-based discovery of receptor tyrosine kinase AXL degraders with excellent anti-tumor activity by selectively degrading AXL and inducing methuosis. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 234:114253. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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14
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AXL Receptor Tyrosine Kinase as a Promising Therapeutic Target Directing Multiple Aspects of Cancer Progression and Metastasis. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030466. [PMID: 35158733 PMCID: PMC8833413 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Metastasis is a complex process that requires the acquisition of certain traits by cancer cells as well as the cooperation of several non-neoplastic cells that populate the stroma. Cancer-related deaths are predominantly associated with complications arising from metastases. Limiting metastasis therefore represents an important clinical challenge. The receptor tyrosine kinase AXL is required at many steps of the metastatic cascade and contributes to tumor microenvironment deregulation. In this review, we describe how AXL contributes to metastatic progression by governing various biological processes in cancer cells and in stromal cells, highlighting the potential of its inhibition. Abstract The receptor tyrosine kinase AXL is emerging as a key player in tumor progression and metastasis and its expression correlates with poor survival in a plethora of cancers. While studies have shown the benefits of AXL inhibition for the treatment of metastatic cancers, additional roles for AXL in cancer progression are still being explored. This review discusses recent advances in understanding AXL’s functions in different tumor compartments including cancer, vascular, and immune cells. AXL is required at multiple steps of the metastatic cascade where its activation in cancer cells leads to EMT, invasion, survival, proliferation and therapy resistance. AXL activation in cancer cells and various stromal cells also results in tumor microenvironment deregulation, leading to modulation of angiogenesis, fibrosis, immune response and hypoxia. A better understanding of AXL’s role in these processes could lead to new therapeutic approaches that would benefit patients suffering from metastatic diseases.
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15
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Abstract
TAM receptors (Tyro3, Axl and MerTK) are a family of tyrosine kinase receptors that are expressed in a variety of cell populations, including liver parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells. These receptors are vital for immune homeostasis, as they regulate the innate immune response by suppressing inflammation via toll-like receptor inhibition and by promoting tissue resolution through efferocytosis. However, there is increasing evidence indicating that aberrant TAM receptor signaling may play a role in pathophysiological processes in the context of liver disease. This review will explore the roles of TAM receptors and their ligands in liver homeostasis as well as a variety of disease settings, including acute liver injury, steatosis, fibrosis, cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction and hepatocellular carcinoma. A better understanding of our current knowledge of TAM receptors in liver disease may identify new opportunities for disease monitoring as well as novel therapeutic targets. Nonetheless, this review also aims to highlight areas where further research on TAM receptor biology in liver disease is required.
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16
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Abstract
Extensive interest in cancer immunotherapy is reported according to the clinical importance of CTLA-4 and (PD-1/PD-L1) [programmed death (PD) and programmed death-ligand (PD-L1)] in immune checkpoint therapies. AXL is a receptor tyrosine kinase expressed in different types of cancer and in relation to resistance against various anticancer therapeutics due to poor clinical prognosis. AXL and its ligand, i.e., growth arrest-specific 6 (GAS6) proteins, are expressed on many cancer cells, and the GAS6/AXL pathway is reported to promote cancer cell proliferation, survival, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and immune evasion. AXL is an attractive and novel therapeutic target for impairing tumor progression from immune cell contracts in the tumor microenvironment. The GAS6/AXL pathway is also of interest immunologically because it targets fewer antitumor immune responses. In effect, several targeted therapies are selective and nonselective for AXL, which are in preclinical and clinical development in multiple cancer types. Therefore, this review focuses on the role of the GAS6/AXL signaling pathway in triggering the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment as immune evasion. This includes regulating its composition and activating T-cell exclusion with the immune-suppressive activity of regulatory T cells, which is related to one of the hallmarks of cancer survival. Finally, this article discusses the GAS6/AXL signaling pathway in the context of several immune responses such as NK cell activation, apoptosis, and tumor-specific immunity, especially PD-1/PDL-1 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Youn Son
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Center for Medical Innovation, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hwan-Kyu Jeong
- School of Biosystems and Biomedical Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
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17
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Rothlin CV, Ghosh S. Lifting the innate immune barriers to antitumor immunity. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 8:jitc-2020-000695. [PMID: 32273348 PMCID: PMC7254113 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-000695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The immune system evolved for adequate surveillance and killing of pathogens while minimizing host damage, such as due to chronic or exaggerated inflammation and autoimmunity. This is achieved by negative regulators and checkpoints that limit the magnitude and time course of the immune response. Tumor cells often escape immune surveillance and killing. Therefore, disrupting the brakes built into the immune system should effectively boost the anticancer immune response. The success of anti-CTLA4, anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 have firmly established this proof of concept. Since the response rate of anti-CTLA4, anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 is still limited, there is an intense effort for the identification of new targets and development of approaches that can expand the benefits of immunotherapy to a larger patient pool. Additional T cell checkpoints are obvious targets; however, here we focus on the unusual suspects—cells that function to initiate and guide T cell activity. Innate immunity is both an obligate prerequisite for the initiation of adaptive immune responses and a requirement for the recruitment of activated T cells to the site of action. We discuss some of the molecules present in innate immune cells, including natural killer cells, dendritic cells, macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, endothelial cells and stromal cells, that can activate or enhance innate immune cell functions, and more importantly, the inhibitors or checkpoints present in these cells that restrain their functions. Boosting innate immunity, either by enhancing activator functions or, preferably, by blocking the inhibitors, may represent a new anticancer treatment modality or at least function as adjuvants to T cell checkpoint inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla V Rothlin
- Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, United States .,Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, United States
| | - Sourav Ghosh
- Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, United States .,Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, United States
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18
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Gui S, Zhou S, Liu M, Zhang Y, Gao L, Wang T, Zhou R. Elevated Levels of Soluble Axl (sAxl) Regulates Key Angiogenic Molecules to Induce Placental Endothelial Dysfunction and a Preeclampsia-Like Phenotype. Front Physiol 2021; 12:619137. [PMID: 34326776 PMCID: PMC8314645 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.619137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE), a severe pregnancy-specific syndrome, is characterized by impaired placental angiogenesis. Although the pathogenesis of this condition remains largely unclear, vascular systemic endothelial injury is thought to be the common contributing factor. Soluble Axl (sAxl), a biomarker of endothelial dysfunction, is known to be abnormally increased in a variety of diseases associated with vascular injury. In a previous study, we found that the plasma levels of sAxl were significantly higher in PE with severe features (sPE) than in pregnant women who did not have PE. The current study aimed to further explore the potential role of sAxl in vascular injury in patients with sPE. We found that the upregulation of sAxl in maternal plasma was positively correlated with the plasma levels of sFlt-1 and negatively correlated with placental NO synthase (eNOS) in women with sPE. Furthermore, elevated levels of sAxl suppressed proliferation and endothelial tube formation and promoted cytotoxicity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) through the downregulation of p-Akt, p-p70S6K, p-mTOR, and Grb2. Subsequently, we established a pregnant rat model with PE-like characteristics by injecting pregnant rats with an adenovirus expressing sAxl. These rats exhibited a typical PE-like phenotype, including increased blood pressure, proteinuria, and fetal growth restriction, along with abnormal placental and fetal renal morphology. In conclusion, our study demonstrated the role of sAxl in systemic vascular injury through the regulation of the expression of key molecules of angiogenesis and described its potential contribution to the development of sPE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunping Gui
