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Hu L, Zhang Q. Mechanism of TBK1 activation in cancer cells. CELL INSIGHT 2024; 3:100197. [PMID: 39279883 PMCID: PMC11402294 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellin.2024.100197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2024] [Revised: 08/18/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/18/2024]
Abstract
TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) is a serine/threonine kinase with well-established roles as a central player in innate immune signaling. Dysregulation of TBK1 activity has been implicated in a variety of pathophysiologic conditions, including cancer. Generally, TBK1 acts as an oncogene and increased TBK1 activity, indicated by increased phosphorylation at the Ser172 residue, can be observed in multiple human cancers. TBK1 can be activated either by autophosphorylation of Ser172 or transphosphorylation at this site by upstream kinases. Serving as a hub for integrating numerous extracellular and intracellular signals, TBK1 can be activated through multiple signaling pathways. However, the direct upstream kinase responsible for TBK1 activation remains elusive, which limits our comprehensive understanding of its activation mechanism and potential therapeutic application targeting TBK1-related signaling especially in cancer. In this review, we summarize the findings on mechanisms of TBK1 activation in cancer cells and recent discoveries that shed light on the direct upstream kinases promoting TBK1 activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianxin Hu
- Department of Urology and Institute of Urologic Science and Technology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Qing Zhang
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
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Wu Y, Zhang J, Tian Y, Chi Shing Cho W, Xu HX, Lin ZX, Xian YF. 20(S)-Ginsenoside Rh2 overcomes gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer by inhibiting LAMC2-Modulated ABC transporters. J Adv Res 2024:S2090-1232(24)00390-4. [PMID: 39270979 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2024.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 08/05/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Gemcitabine (GEM) is the first-line drug for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), but drug resistance severely restricts its chemotherapeutic efficacy. Laminin subunit γ2 (LAMC2) plays a crucial role in extracellular matrix formation in the development of GEM-resistance. However, the biological function of LAMC2 in GEM resistance and its molecular mechanisms are still unclear. 20(S)-Ginsenoside Rh2 (Rh2), one of the principal active components isolated from Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, possesses strong anti-tumor effects. However, the effects of Rh2 on overcoming GEM resistance and its action mechanisms remain to be elucidated. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to determine the efficacy of Rh2 on overcoming GEM resistance and to explore its underlying molecular mechanisms. METHODS Clinical study, Western blotting, publicly available databasesand bioinformatic analyses were performed to investigate the protein expression of LAMC2 in the GEM-resistant PDAC patients and the acquired GEM-resistant PDAC cells. Then, the effects of Rh2 on overcoming the GEM resistance in PDAC were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. Stable silencing or overexpression of LAMC2 in the GEM-resistant PDAC cells were established for validating the role of LAMC2 on Rh2 overcoming the GEM resistance in PDAC. RESULTS The protein expression of LAMC2 was markedly increased in the GEM-resistant PDAC patient biopsies compared to the sensitive cases. The protein expression of LAMC2 was significantly higher in the acquired GEM-resistant PDAC cells than that in their parental cells. Rh2 enhanced the chemosensitivity of GEM in the GEM-resistant PDAC cells, and inhibited the tumor growth of Miapaca-2-GR cell-bearing mice and Krastm4TyjTrp53tm1BrnTg (Pdx1-cre/Esr1*) #Dam/J (KPC) mice. Rh2 effectively reversed the GEM resistance in Miapaca-2-GR and Capan-2-GR cells by inhibiting LAMC2 expression through regulating the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Knockdown of LAMC2 enhanced the chemosensitivity of GEM and the effects of Rh2 on overcoming the GEM resistance in PDAC cells and the orthotopic PDAC mouse model. Conversely, LAMC2 overexpression aggravated the chemoresistance of GEM and abolished the effects of Rh2 on overcoming GEM resistance via modulating ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters leading to the active GEM efflux. CONCLUSIONS LAMC2 plays an important role in the GEM resistance in PDAC, and Rh2 is a potential adjuvant for overcoming the chemoresistance of GEM in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulin Wu
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
| | - Juan Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuanyang Tian
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China
| | - William Chi Shing Cho
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Department of Pathology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hong-Xi Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, PR China
| | - Zhi-Xiu Lin
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China; Hong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; The Chinese University of Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Specialty Clinic cum Clinical Teaching and Research Centre, School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Yan-Fang Xian