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shengping Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Min Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yanping Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Linbo Gao
- Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Rong Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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19
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Jaykumar AB, Jung JU, Parida PK, Dang TT, Wichaidit C, Kannangara AR, Earnest S, Goldsmith EJ, Pearson GW, Malladi S, Cobb MH. WNK1 Enhances Migration and Invasion in Breast Cancer Models. Mol Cancer Ther 2021; 20:1800-1808. [PMID: 34253593 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-21-0174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Metastasis is the major cause of mortality in patients with breast cancer. Many signaling pathways have been linked to cancer invasiveness, but blockade of few protein components has succeeded in reducing metastasis. Thus, identification of proteins contributing to invasion that are manipulable by small molecules may be valuable in inhibiting spread of the disease. The protein kinase with no lysine (K) 1 (WNK1) has been suggested to induce migration of cells representing a range of cancer types. Analyses of mouse models and patient data have implicated WNK1 as one of a handful of genes uniquely linked to invasive breast cancer. Here, we present evidence that inhibition of WNK1 slows breast cancer metastasis. We show that depletion or inhibition of WNK1 reduces migration of several breast cancer cell lines in wound healing assays and decreases invasion in collagen matrices. Furthermore, WNK1 depletion suppresses expression of AXL, a tyrosine kinase implicated in metastasis. Finally, we demonstrate that WNK inhibition in mice attenuates tumor progression and metastatic burden. These data showing reduced migration, invasion, and metastasis upon WNK1 depletion in multiple breast cancer models suggest that WNK1 contributes to the metastatic phenotype, and that WNK1 inhibition may offer a therapeutic avenue for attenuating progression of invasive breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankita B Jaykumar
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Ji-Ung Jung
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | | | - Tuyen T Dang
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia
| | | | | | - Svetlana Earnest
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | | | - Gray W Pearson
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Srinivas Malladi
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Melanie H Cobb
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
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20
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Tanaka M, Dykes SS, Siemann DW. Inhibition of the Axl pathway impairs breast and prostate cancer metastasis to the bones and bone remodeling. Clin Exp Metastasis 2021; 38:321-335. [PMID: 33791875 PMCID: PMC8179919 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-021-10093-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Approximately 90% of cancer-related deaths result from cancer metastasis. In prostate and breast cancers, bone is the most common site of cancer cell dissemination. Key steps in the metastatic cascade are promoted through upregulation of critical cell signaling pathways in neoplastic cells. The present study assessed the role of the receptor tyrosine kinase Axl in prostate and breast cancer cell metastasis to bones using (i) Axl knockdown neoplastic cells and osteoclast progenitor cells in vitro, (ii) intracardiac injection of Axl knockdown tumor cells in vivo, and (iii) selective Axl inhibitor BGB324. Axl inhibition in neoplastic cells significantly decreased their metastatic potential, and suppression of Axl signaling in osteoclast precursor cells also reduced the formation of mature osteoclasts. In vivo, Axl knockdown in prostate and breast cancer cells significantly suppressed the formation and progression of bone metastases. Hence, therapeutic targeting of Axl may impair tumor metastasis to the bones through neoplastic and host cell signaling axes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mai Tanaka
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
| | - Samantha S Dykes
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.,GenCure, a Subsidiary of BioBridge Global, San Antonio, TX, 78201, USA
| | - Dietmar W Siemann
- Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
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21
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Hooglugt A, van der Stoel MM, Boon RA, Huveneers S. Endothelial YAP/TAZ Signaling in Angiogenesis and Tumor Vasculature. Front Oncol 2021; 10:612802. [PMID: 33614496 PMCID: PMC7890025 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.612802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Solid tumors are dependent on vascularization for their growth. The hypoxic, stiff, and pro-angiogenic tumor microenvironment induces angiogenesis, giving rise to an immature, proliferative, and permeable vasculature. The tumor vessels promote tumor metastasis and complicate delivery of anti-cancer therapies. In many types of tumors, YAP/TAZ activation is correlated with increased levels of angiogenesis. In addition, endothelial YAP/TAZ activation is important for the formation of new blood and lymphatic vessels during development. Oncogenic activation of YAP/TAZ in tumor cell growth and invasion has been studied in great detail, however the role of YAP/TAZ within the tumor endothelium remains insufficiently understood, which complicates therapeutic strategies aimed at targeting YAP/TAZ in cancer. Here, we overview the upstream signals from the tumor microenvironment that control endothelial YAP/TAZ activation and explore the role of their downstream targets in driving tumor angiogenesis. We further discuss the potential for anti-cancer treatments and vascular normalization strategies to improve tumor therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aukie Hooglugt
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Physiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Miesje M. van der Stoel
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Reinier A. Boon
- Department of Physiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhein-Main, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Cardiovascular Regeneration, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Stephan Huveneers
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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22
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Torres-Jiménez J, Albarrán-Fernández V, Pozas J, Román-Gil MS, Esteban-Villarrubia J, Carrato A, Rosero A, Grande E, Alonso-Gordoa T, Molina-Cerrillo J. Novel Tyrosine Kinase Targets in Urothelial Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:E747. [PMID: 33451055 PMCID: PMC7828553 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Urothelial carcinoma represents one of the most prevalent types of cancer worldwide, and its incidence is expected to grow. Although the treatment of the advanced disease was based on chemotherapy for decades, the developments of different therapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, antibody drug conjugates and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, are revolutionizing the therapeutic landscape of this tumor. This development coincides with the increasing knowledge of the pathogenesis and genetic alterations in urothelial carcinoma, from the non-muscle invasive setting to the metastatic one. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of the different tyrosine kinase targets and their roles in the therapeutic scene of urothelial carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Torres-Jiménez
- Medical Oncology Department, University Hospital Ramon y Cajal, 28034 Madrid, Spain; (J.T.-J.); (V.A.-F.); (J.P.); (M.S.R.-G.); (J.E.-V.)
| | - Víctor Albarrán-Fernández
- Medical Oncology Department, University Hospital Ramon y Cajal, 28034 Madrid, Spain; (J.T.-J.); (V.A.-F.); (J.P.); (M.S.R.-G.); (J.E.-V.)
| | - Javier Pozas
- Medical Oncology Department, University Hospital Ramon y Cajal, 28034 Madrid, Spain; (J.T.-J.); (V.A.-F.); (J.P.); (M.S.R.-G.); (J.E.-V.)
| | - María San Román-Gil
- Medical Oncology Department, University Hospital Ramon y Cajal, 28034 Madrid, Spain; (J.T.-J.); (V.A.-F.); (J.P.); (M.S.R.-G.); (J.E.-V.)
| | - Jorge Esteban-Villarrubia
- Medical Oncology Department, University Hospital Ramon y Cajal, 28034 Madrid, Spain; (J.T.-J.); (V.A.-F.); (J.P.); (M.S.R.-G.); (J.E.-V.)