- School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China; The Chinese University of Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Specialty Clinic cum Clinical Teaching and Research Centre, School of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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Vázquez-Bellón N, Martínez-Bosch N, García de Frutos P, Navarro P. Hallmarks of pancreatic cancer: spotlight on TAM receptors. EBioMedicine 2024; 107:105278. [PMID: 39137571 PMCID: PMC11367522 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105278] [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: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 07/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) represents the most prevalent type of pancreatic cancer and ranks among the most aggressive tumours, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 11%. Projections indicate that by 2030, it will become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. PDAC presents distinctive hallmarks contributing to its dismal prognosis: (i) late diagnosis, (ii) heterogenous and complex mutational landscape, (iii) high metastatic potential, (iv) dense fibrotic stroma, (v) immunosuppressive microenvironment, and (vi) high resistance to therapy. Mounting evidence has shown a role for TAM (Tyro3, AXL, MerTK) family of tyrosine kinase receptors in PDAC initiation and progression. This review aims to describe the impact of TAM receptors on the defining hallmarks of PDAC and discuss potential future directions using these proteins as novel biomarkers for early diagnosis and targets for precision therapy in PDAC, an urgent unmet clinical need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Núria Vázquez-Bellón
- Department of Cell Death and Proliferation, Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona (IIBB)-CSIC and Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; PhD Program in Biomedicine, Facultat de Medicina (Campus Clínic), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Neus Martínez-Bosch
- Cancer Research Program, Hospital del Mar Research Institute (HMRI), Unidad Asociada IIBB-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pablo García de Frutos
- Department of Cell Death and Proliferation, IIBB-CSIC, Unidad Asociada IMIM/IIBB-CSIC, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), and IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Pilar Navarro
- Department of Cell Death and Proliferation, Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona (IIBB)-CSIC and Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; Cancer Research Program, Hospital del Mar Research Institute (HMRI), Unidad Asociada IIBB-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain.
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Rayford A, Gärtner F, Ramnefjell MP, Lorens JB, Micklem DR, Aanerud M, Engelsen AST. AXL expression reflects tumor-immune cell dynamics impacting outcome in non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1444007. [PMID: 39238637 PMCID: PMC11375292 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1444007] [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: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction AXL receptor expression is proposed to confer immune-checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-resistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. We sought to interrogate AXL expression in conjunction with mutational and tumor-microenvironmental features to uncover predictive mechanisms of resistance in ICI-treated NSCLC patients. Methods Tumor samples from 111 NSCLC patients treated with ICI-monotherapy were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for tumor- and immune-AXL expression. Subsets of patients were analyzed by whole-exome sequencing (n = 44) and imaging mass cytometry (n = 14). Results were related to ICI-outcome measurements. Results Tumor-cell AXL expression correlated with aggressive phenotypic features including reduced OS in patients treated with ICIs (P = 0.04) after chemotherapy progression, but conversely associated with improved disease control (P = 0.045) in ICI-treated, PD-L1 high first-line patients. AXL+ immune-cell infiltration correlated with total immune-cell infiltration and improved overall outcomes (PFS: P = 0.044, OS: P = 0.054). Tumor-cell AXL-upregulation showed enrichment in mutations associated with PD-L1-upregulation and ICI-response such as MUC4 and ZNF469, as well as adverse mutations including CSMD1 and LRP1B which associated with an immune-suppressed tumor phenotype and poor ICI prognosis particularly within chemotherapy-treated patients. Tumor mutational burden had no effect on ICI-outcomes and was associated with a lack of tumor-infiltrating immune cells. Spatial-immunophenotyping provided evidence that tumor-cell AXL-upregulation and adverse mutations modulate the tumor microenvironment in favor of infiltrating, activated neutrophils over anti-tumor immune-subsets including CD4 and CD8 T-cells. Conclusion Tumor-cell AXL-upregulation correlated with distinct oncotypes and microenvironmental immune-profiles that define chemotherapy-induced mechanisms of ICI-resistance, which suggests the combination of AXL inhibitors with current chemoimmunotherapy regimens can benefit NSCLC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin Rayford
- Department of Biomedicine and Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Fabian Gärtner
- Department of Thoracic Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Maria P Ramnefjell
- Department of Pathology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - James B Lorens
- Department of Biomedicine and Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | | | - Marianne Aanerud
- Department of Thoracic Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Agnete S T Engelsen
- Department of Biomedicine and Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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Liu Z, Chen L, Zhang J, Yang J, Xiao X, Shan L, Mao W. Recent discovery and development of AXL inhibitors as antitumor agents. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 272:116475. [PMID: 38714043 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116475] [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: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