| | - Alfredo Carrato
- Medical Oncology Department, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), CIBERONC, Alcalá University, University Hospital Ramon y Cajal, 28034 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Adriana Rosero
- Medical Oncology Department, Infanta Cristina Hospital, 28607 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Enrique Grande
- Department of Medical Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 28033 Madrid, Spain
| | - Teresa Alonso-Gordoa
- Medical Oncology Department, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), CIBERONC, Alcalá University, University Hospital Ramon y Cajal, 28034 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Javier Molina-Cerrillo
- Medical Oncology Department, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), CIBERONC, Alcalá University, University Hospital Ramon y Cajal, 28034 Madrid, Spain;
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23
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Landers SM, Bhalla AD, Ma X, Lusby K, Ingram D, Al Sannaa G, Wang WL, Lazar AJ, Torres KE. AXL Inhibition Enhances MEK Inhibitor Sensitivity in Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 4:511-525. [PMID: 33283192 PMCID: PMC7717506 DOI: 10.26502/jcsct.5079091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Dysregulation of the receptor tyrosine kinase AXL is known to promote cancer cell growth and survival in many sarcomas, including the rare subtype, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST). MPNSTs are largely chemoresistant and carry a poor prognosis. AXL is an attractive potential therapeutic target, as it is aberrantly expressed, and its activation may be an early event in MPNST. However, the effect of AXL inhibition on MPNST development and progression is not known. Here, we investigated the role of AXL in MPNST development and the effects of AXL and MEK1/2 co-inhibition on MPNSTs. We used western blotting to examine AXL expression and activation in MPNST cell lines. We analyzed the effects of exogenous growth arrest-specific 6 (GAS6) expression on downstream signaling and the proliferation, migration, and invasion of MPNST cells. The effect of AXL knockdown with or without mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibition on downstream signal transduction and tumorigenesis was also examined in vivo and in vitro. We found that AXL knockdown increased MAPK pathway signaling. This compensation, in turn, abrogated the antitumorigenic effects linked to AXL knockdown in vivo. AXL knockdown, combined with pharmacological MEK inhibition, reduced the proliferation and increased the apoptosis of MPNST cells both in vitro and in vivo. The pharmacological co-inhibition of AXL and MEK1/2 reduced MPNST volumes. Together these findings suggest that AXL inhibition enhances the sensitivity of MPNST to other small molecule inhibitors. We conclude that combination therapy with AXL inhibitor may be a therapeutic option for MPNST.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon M. Landers
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Angela D. Bhalla
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - XiaoYan Ma
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kristelle Lusby
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Indianapolis University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Davis Ingram
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ghadah Al Sannaa
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston TX, USA
| | - Wei-Lien Wang
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alexander J. Lazar
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Keila E. Torres
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Corresponding Author: Dr. Keila E. Torres, Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA, Tel: (713) 792-4242;
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24
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Lotsberg ML, Rayford A, Thiery JP, Belleggia G, D'Mello Peters S, Lorens JB, Chouaib S, Terry S, Engelsen AST. Decoding cancer's camouflage: epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity in resistance to immune checkpoint blockade. CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2020; 3:832-853. [PMID: 35582229 PMCID: PMC8992561 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2020.41] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP) of cancer cells contributes to cancer cell heterogeneity, and it is well established that EMP is a critical determinant of acquired resistance to cancer treatment modalities including radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies. Here, we aimed to explore how EMP contributes to cancer cell camouflage, allowing an ever-changing population of cancer cells to pass under the radar of our immune system and consequently compromise the effect of immune checkpoint blockade therapies. The ultimate clinical benefit of any combination regimen is evidenced by the sum of the drug-induced alterations observed in the variety of cellular populations composing the tumor immune microenvironment. The finely-tuned molecular crosstalk between cancer and immune cells remains to be fully elucidated, particularly for the spectrum of malignant cells along the epithelial to mesenchymal axis. High-dimensional single cell analyses of specimens collected in ongoing clinical studies is becoming a key contributor to our understanding of these interactions. This review will explore to what extent targeting EMP in combination with immune checkpoint inhibition represents a promising therapeutic avenue within the overarching strategy to reactivate a halting cancer-immunity cycle and establish a robust host immune response against cancer cells. Therapeutic strategies currently in clinical development will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria L Lotsberg
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen 5009, Norway
- Equal contribution
| | - Austin Rayford
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen 5009, Norway
- BerGenBio ASA, Jonas Lies vei 91, Bergen 5009, Norway
- Equal contribution
| | - Jean Paul Thiery
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen 5009, Norway
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumour Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Fac. de Médecine - Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif 94805, France
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, A-STAR, Singapore, Singapore 138673, Singapore
- Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health, Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 510005, China
| | - Giuliana Belleggia
- School of Medicine, Clinical Skills Assessment Program, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Stacey D'Mello Peters
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen 5009, Norway
| | - James B Lorens
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen 5009, Norway
- BerGenBio ASA, Jonas Lies vei 91, Bergen 5009, Norway
| | - Salem Chouaib
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumour Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Fac. de Médecine - Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif 94805, France
- Thumbay Research Institute of Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman 4184, United Arab Emirates
| | - Stephane Terry
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumour Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Fac. de Médecine - Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif 94805, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, Jouy-en-Josas 78350, France
| | - Agnete S T Engelsen
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen 5009, Norway
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumour Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Fac. de Médecine - Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif 94805, France
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Di Stasi R, De Rosa L, D'Andrea LD. Therapeutic aspects of the Axl/Gas6 molecular system. Drug Discov Today 2020; 25:2130-2148. [PMID: 33002607 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2020.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Axl receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) and its ligand, growth arrest-specific protein 6 (Gas6), are involved in several biological functions and participate in the development and progression of a range of malignancies and autoimmune disorders. In this review, we present this molecular system from a drug discovery perspective, highlighting its therapeutic implications and challenges that need to be addressed. We provide an update on Axl/Gas6 axis biology, exploring its role in fields ranging from angiogenesis, cancer development and metastasis, immune response and inflammation to viral infection. Finally, we summarize the molecules that have been developed to date to target the Axl/Gas6 molecular system for therapeutic and diagnostic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Di Stasi
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy
| | - Lucia De Rosa
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Napoli, Italy
| | - Luca D D'Andrea
- Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Torino, Italy.
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26
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Tutusaus A, Marí M, Ortiz-Pérez JT, Nicolaes GAF, Morales A, García de Frutos P. Role of Vitamin K-Dependent Factors Protein S and GAS6 and TAM Receptors in SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19-Associated Immunothrombosis. Cells 2020; 9:E2186. [PMID: 32998369 PMCID: PMC7601762 DOI: 10.3390/cells9102186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The vitamin K-dependent factors protein S (PROS1) and growth-arrest-specific gene 6 (GAS6) and their tyrosine kinase receptors TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK, the TAM subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK), are key regulators of inflammation and vascular response to damage. TAM signaling, which has largely studied in the immune system and in cancer, has been involved in coagulation-related pathologies. Because of these established biological functions, the GAS6-PROS1/TAM system is postulated to play an important role in SARS-CoV-2 infection and progression complications. The participation of the TAM system in vascular function and pathology has been previously reported. However, in the context of COVID-19, the role of TAMs could provide new clues in virus-host interplay with important consequences in the way that we understand this pathology. From the viral mimicry used by SARS-CoV-2 to infect cells, to the immunothrombosis that is associated with respiratory failure in COVID-19 patients, TAM signaling seems to be involved at different stages of the disease. TAM targeting is becoming an interesting biomedical strategy, which is useful for COVID-19 treatment now, but also for other viral and inflammatory diseases in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Tutusaus
- Department of Cell Death and Proliferation, IIBB-CSIC, IDIBAPS, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (A.T.); (M.M.)
| | - Montserrat Marí
- Department of Cell Death and Proliferation, IIBB-CSIC, IDIBAPS, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (A.T.); (M.M.)
| | - José T. Ortiz-Pérez
- Clinic Cardiovascular Institute, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Gerry A. F. Nicolaes
- Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands;
| | - Albert Morales
- Department of Cell Death and Proliferation, IIBB-CSIC, IDIBAPS, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (A.T.); (M.M.)
- Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) Group, Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, CIBEREHD, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pablo García de Frutos
- Department of Cell Death and Proliferation, IIBB-CSIC, IDIBAPS, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (A.T.); (M.M.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), 28029 Madrid, Spain
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27
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Gas6/Axl Signaling Pathway in the Tumor Immune Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12071850. [PMID: 32660000 PMCID: PMC7408754 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12071850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Receptor tyrosine kinases have been shown to dysregulate a number of pathways associated with tumor development, progression, and metastasis. Axl is a receptor tyrosine kinase expressed in many cancer types and has been associated with therapy resistance and poor clinical prognosis and outcomes. In addition, Axl and its ligand growth arrest specific 6 (Gas6) protein are expressed by a number of host cells. The Gas6/Axl signaling pathway has been implicated in the promotion of tumor cell proliferation, survival, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and immune evasion. As a result, Axl is an attractive, novel therapeutic target to impair multiple stages of tumor progression from both neoplastic and host cell axes. This review focuses on the role of the Gas6/Axl signaling pathway in promoting the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, as immune evasion is considered one of the hallmarks of cancer. The review discusses the structure and activation of the Gas6/Axl signaling pathway, GAS6 and AXL expression patterns in the tumor microenvironment, mechanisms of Axl-mediated tumor immune response, and the role of Gas6/Axl signaling in immune cell recruitment.