AXL, a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), plays a pivotal role in various cellular functions. It is primarily involved in processes such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in tumor cells, angiogenesis, apoptosis, immune regulation, and chemotherapy resistance mechanisms. Therefore, targeting AXL is a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of cancer. AXL inhibitors that have entered clinical trials, such as BGB324(1), have shown promising efficacy in the treatment of melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer. Additionally, novel AXL-targeted drugs, such as AXL degraders, offer a potential solution to overcome the limitations of traditional small-molecule AXL inhibitors targeting single pathways. We provide an overview of the structure and biological functions of AXL, discusses its correlation with various cancers, and critically analyzes the structure-activity relationship of AXL small-molecule inhibitors in cellular contexts. Additionally, we summarize multiple research and development strategies, offering insights for the future development of innovative AXL inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihang Liu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Precision Medicine Center, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Laboratory of Neuro-system and Multimorbidity, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China; School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, Sichuan, China
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Precision Medicine Center, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Laboratory of Neuro-system and Multimorbidity, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China; Department of Pharmacy, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610072, Sichuan, China
| | - Jifa Zhang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Precision Medicine Center, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Laboratory of Neuro-system and Multimorbidity, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Precision Medicine Center, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Laboratory of Neuro-system and Multimorbidity, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Xue Xiao
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
| | - Lianhai Shan
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, Sichuan, China.
| | - Wuyu Mao
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Targeted Tracer Research and Development Laboratory, Institute of Respiratory Health, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, Precision Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province & Precision Medicine Center, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Laboratory of Neuro-system and Multimorbidity, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
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Danielli SG, Wurth J, Morice S, Kisele S, Surdez D, Delattre O, Bode PK, Wachtel M, Schäfer BW. Evaluation of the Role of AXL in Fusion-positive Pediatric Rhabdomyosarcoma Identifies the Small-molecule Inhibitor Bemcentinib (BGB324) as Potent Chemosensitizer. Mol Cancer Ther 2024; 23:864-876. [PMID: 38471796 PMCID: PMC11148551 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-23-0285] [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: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a highly aggressive pediatric cancer with features of skeletal muscle differentiation. More than 80% of the high-risk patients ultimately fail to respond to chemotherapy treatment, leading to limited therapeutic options and dismal prognostic rates. The lack of response and subsequent tumor recurrence is driven in part by stem cell-like cells, the tumor subpopulation that is enriched after treatment, and characterized by expression of the AXL receptor tyrosine kinase (AXL). AXL mediates survival, migration, and therapy resistance in several cancer types; however, its function in RMS remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of AXL in RMS tumorigenesis, migration, and chemotherapy response, and whether targeting of AXL with small-molecule inhibitors could potentiate the efficacy of chemotherapy. We show that AXL is expressed in a heterogeneous manner in patient-derived xenografts (PDX), primary cultures and cell line models of RMS, consistent with its stem cell-state selectivity. By generating a CRISPR/Cas9 AXL knock-out and overexpressing models, we show that AXL contributes to the migratory phenotype of RMS, but not to chemotherapy resistance. Instead, pharmacologic blockade with the AXL inhibitors bemcentinib (BGB324), cabozantinib and NPS-1034 rapidly killed RMS cells in an AXL-independent manner and augmented the efficacy of the chemotherapeutics vincristine and cyclophosphamide. In vivo administration of the combination of bemcentinib and vincristine exerted strong antitumoral activity in a rapidly progressing PDX mouse model, significantly reducing tumor burden compared with single-agent treatment. Collectively, our data identify bemcentinib as a promising drug to improve chemotherapy efficacy in patients with RMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara G. Danielli
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jakob Wurth
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Morice
- Balgrist University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zürich (UZH), Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Samanta Kisele
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Didier Surdez
- Balgrist University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zürich (UZH), Zürich, Switzerland
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisée LNCC, Diversity and Plasticity of Childhood Tumors Laboratory, PSL Research University, SIREDO Oncology Center, Institut Curie Research Center, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Delattre