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Zajac O, Leclere R, Nicolas A, Meseure D, Marchiò C, Vincent-Salomon A, Roman-Roman S, Schoumacher M, Dubois T. AXL Controls Directed Migration of Mesenchymal Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells. Cells 2020; 9:cells9010247. [PMID: 31963783 PMCID: PMC7016818 DOI: 10.3390/cells9010247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive form of breast cancer with high risk of relapse and metastasis. TNBC is a heterogeneous disease comprising different molecular subtypes including those with mesenchymal features. The tyrosine kinase AXL is expressed in mesenchymal cells and plays a role in drug resistance, migration and metastasis. We confirm that AXL is more expressed in mesenchymal TNBC cells compared to luminal breast cancer cells, and that its invalidation impairs cell migration while having no or little effect on cell viability. Here, we found that AXL controls directed migration. We observed that AXL displays a polarized localization at the Golgi apparatus and the leading edge of migratory mesenchymal TNBC cells. AXL co-localizes with F-actin at the front of the cells. In migratory polarized cells, the specific AXL inhibitor R428 displaces AXL and F-actin from the leading edge to a lateral area localized between the front and the rear of the cells where both are enriched in protrusions. In addition, R428 treatment disrupts the polarized localization of the Golgi apparatus towards the leading edge in migratory cells. Immunohistochemical analysis of aggressive chemo-resistant TNBC samples obtained before treatment reveals inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity of the percentage of AXL expressing tumor cells, and a preference of these cells to be in contact with the stroma. Taken together, our study demonstrates that AXL controls directed cell migration most likely by regulating cell polarity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Zajac
- Breast Cancer Biology Group, Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France;
| | - Renaud Leclere
- Department of Pathology, Platform of Investigative Pathology, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France; (R.L.); (A.N.); (D.M.)
| | - André Nicolas
- Department of Pathology, Platform of Investigative Pathology, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France; (R.L.); (A.N.); (D.M.)
| | - Didier Meseure
- Department of Pathology, Platform of Investigative Pathology, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France; (R.L.); (A.N.); (D.M.)
| | - Caterina Marchiò
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Via Verdi 8, 10124 Torino TO, Italy;
- Department of Pathology, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France;
| | - Anne Vincent-Salomon
- Department of Pathology, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France;
| | - Sergio Roman-Roman
- Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France;
| | - Marie Schoumacher
- Center for Therapeutic Innovation Oncology, Institut de Recherches Internationales SERVIER, 92284 Suresnes, France;
| | - Thierry Dubois
- Breast Cancer Biology Group, Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, 75005 Paris, France;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-156246250
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Okura N, Nishioka N, Yamada T, Taniguchi H, Tanimura K, Katayama Y, Yoshimura A, Watanabe S, Kikuchi T, Shiotsu S, Kitazaki T, Nishiyama A, Iwasaku M, Kaneko Y, Uchino J, Uehara H, Horinaka M, Sakai T, Tanaka K, Kozaki R, Yano S, Takayama K. ONO-7475, a Novel AXL Inhibitor, Suppresses the Adaptive Resistance to Initial EGFR-TKI Treatment in EGFR-Mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2020; 26:2244-2256. [PMID: 31953310 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-2321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 11/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Currently, an optimal therapeutic strategy comprising molecularly targeted agents for treating EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with acquired resistance to osimertinib is not available. Therefore, the initial therapeutic intervention is crucial for the prolonged survival of these patients. The activation of anexelekto (AXL) signaling is known to be associated with intrinsic and acquired resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs). In this study, we investigated the best therapeutic strategy to combat AXL-induced tolerance to EGFR-TKIs using the novel AXL inhibitor ONO-7475. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We examined the efficacy of ONO-7475 in combination with EGFR-TKIs in EGFR-mutated NSCLC cells using in vitro and in vivo experiments. We investigated the correlation between AXL expression in tumors and clinical outcomes with osimertinib for EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients with acquired resistance to initial EGFR-TKIs. RESULTS ONO-7475 sensitized AXL-overexpressing EGFR-mutant NSCLC cells to the EGFR-TKIs osimertinib and dacomitinib. In addition, ONO-7475 suppressed the emergence and maintenance of EGFR-TKI-tolerant cells. In the cell line-derived xenograft models of AXL-overexpressing EGFR-mutated lung cancer treated with osimertinib, initial combination therapy of ONO-7475 and osimertinib markedly regressed tumors and delayed tumor regrowth compared with osimertinib alone or the combination after acquired resistance to osimertinib. AXL expression in EGFR-TKI refractory tumors did not correlate with the sensitivity of osimertinib. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that ONO-7475 suppresses the emergence and maintenance of tolerant cells to the initial EGFR-TKIs, osimertinib or dacomitinib, in AXL-overexpressing EGFR-mutated NSCLC cells, suggesting that ONO-7475 and osimertinib is a highly potent combination for initial treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoko Okura
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Naoya Nishioka
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tadaaki Yamada
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
| | - Hirokazu Taniguchi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Keiko Tanimura
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yuki Katayama
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Akihiro Yoshimura
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Satoshi Watanabe
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Kikuchi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Shiotsu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Japanese Red Cross Kyoto Daiichi Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takeshi Kitazaki
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Japanese Red Cross Nagasaki Genbaku Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Akihiro Nishiyama
- Division of Medical Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Masahiro Iwasaku
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoshiko Kaneko
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Junji Uchino
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hisanori Uehara
- Division of Pathology, Tokushima University Hospital, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Mano Horinaka
- Department of Drug Discovery Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Sakai
- Department of Drug Discovery Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kohei Tanaka
- Research Center of Oncology, Discovery and Research, Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan
| | - Ryohei Kozaki
- Research Center of Oncology, Discovery and Research, Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan
| | - Seiji Yano
- Division of Medical Oncology, Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Koichi Takayama
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
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30
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AXL receptor tyrosine kinase as a promising anti-cancer approach: functions, molecular mechanisms and clinical applications. Mol Cancer 2019; 18:153. [PMID: 31684958 PMCID: PMC6827209 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-019-1090-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 286] [Impact Index Per Article: 57.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular targeted therapy for cancer has been a research hotspot for decades. AXL is a member of the TAM family with the high-affinity ligand growth arrest-specific protein 6 (GAS6). The Gas6/AXL signalling pathway is associated with tumour cell growth, metastasis, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis, drug resistance, immune regulation and stem cell maintenance. Different therapeutic agents targeting AXL have been developed, typically including small molecule inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), nucleotide aptamers, soluble receptors, and several natural compounds. In this review, we first provide a comprehensive discussion of the structure, function, regulation, and signalling pathways of AXL. Then, we highlight recent strategies for targeting AXL in the treatment of cancer.AXL-targeted drugs, either as single agents or in combination with conventional chemotherapy or other small molecule inhibitors, are likely to improve the survival of many patients. However, future investigations into AXL molecular signalling networks and robust predictive biomarkers are warranted to select patients who could receive clinical benefit and to avoid potential toxicities.