- INSERM U830, Équipe Labellisée LNCC, Diversity and Plasticity of Childhood Tumors Laboratory, PSL Research University, SIREDO Oncology Center, Institut Curie Research Center, Paris, France
| | - Peter K. Bode
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Marco Wachtel
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Beat W. Schäfer
- Department of Oncology and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
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Grøndal SM, Tutusaus A, Boix L, Reig M, Blø M, Hodneland L, Gausdal G, Jackson A, Garcia de Frutos P, Lorens JB, Morales A, Marí M. Dynamic changes in immune cell populations by AXL kinase targeting diminish liver inflammation and fibrosis in experimental MASH. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1400553. [PMID: 38817615 PMCID: PMC11137289 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1400553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and aims Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a significant health concern with limited treatment options. AXL, a receptor tyrosine kinase activated by the GAS6 ligand, promotes MASH through activation of hepatic stellate cells and inflammatory macrophages. This study identified cell subsets affected by MASH progression and the effect of AXL inhibition. Methods Mice were fed chow or different fat-enriched diets to induce MASH, and small molecule AXL kinase inhibition with bemcentinib was evaluated. Gene expression was measured by qPCR. Time-of-flight mass cytometry (CyTOF) used single cells from dissociated livers, acquired on the Fluidigm Helios, and cell populations were studied using machine learning. Results In mice fed different fat-enriched diets, liver steatosis alone was insufficient to elevate plasma soluble AXL (sAXL) levels. However, in conjunction with inflammation, sAXL increases, serving as an early indicator of steatohepatitis progression. Bemcentinib, an AXL inhibitor, effectively reduced proinflammatory responses in MASH models, even before fibrosis appearance. Utilizing CyTOF analysis, we detected a decreased population of Kupffer cells during MASH while promoting infiltration of monocytes/macrophages and CD8+ T cells. Bemcentinib partially restored Kupffer cells, reduced pDCs and GzmB- NK cells, and increased GzmB+CD8+ T cells and LSECs. Additionally, AXL inhibition enhanced a subtype of GzmB+CD8+ tissue-resident memory T cells characterized by CX3CR1 expression. Furthermore, bemcentinib altered the transcriptomic landscape associated with MASH progression, particularly in TLR signaling and inflammatory response, exhibiting differential cytokine expression in the plasma, consistent with liver repair and decreased inflammation. Conclusion Our findings highlight sAXL as a biomarker for monitoring MASH progression and demonstrate that AXL targeting shifted liver macrophages and CD8+ T-cell subsets away from an inflammatory phenotype toward fibrotic resolution and organ healing, presenting a promising strategy for MASH treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sturla Magnus Grøndal
- Department of Biomedicine, Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Anna Tutusaus
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona (IIBB-CSIC), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Center (BCLC), Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Loreto Boix
- Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Center (BCLC), Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Reig
- Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Center (BCLC), Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Pablo Garcia de Frutos
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona (IIBB-CSIC), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Unidad Asociada (IMIM), Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona (IIBB-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - James Bradley Lorens
- Department of Biomedicine, Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- BerGenBio ASA, Bergen, Norway
| | - Albert Morales
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona (IIBB-CSIC), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Center (BCLC), Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Montserrat Marí
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona (IIBB-CSIC), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Center (BCLC), Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Barcelona, Spain
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Sweeney R, Omstead AN, Fitzpatrick JT, Zheng P, Gorbunova A, Grayhack EE, Goel A, Khan AF, Kosovec JE, Wagner PL, Jobe BA, Kelly RJ, Zaidi AH. Sitravatinib combined with PD-1 blockade enhances cytotoxic T-cell infiltration by M2 to M1 tumor macrophage repolarization in esophageal adenocarcinoma. Carcinogenesis 2024; 45:210-219. [PMID: 38019590 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgad087] [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: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Sitravatinib is a novel multi-gene tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that targets tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) receptors, VEGF, PDGF and c-Kit. Currently, sitravatinib is actively being studied in clinical trials across solid tumors and other TKIs have shown efficacy in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in cancer models. In this study, we investigated the anti-tumor activity of sitravatinib alone and in combination with PD-1 blockade in an EAC rat model. Treatment response was evaluated by mortality, pre- and post-treatment MRI, gene expression, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. Our results demonstrated adequate safety and significant tumor shrinkage in animals treated with sitravatinib, and more profoundly, sitravatinib and PD-1 inhibitor, AUNP-12 (P < 0.01). Suppression of TAM receptors