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31
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Xiao Y, Zhao H, Tian L, Nolley R, Diep AN, Ernst A, Fuh KC, Miao YR, von Eyben R, Leppert JT, Brooks JD, Peehl DM, Giaccia AJ, Rankin EB. S100A10 Is a Critical Mediator of GAS6/AXL-Induced Angiogenesis in Renal Cell Carcinoma. Cancer Res 2019; 79:5758-5768. [PMID: 31585940 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-19-1366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Angiogenesis is a hallmark of cancer that promotes tumor progression and metastasis. However, antiangiogenic agents have limited efficacy in cancer therapy due to the development of resistance. In clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), AXL expression is associated with antiangiogenic resistance and poor survival. Here, we establish a role for GAS6/AXL signaling in promoting the angiogenic potential of ccRCC cells through the regulation of the plasminogen receptor S100A10. Genetic and therapeutic inhibition of AXL signaling in ccRCC tumor xenografts reduced tumor vessel density and growth under the renal capsule. GAS6/AXL signaling activated the expression of S100A10 through SRC to promote plasmin production, endothelial cell invasion, and angiogenesis. Importantly, treatment with the small molecule AXL inhibitor cabozantinib or an ultra-high affinity soluble AXL Fc fusion decoy receptor (sAXL) reduced the growth of a pazopanib-resistant ccRCC patient-derived xenograft. Moreover, the combination of sAXL synergized with pazopanib and axitinib to reduce ccRCC patient-derived xenograft growth and vessel density. These findings highlight a role for AXL/S100A10 signaling in mediating the angiogenic potential of ccRCC cells and support the combination of AXL inhibitors with antiangiogenic agents for advanced ccRCC. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings show that angiogenesis in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is regulated through AXL/S100A10 signaling and support the combination of AXL inhibitors with antiangiogenic agents for the treatment of RCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiren Xiao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
| | - Hongjuan Zhao
- Department of Urology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
| | - Lei Tian
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
| | - Rosalie Nolley
- Department of Urology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
| | - Anh N Diep
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
| | - Anne Ernst
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
| | - Katherine C Fuh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Yu Rebecca Miao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
| | - Rie von Eyben
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
| | - John T Leppert
- Department of Urology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
| | - James D Brooks
- Department of Urology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
| | - Donna M Peehl
- Department of Urology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
| | - Amato J Giaccia
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
| | - Erinn B Rankin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
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33
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Jung J, Lee YJ, Choi YH, Park EM, Kim HS, Kang JL. Gas6 Prevents Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Alveolar Epithelial Cells via Production of PGE 2, PGD 2 and Their Receptors. Cells 2019; 8:cells8070643. [PMID: 31247991 PMCID: PMC6678614 DOI: 10.3390/cells8070643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is important in organ fibrosis. We hypothesized that growth arrest-specific protein 6 (Gas6) and its underlying mechanisms play roles in the prevention of EMT in alveolar epithelial cells (ECs). In this study, to determine whether Gas6 prevents TGF-β1-induced EMT in LA-4 and primary alveolar type II ECs, real-time PCR and immunoblotting in cell lysates and ELISA in culture supernatants were performed. Migration and invasion assays were performed using Transwell chambers. Pretreatment of ECs with Gas6 inhibited TGF-β1-induced EMT based on cell morphology, changes in EMT marker expression, and induction of EMT-activating transcription factors. Gas6 enhanced the levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)-derived prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and PGD2 as well as of their receptors. COX-2 inhibitors and antagonists of PGE2 and PGD2 receptors reversed the inhibition of TGF-β1-induced EMT, migration, and invasion by Gas6. Moreover, knockdown of Axl or Mer reversed the enhancement of PGE2 and PGD2 and suppression of EMT, migration and invasion by Gas6. Our data suggest Gas6-Axl or -Mer signalling events may reprogram ECs to resist EMT via the production of PGE2, PGD2, and their receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihye Jung
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07804, Korea.
- Tissue Injury Defense Research Center, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07804, Korea.
| | - Ye-Ji Lee
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07804, Korea.
- Tissue Injury Defense Research Center, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07804, Korea.
| | - Youn-Hee Choi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07804, Korea.
- Tissue Injury Defense Research Center, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07804, Korea.
| | - Eun-Mi Park
- Tissue Injury Defense Research Center, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07804, Korea.
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07804, Korea.
| | - Hee-Sun Kim
- Tissue Injury Defense Research Center, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07804, Korea.
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07804, Korea.
| | - Jihee L Kang
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07804, Korea.
- Tissue Injury Defense Research Center, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07804, Korea.
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34
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Duan Y, Luo L, Qiao C, Li X, Wang J, Liu H, Zhou T, Shen B, Lv M, Feng J. A novel human anti-AXL monoclonal antibody attenuates tumour cell migration. Scand J Immunol 2019; 90:e12777. [PMID: 31075180 DOI: 10.1111/sji.12777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 05/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
TAM family members (TYRO3, AXL and MERTK) play essential roles in the resolution of inflammation and in infectious diseases and cancer. AXL, a tyrosine kinase receptor, is commonly overexpressed in several solid tumours and numerous hematopoietic malignancies including acute myeloid leukaemia, acute lymphocytic leukaemia, chronic myeloid leukaemia, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and multiple myeloma. AXL significantly promotes tumour cell migration, invasion and metastasis, as well as angiogenesis. AXL also plays an important role in inflammation and macrophage ontogeny. Recent studies have revealed that AXL contributes to leukaemic phenotypes through activation of oncogenic signalling pathways that lead to increased cell migration and proliferation. To evaluate the mechanisms underlying the role of AXL signalling in tumour metastasis, we screened a phage display library to generate a novel human monoclonal antibody, named DAXL-88, that recognizes both human and murine AXL. The concentrations of DAXL-88 required for 50% maximal binding to human and murine AXL were 0.118 and 0.164 μg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, DAXL-88 bound to human AXL with high affinity (KD ~ 370 pM). DAXL-88 blocked the interaction between AXL and its ligand, growth arrest-specific gene 6 (GAS6), with a half maximal inhibitory concentration of 2.16 μg/mL. Moreover, DAXL-88 inhibited AXL/GAS6-dependent cell signalling, which is implicated in cell migration and invasion. In conclusion, the novel anti-AXL DAXL-88 high-affinity antibody blocks the interaction between AXL and GAS6 and inhibits tumour cell migration and invasion induced by GAS6. Thus, DAXL-88 offers promise for the development of targeted therapeutic strategies in solid tumours, leukaemias and other lymphoid neoplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanting Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Gene Engineering Antibody, Beijing, China
| | - Longlong Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Gene Engineering Antibody, Beijing, China
| | - Chunxia Qiao
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Gene Engineering Antibody, Beijing, China
| | - Xinying Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Gene Engineering Antibody, Beijing, China.,Institute of Military Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Gene Engineering Antibody, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Liu
- Joint National Laboratory for Antibody Drug Engineering, Henan University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Tingting Zhou
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Gene Engineering Antibody, Beijing, China.,Institute of Military Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Beifen Shen
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Gene Engineering Antibody, Beijing, China.,Institute of Military Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ming Lv
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Gene Engineering Antibody, Beijing, China.,Institute of Military Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiannan Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Gene Engineering Antibody, Beijing, China
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35
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Axl signaling is an important mediator of tumor angiogenesis. Oncotarget 2019; 10:2887-2898. [PMID: 31080559 PMCID: PMC6499597 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.26882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The growth of primary tumors as well as metastatic neoplastic lesions is strongly dependent on the cancer cells’ ability to initiate their own vascular network. This process, angiogenesis, which involves the proliferation, migration, and invasion of endothelial cells, is critically dependent on a variety of signaling molecules that target specific receptors, most notably tyrosine kinases. One receptor tyrosine kinase associated with poor prognosis, metastasis, and outcome in a variety of tumor types, is Axl. Although the role of Axl in tumor cell migration and invasion are well recognized, little is known about the involvement of Axl signaling in the initiation of angiogenesis. Here, we show that Axl inhibition in tumor cells decreases the secretion of pro-angiogenic factors and impairs functional properties of endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo. These data indicate that Axl signaling is an important contributor to tumor angiogenesis.
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36
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Abstract
IMPACT STATEMENT Cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide. In 2016, 8.9 million people are estimated to have died from various forms of cancer. The current treatments, including surgery with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, are not effective enough to provide full protection from cancer, which highlights the need for developing novel therapy strategies. In this review, we summarize the molecular biology of a unique member of a subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinase, TYRO3 and discuss the new insights in TYRO3-targeted treatment for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Ling Hsu
- 1 Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
| | - Jonathan Jou
- 2 College of Medicine, University of Illinois, IL 60612, USA
| | - Shaw-Jenq Tsai
- 1 Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
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37
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Dillekås H, Straume O. The link between wound healing and escape from tumor dormancy. Surg Oncol 2018; 28:50-56. [PMID: 30851911 DOI: 10.1016/j.suronc.2018.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Tumor dormancy is considered one of the major unsolved questions in cancer biology. Understanding the mechanisms responsible for maintaining and interrupting dormancy would be a major step towards preventing overt metastatic disease. Increasing evidence points to tissue trauma and subsequent wound healing as contributing events in escape from dormancy. In this review, we outline relevant aspects of the wound healing process, and relate this to mechanisms of tumor dormancy and metastatic progression. In addition to important findings in epidemiological and experimental studies, more direct evidence of such a link has recently been presented. These results can have major implications for treatment and prevention of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Dillekås
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, N5020, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Oddbjørn Straume
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, N5020, Bergen, Norway; Department of Oncology and Medical Physics, Haukeland University Hospital, N5021, Bergen, Norway.
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38
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Lu L, Kok CH, Saunders VA, Wang J, McLean JA, Hughes TP, White DL. Modelling ponatinib resistance in tyrosine kinase inhibitor-naïve and dasatinib resistant BCR-ABL1+ cell lines. Oncotarget 2018; 9:34735-34747. [PMID: 30410673 PMCID: PMC6205183 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.26187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
TKI resistance remains a major impediment to successful treatment of CML. In this study, we investigated the emerging modes of ponatinib resistance in TKI-naïve and dasatinib resistant BCR-ABL1+ cell lines. To investigate potential resistance mechanisms, ponatinib resistance was generated in BCR-ABL1+ cell-lines by long-term exposure to increasing concentrations of ponatinib. Two cell lines with prior dasatinib resistance demonstrated BCR-ABL1 kinase domain (KD) mutation(s) upon exposure to ponatinib. In one of these cell lines the T315I mutation had emerged during dasatinib exposure. When further cultured with ponatinib, the T315I mutation level and BCR-ABL1 mRNA expression level were increased. In the other cell line, compound mutations G250E/E255K developed with ponatinib exposure. In contrast, the ponatinib resistant cell lines that had no prior exposure to other TKIs (TKI-naïve) did not develop BCR-ABL1 KD mutations. Rather, both of these cell lines demonstrated Bcr-Abl-independent resistance via Axl overexpression. Axl, a receptor tyrosine kinase, has previously been associated with imatinib and nilotinib resistance. Ponatinib sensitivity was restored following Axl inhibition or shRNA-mediated-knockdown of Axl, suggesting that Axl was the primary driver of resistance and a potential target for therapy in this setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Lu
- South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Cancer Theme, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Chung Hoow Kok
- South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Cancer Theme, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Verity Ann Saunders
- South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Cancer Theme, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Jueqiong Wang
- Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jennifer Anne McLean
- South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Cancer Theme, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Timothy Peter Hughes
- South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Cancer Theme, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,Department of Haematology, SA Pathology, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Deborah Lee White
- South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Cancer Theme, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,School of Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,Discipline of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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39
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Szabadkai I, Torka R, Garamvölgyi R, Baska F, Gyulavári P, Boros S, Illyés E, Choidas A, Ullrich A, Őrfi L. Discovery of N-[4-(Quinolin-4-yloxy)phenyl]benzenesulfonamides as Novel AXL Kinase Inhibitors. J Med Chem 2018; 61:6277-6292. [PMID: 29928803 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The overexpression of AXL kinase has been described in many types of cancer. Due to its role in proliferation, survival, migration, and resistance, AXL represents a promising target in the treatment of the disease. In this study we present a novel compound family that successfully targets the AXL kinase. Through optimization and detailed SAR studies we developed low nanomolar inhibitors, and after further biological characterization we identified a potent AXL kinase inhibitor with favorable pharmacokinetic profile. The antitumor activity was determined in xenograft models, and the lead compounds reduced the tumor size by 40% with no observed toxicity as well as lung metastasis formation by 66% when compared to vehicle control.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert Torka
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry , University Halle-Wittenberg , Halle (Saale) 06108 , Germany
| | - Rita Garamvölgyi
- Vichem Chemie Research Ltd. , Budapest 1022 , Hungary
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry , Semmelweis University , Budapest 1092 , Hungary
| | - Ferenc Baska
- Vichem Chemie Research Ltd. , Budapest 1022 , Hungary
| | - Pál Gyulavári
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry , Semmelweis University , Budapest 1094 , Hungary
| | - Sándor Boros
- Vichem Chemie Research Ltd. , Budapest 1022 , Hungary
| | - Eszter Illyés
- Vichem Chemie Research Ltd. , Budapest 1022 , Hungary
| | - Axel Choidas
- Lead Discovery Center GmbH , Dortmund 44227 , Germany
| | - Axel Ullrich
- Department of Molecular Biology , Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry , Martinsried 82152 , Germany
| | - László Őrfi
- Vichem Chemie Research Ltd. , Budapest 1022 , Hungary
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry , Semmelweis University , Budapest 1092 , Hungary
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40
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Divine LM, Nguyen MR, Meller E, Desai RA, Arif B, Rankin EB, Bligard KH, Meyerson C, Hagemann IS, Massad M, Thaker PH, Hagemann AR, McCourt CK, Powell MA, Mutch DG, Fuh KC. AXL modulates extracellular matrix protein expression and is essential for invasion and metastasis in endometrial cancer. Oncotarget 2018; 7:77291-77305. [PMID: 27764792 PMCID: PMC5340229 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.12637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 09/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The receptor tyrosine kinase AXL promotes migration, invasion, and metastasis. Here, we evaluated the role of AXL in endometrial cancer. High immunohistochemical expression of AXL was found in 76% (63/83) of advanced-stage, and 77% (82/107) of high-grade specimens and correlated with worse survival in uterine serous cancer patients. In vitro, genetic silencing of AXL inhibited migration and invasion but had no effect on proliferation of ARK1 endometrial cancer cells. AXL-deficient cells showed significantly decreased expression of phospho-AKT as well as uPA, MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9. In a xenograft model of human uterine serous carcinoma with AXL-deficient ARK1 cells, there was significantly less tumor burden than xenografts with control ARK1 cells. Together, these findings underscore the therapeutic potentials of AXL as a candidate target for treatment of metastatic endometrial cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Divine
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Mai R Nguyen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Eric Meller
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Riva A Desai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Batool Arif
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Erinn B Rankin
- Division of Radiation and Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Katherine H Bligard
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Cherise Meyerson
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ian S Hagemann
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Maria Massad
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Premal H Thaker
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Andrea R Hagemann
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Carolyn K McCourt
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Matt A Powell
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - David G Mutch
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Katherine C Fuh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.,Center for Reproductive Health Sciences (CRepHS), Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
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41
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Wu G, Ma Z, Cheng Y, Hu W, Deng C, Jiang S, Li T, Chen F, Yang Y. Targeting Gas6/TAM in cancer cells and tumor microenvironment. Mol Cancer 2018; 17:20. [PMID: 29386018 PMCID: PMC5793417 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-018-0769-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Growth arrest-specific 6, also known as Gas6, is a human gene encoding the Gas6 protein, which was originally found to be upregulated in growth-arrested fibroblasts. Gas6 is a member of the vitamin K-dependent family of proteins expressed in many human tissues and regulates several biological processes in cells, including proliferation, survival and migration, by binding to its receptors Tyro3, Axl and Mer (TAM). In recent years, the roles of Gas6/TAM signalling in cancer cells and the tumour microenvironment have been studied, and some progress has made in targeted therapy, providing new potential directions for future investigations of cancer treatment. In this review, we introduce the Gas6 and TAM receptors and describe their involvement in different cancers and discuss the roles of Gas6 in cancer cells, the tumour microenvironment and metastasis. Finally, we introduce recent studies on Gas6/TAM targeting in cancer therapy, which will assist in the experimental design of future analyses and increase the potential use of Gas6 as a therapeutic target for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiling Wu
- 0000 0004 1761 5538grid.412262.1Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education. Faculty of Life Sciences, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi’an, 710069 China ,0000 0004 1761 4404grid.233520.5Department of Aerospace Medicine, The Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Changle West Road, Xi’an, 710032 China
| | - Zhiqiang Ma
- 0000 0004 1791 6584grid.460007.5Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, 1 Xinsi Road, Xi’an, 710038 China
| | - Yicheng Cheng
- 0000 0004 1765 1045grid.410745.3Department of Stomatology, Bayi Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210002 China
| | - Wei Hu
- 0000 0004 1761 4404grid.233520.5Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Changle West Road, Xi’an, 710032 China
| | - Chao Deng
- grid.452438.cDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, 277 Yanta West Road, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710061 China
| | - Shuai Jiang
- 0000 0004 1761 4404grid.233520.5Department of Aerospace Medicine, The Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Changle West Road, Xi’an, 710032 China
| | - Tian Li
- 0000 0004 1765 1045grid.410745.3Department of Stomatology, Bayi Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210002 China
| | - Fulin Chen
- 0000 0004 1761 5538grid.412262.1Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education. Faculty of Life Sciences, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi’an, 710069 China
| | - Yang Yang
- 0000 0004 1761 5538grid.412262.1Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education. Faculty of Life Sciences, Northwest University, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi’an, 710069 China ,0000 0004 1761 4404grid.233520.5Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Changle West Road, Xi’an, 710032 China