resulted in increased gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and decreased expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines, enhanced infiltration of CD8+ T cells, and M2 to M1 macrophage phenotype repolarization in the tumor microenvironment of treated animals (P < 0.01). Moreover, endpoint immunohistochemistry staining corroborated the anti-tumor activity by downregulation of Ki67 and upregulation of Caspase-3 in the treated animals. Additionally, pretreatment gene expression of TAM receptors and PD-L1 were significantly higher in major responders compared with the non-responders, in animals that received sitravatinib and AUNP-12 (P < 0.02), confirming that TAM suppression enhances the efficacy of PD-1 blockade. In conclusion, this study proposes a promising immunomodulatory strategy using a multi-gene TKI to overcome developed resistance to an ICI in EAC, establishing rationale for future clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Sweeney
- Allegheny Health Network, Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ashten N Omstead
- Allegheny Health Network, Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - John T Fitzpatrick
- Allegheny Health Network, Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ping Zheng
- Allegheny Health Network, Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Anastasia Gorbunova
- Allegheny Health Network, Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Erin E Grayhack
- Allegheny Health Network, Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Arul Goel
- University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Alisha F Khan
- Allegheny Health Network, Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Patrick L Wagner
- Allegheny Health Network, Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Blair A Jobe
- Allegheny Health Network, Esophageal Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ronan J Kelly
- Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Ali H Zaidi
- Allegheny Health Network, Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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9
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Miao YR, Rankin EB, Giaccia AJ. Therapeutic targeting of the functionally elusive TAM receptor family. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2024; 23:201-217. [PMID: 38092952 PMCID: PMC11335090 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-023-00846-8] [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: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
The TAM receptor family of TYRO3, AXL and MERTK regulates tissue and immune homeostasis. Aberrant TAM receptor signalling has been linked to a range of diseases, including cancer, fibrosis and viral infections. Specifically, the dysregulation of TAM receptors can enhance tumour growth and metastasis due to their involvement in multiple oncogenic pathways. For example, TAM receptors have been implicated in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, maintaining the stem cell phenotype, immune modulation, proliferation, angiogenesis and resistance to conventional and targeted therapies. Therapeutically, multiple TAM receptor inhibitors are in preclinical and clinical development for cancers and other indications, with those targeting AXL being the most clinically advanced. Although there has been notable clinical advancement in recent years, challenges persist. This Review aims to provide both biological and clinical insights into the current therapeutic landscape of TAM receptor inhibitors, and evaluates their potential for the treatment of cancer and non-malignant diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Rebecca Miao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Erinn B Rankin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
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10
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Lan Y, Peng X, Ji Y, Su Y, Duan W, Ai J, Zhang H. Discovery of a 1,6-naphthyridin-4-one-based AXL inhibitor with improved pharmacokinetics and enhanced in vivo antitumor efficacy. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 265:116045. [PMID: 38128234 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.116045] [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: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The receptor tyrosine kinase AXL has emerged as an attractive target in anticancer drug discovery. Herein, we described the discovery of a new series of 1,6-naphthyridin-4-one derivatives as potent AXL inhibitors. Starting from a low in vivo potency compound 9 which was previously reported by our group, we utilized structure-based drug design and scaffold hopping strategies to discover potent AXL inhibitors. The privileged compound 13c was a highly potent and orally bioavailable AXL inhibitor with an IC50 value of 3.2 ± 0.3 nM. Compound 13c exhibited significantly improved in vivo antitumor efficacy in AXL-driven tumor xenograft mice, causing tumor regression at well-tolerated dose, and demonstrated favorable pharmacokinetic properties (MRT = 16.5 h, AUC0-∞ = 59,815 ng h/mL) in Sprague-Dawley rats. These results suggest that 13c is a promising therapeutic candidate for AXL-targeting cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaohan Lan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xia Peng
- Division of Antitumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yinchun Ji
- Division of Antitumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yi Su
- Division of Antitumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Wenhu Duan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China; Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai, Shandong, 264117, China
| | - Jing Ai
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China; Division of Antitumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Hefeng Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China.