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42
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Palisoul ML, Quinn JM, Schepers E, Hagemann IS, Guo L, Reger K, Hagemann AR, McCourt CK, Thaker PH, Powell MA, Mutch DG, Fuh KC. Inhibition of the Receptor Tyrosine Kinase AXL Restores Paclitaxel Chemosensitivity in Uterine Serous Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2017; 16:2881-2891. [PMID: 28904132 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-17-0587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Revised: 08/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Uterine serous cancer (USC) is aggressive, and the majority of recurrent cases are chemoresistant. Because the receptor tyrosine kinase AXL promotes invasion and metastasis of USC and is implicated in chemoresistance in other cancers, we assessed the role of AXL in paclitaxel resistance in USC, determined the mechanism of action, and sought to restore chemosensitivity by inhibiting AXL in vitro and in vivo We used short hairpin RNAs and BGB324 to knock down and inhibit AXL. We assessed sensitivity of USC cell lines to paclitaxel and measured paclitaxel intracellular accumulation in vitro in the presence or absence of AXL. We also examined the role of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in AXL-mediated paclitaxel resistance. Finally, we treated USC xenografts with paclitaxel, BGB324, or paclitaxel plus BGB324 and monitored tumor burden. AXL expression was higher in chemoresistant USC patient tumors and cell lines than in chemosensitive tumors and cell lines. Knockdown or inhibition of AXL increased sensitivity of USC cell lines to paclitaxel in vitro and increased cellular accumulation of paclitaxel. AXL promoted chemoresistance even in cells that underwent the EMT in vitro Finally, in vivo studies of combination treatment with BGB324 and paclitaxel showed a greater than 51% decrease in tumor volume after 2 weeks of treatment when compared with no treatment or single-agent treatments (P < 0.001). Our results show that AXL expression mediates chemoresistance independent of EMT and prevents accumulation of paclitaxel. This study supports the continued investigation of AXL as a clinical target, particularly in chemoresistant USC. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(12); 2881-91. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marguerite L Palisoul
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.,Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Jeanne M Quinn
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.,Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Emily Schepers
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.,Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Ian S Hagemann
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Lei Guo
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.,Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Kelsey Reger
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.,Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Andrea R Hagemann
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Carolyn K McCourt
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Premal H Thaker
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Matthew A Powell
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - David G Mutch
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Katherine C Fuh
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri. .,Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
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43
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Abstract
A major challenge in anticancer treatment is the pre-existence or emergence of resistance to therapy. AXL and MER are two members of the TAM (TYRO3-AXL-MER) family of receptor tyrosine kinases, which, when activated, can regulate tumor cell survival, proliferation, migration and invasion, angiogenesis, and tumor-host interactions. An increasing body of evidence strongly suggests that these receptors play major roles in resistance to targeted therapies and conventional cytotoxic agents. Multiple resistance mechanisms exist, including the direct and indirect crosstalk of AXL and MER with other receptors and the activation of feedback loops regulating AXL and MER expression and activity. These mechanisms may be innate, adaptive, or acquired. A principal role of AXL appears to be in sustaining a mesenchymal phenotype, itself a major mechanism of resistance to diverse anticancer therapies. Both AXL and MER play a role in the repression of the innate immune response which may also limit response to treatment. Small molecule and antibody inhibitors of AXL and MER have recently been described, and some of these have already entered clinical trials. The optimal design of treatment strategies to maximize the clinical benefit of these AXL and MER targeting agents are discussed in relation to the different cancer types and the types of resistance encountered. One of the major challenges to successful development of these therapies will be the application of robust predictive biomarkers for clear-cut patient stratification.
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44
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Park JW, Song KD, Kim NY, Choi JY, Hong SA, Oh JH, Kim SW, Lee JH, Park TS, Kim JK, Kim JG, Cho BW. Molecular analysis of alternative transcripts of equine AXL receptor tyrosine kinase gene. ASIAN-AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCES 2017; 30:1471-1477. [PMID: 28854781 PMCID: PMC5582333 DOI: 10.5713/ajas.17.0409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Revised: 06/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Since athletic performance is a most importance trait in horses, most research focused on physiological and physical studies of horse athletic abilities. In contrast, the molecular analysis as well as the regulatory pathway studies remain insufficient for evaluation and prediction of horse athletic abilities. In our previous study, we identified AXL receptor tyrosine kinase (AXL) gene which was expressed as alternative spliced isoforms in skeletal muscle during exercise. In the present study, we validated two AXL alternative splicing transcripts (named as AXLa for long form and AXLb for short form) in equine skeletal muscle to gain insight(s) into the role of each alternative transcript during exercise. METHODS We validated two isoforms of AXL transcripts in horse tissues by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and then cloned the transcripts to confirm the alternative locus and its sequences. Additionally, we examined the expression patterns of AXLa and AXLb transcripts in horse tissues by quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). RESULTS Both of AXLa and AXLb transcripts were expressed in horse skeletal muscle and the expression levels were significantly increased after exercise. The sequencing analysis showed that there was an alternative splicing event at exon 11 between AXLa and AXLb transcripts. 3-dimentional (3D) prediction of the alternative protein structures revealed that the structural distance of the connective region between fibronectin type 3 (FN3) and immunoglobin (Ig) domain was different between two alternative isoforms. CONCLUSION It is assumed that the expression patterns of AXLa and AXLb transcripts would be involved in regulation of exercise-induced stress in horse muscle possibly through an NF-κB signaling pathway. Further study is necessary to uncover biological function(s) and significance of the alternative splicing isoforms in race horse skeletal muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong-Woong Park
- Department of Animal Science, College of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Korea
| | - Ki-Duk Song
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Chonbuk National, University, Jeonju 54896, Korea
| | - Nam Young Kim
- National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Jeju 63242, Korea
| | - Jae-Young Choi
- Department of Animal Science, College of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Korea
| | - Seul A Hong
- Department of Animal Science, College of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Korea
| | - Jin Hyeog Oh
- Department of Animal Science, College of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Korea
| | - Si Won Kim
- Graduate School of International Agricultural Technology and Institute of Green-Bio Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Pyeongchang 25354, Korea
| | - Jeong Hyo Lee
- Graduate School of International Agricultural Technology and Institute of Green-Bio Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Pyeongchang 25354, Korea
| | - Tae Sub Park
- Graduate School of International Agricultural Technology and Institute of Green-Bio Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Pyeongchang 25354, Korea
| | - Jin-Kyoo Kim
- Department of Microbiology, College of Natural Sciences, Changwon National University, Changwon 51140, Korea
| | - Jong Geun Kim
- Graduate School of International Agricultural Technology and Institute of Green-Bio Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Pyeongchang 25354, Korea
| | - Byung-Wook Cho
- Department of Animal Science, College of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Pusan National University, Miryang 50463, Korea
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45
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Goff D, Zhang J, Heckrodt T, Yu J, Ding P, Singh R, Holland S, Li W, Irving M. Discovery of dual Axl/VEGF-R2 inhibitors as potential anti-angiogenic and anti-metastatic drugs for cancer chemotherapy. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2017; 27:3766-3771. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2017.06.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Revised: 06/24/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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46
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Gustafsson A, Fritz HK, Dahlbäck B. Gas6-Axl signaling in presence of Sunitinib is enhanced, diversified and sustained in renal tumor cells, resulting in tumor-progressive advantages. Exp Cell Res 2017; 355:47-56. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2017.03.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2016] [Revised: 02/26/2017] [Accepted: 03/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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47
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de Polo A, Luo Z, Gerarduzzi C, Chen X, Little JB, Yuan ZM. AXL receptor signalling suppresses p53 in melanoma through stabilization of the MDMX-MDM2 complex. J Mol Cell Biol 2017; 9:154-165. [PMID: 27927748 PMCID: PMC5907837 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjw045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Deregulation of the tyrosine kinase signalling is often associated with tumour progression and drug resistance, but its underlying mechanisms are only partly understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of the receptor tyrosine kinase AXL on the stability of the MDMX-MDM2 heterocomplex and the activity of p53 in melanoma cells. Our data demonstrated that AXL overexpression or activation through growth arrest-specific 6 (Gas6) ligand stimulation increases MDMX and MDM2 protein levels and decreases p53 activity. Upon activation, AXL stabilizes MDMX through a post-translational modification that involves phosphorylation of MDMX on the phosphosite Ser314, leading to increased affinity between MDMX and MDM2 and favouring MDMX nuclear translocation. Ser314 phosphorylation can also protect MDMX from MDM2-mediated degradation, leading to stabilization of the MDMX-MDM2 complex. We identified CDK4/6 and p38 MAPK as the two kinases mediating AXL-induced modulation of the MDMX-MDM2 complex, and demonstrated that suppression of AXL, either through siRNA silencing or pharmacological inhibition, increases expression levels of p53 target genes P21, MDM2, and PUMA, improves p53 pathway response to chemotherapy, and sensitizes cells to both Cisplatin and Vemurafenib. Our findings offer an insight into a novel signalling axis linking AXL to p53 and provide a potentially druggable pathway to restore p53 function in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna de Polo
- John B. Little Center for Radiation Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Zhongling Luo
- John B. Little Center for Radiation Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Casimiro Gerarduzzi
- John B. Little Center for Radiation Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Xiang Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - John B. Little
- John B. Little Center for Radiation Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Zhi-Min Yuan
- John B. Little Center for Radiation Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Correspondence to: Zhi-Min Yuan, E-mail:
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48
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Wu G, Ma Z, Hu W, Wang D, Gong B, Fan C, Jiang S, Li T, Gao J, Yang Y. Molecular insights of Gas6/TAM in cancer development and therapy. Cell Death Dis 2017; 8:e2700. [PMID: 28333143 PMCID: PMC5386520 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2017.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Revised: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Since growth arrest-specific gene 6 (Gas6) was discovered in 1988, numerous studies have highlighted the role of the Gas6 protein and its receptors Tyro3, Axl and Mer (collectively referred to as TAM), in proliferation, apoptosis, efferocytosis, leukocyte migration, sequestration and platelet aggregation. Gas6 has a critical role in the development of multiple types of cancers, including pancreatic, prostate, oral, ovarian and renal cancers. Acute myelocytic leukaemia (AML) is a Gas6-dependent cancer, and Gas6 expression predicts poor prognosis in AML. Interestingly, Gas6 also has a role in establishing tumour dormancy in the bone marrow microenvironment and in suppressing intestinal tumorigenesis. Numerous studies regarding cancer therapy have targeted Gas6 and TAM receptors with good results. However, some findings have suggested that Gas6 is associated with the development of resistance to cancer therapies. Concerning these significant effects of Gas6 in numerous cancers, we discuss the roles of Gas6 in cancer development in this review. First, we introduce basic knowledge on Gas6 and TAM receptors. Next, we describe and discuss the involvement of Gas6 and TAM receptors in cancers from different organ systems. Finally, we highlight the progress in therapies targeting Gas6 and TAM receptors. This review presents the significant roles of Gas6 in cancers from different systems and may contribute to the continued promotion of Gas6 as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiling Wu
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, China.,Department of Geriatrics, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, 127 Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Zhiqiang Ma
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, 1 Xinsi Road, Xi'an 710038, China
| | - Wei Hu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Dongjin Wang
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, China
| | - Bing Gong
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, China
| | - Chongxi Fan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Shuai Jiang
- Department of Aerospace Medicine, The Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Tian Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Jianyuan Gao
- Department of Geriatrics, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, 127 Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, China.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Fourth Military Medical University, 169 Changle West Road, Xi'an 710032, China
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49
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Wu N, Huang Y, Zou Z, Gimenez-Capitan A, Yu L, Hu W, Zhu L, Sun X, Sanchez JJ, Guan W, Liu B, Rosell R, Wei J. High BIM mRNA levels are associated with longer survival in advanced gastric cancer. Oncol Lett 2017; 13:1826-1834. [PMID: 28454330 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2017.5660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Accepted: 04/22/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapy drugs, including 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), oxaliplatin and docetaxel, are commonly used in the treatment of gastric cancer (GC). Apoptosis-relevant genes may be associated with drug resistance. In the present study, the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of B-cell lymphoma 2 interacting mediator of cell death (BIM), astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) and AXL receptor tyrosine kinase (AXL) were investigated in 131 advanced GC samples, and the expression levels of these genes were correlated with patients' overall survival (OS). All 131 patients received first-line FOLFOX combination chemotherapy with folinic acid and 5-FU, in which 56 patients were further treated with second-line docetaxel-based chemotherapy. A correlation between the mRNA expression levels of BIM and AEG-1 was observed (rs=0.30; P=0.002). There was no association between the mRNA expression levels of any of the individual genes analyzed and OS in patients only receiving first-line FOLFOX chemotherapy. In a subgroup of patients receiving docetaxel-based second-line chemotherapy, those with high or intermediate levels of BIM exhibited a median OS of 18.2 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 12.8-23.6], compared with 9.6 months (95% CI, 8.9-10.3) in patients with low BIM levels (P=0.008). However, there was no correlation between the mRNA expression levels of AEG-1 or AXL and OS. The risk of mortality was higher in patients with low BIM mRNA levels than in those with high or intermediate BIM mRNA levels (hazard ratio, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.21-5.62; P=0.010). Therefore, BIM may be considered as a biomarker to identify whether patients could benefit from docetaxel-based second-line chemotherapy in GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nandie Wu
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Drum Tower Hospital, Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University, Medical School of Nanjing University, Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, P.R. China
| | - Ying Huang
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Drum Tower Hospital, Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University, Medical School of Nanjing University, Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, P.R. China
| | - Zhengyun Zou
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Drum Tower Hospital, Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University, Medical School of Nanjing University, Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, P.R. China
| | - Ana Gimenez-Capitan
- Pangaea Biotech, Department of Oncology, USP Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona 08001, Spain
| | - Lixia Yu
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Drum Tower Hospital, Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University, Medical School of Nanjing University, Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, P.R. China
| | - Wenjing Hu
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Drum Tower Hospital, Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University, Medical School of Nanjing University, Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, P.R. China
| | - Lijing Zhu
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Drum Tower Hospital, Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University, Medical School of Nanjing University, Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, P.R. China
| | - Xia Sun
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Drum Tower Hospital, Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University, Medical School of Nanjing University, Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, P.R. China
| | - Jose Javier Sanchez
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid 28001, Spain
| | - Wenxian Guan
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, P.R. China
| | - Baorui Liu
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Drum Tower Hospital, Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University, Medical School of Nanjing University, Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, P.R. China
| | - Rafael Rosell
- Pangaea Biotech, Department of Oncology, USP Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona 08001, Spain.,Department of Medical Oncology, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona 08916, Spain
| | - Jia Wei
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Drum Tower Hospital, Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University, Medical School of Nanjing University, Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210008, P.R. China
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50
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Structure-based optimization of 1H-imidazole-2-carboxamides as Axl kinase inhibitors utilizing a Mer mutant surrogate. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2016; 27:1099-1104. [PMID: 28082036 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2016.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2016] [Revised: 12/06/2016] [Accepted: 12/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Axl has been a target of interest in the oncology field for several years based on its role in various oncogenic processes. To date, no wild-type Axl crystal structure has been reported. Herein, we describe the structure-based optimization of a novel chemotype of Axl inhibitors, 1H-imidazole-2-carboxamide, using a mutated kinase homolog, Mer(I650M), as a crystallographic surrogate. Iterative optimization of the initial lead compound (1) led to compound (21), a selective and potent inhibitor of wild-type Axl. Compound (21) will serve as a useful compound for further in vivo studies.
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