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11
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Codilupi T, Szybinski J, Arunasalam S, Jungius S, Dunbar AC, Stivala S, Brkic S, Albrecht C, Vokalova L, Yang JL, Buczak K, Ghosh N, Passweg JR, Rovo A, Angelillo-Scherrer A, Pankov D, Dirnhofer S, Levine RL, Koche R, Meyer SC. Development of Resistance to Type II JAK2 Inhibitors in MPN Depends on AXL Kinase and Is Targetable. Clin Cancer Res 2024; 30:586-599. [PMID: 37992313 PMCID: PMC10831334 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-0163] [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: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) dysregulate JAK2 signaling. Because clinical JAK2 inhibitors have limited disease-modifying effects, type II JAK2 inhibitors such as CHZ868 stabilizing inactive JAK2 and reducing MPN clones, gain interest. We studied whether MPN cells escape from type ll inhibition. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN MPN cells were continuously exposed to CHZ868. We used phosphoproteomic analyses and ATAC/RNA sequencing to characterize acquired resistance to type II JAK2 inhibition, and targeted candidate mediators in MPN cells and mice. RESULTS MPN cells showed increased IC50 and reduced apoptosis upon CHZ868 reflecting acquired resistance to JAK2 inhibition. Among >2,500 differential phospho-sites, MAPK pathway activation was most prominent, while JAK2-STAT3/5 remained suppressed. Altered histone occupancy promoting AP-1/GATA binding motif exposure associated with upregulated AXL kinase and enriched RAS target gene profiles. AXL knockdown resensitized MPN cells and combined JAK2/AXL inhibition using bemcentinib or gilteritinib reduced IC50 to levels of sensitive cells. While resistant cells induced tumor growth in NOD/SCID gamma mice despite JAK2 inhibition, JAK2/AXL inhibition largely prevented tumor progression. Because inhibitors of MAPK pathway kinases such as MEK are clinically used in other malignancies, we evaluated JAK2/MAPK inhibition with trametinib to interfere with AXL/MAPK-induced resistance. Tumor growth was halted similarly to JAK2/AXL inhibition and in a systemic cell line-derived mouse model, marrow infiltration was decreased supporting dependency on AXL/MAPK. CONCLUSIONS We report on a novel mechanism of AXL/MAPK-driven escape from type II JAK2 inhibition, which is targetable at different nodes. This highlights AXL as mediator of acquired resistance warranting inhibition to enhance sustainability of JAK2 inhibition in MPN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Codilupi
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jakub Szybinski
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stefanie Arunasalam
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department for Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Hematology and Central Hematology Laboratory, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Jungius
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department for Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Hematology and Central Hematology Laboratory, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andrew C. Dunbar
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program and Leukemia service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Simona Stivala
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sime Brkic
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Camille Albrecht
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department for Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Hematology and Central Hematology Laboratory, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lenka Vokalova
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department for Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Hematology and Central Hematology Laboratory, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Julie L. Yang
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program and Leukemia service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Katarzyna Buczak
- Proteomics Core Facility Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nilabh Ghosh
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jakob R. Passweg
- Division of Hematology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alicia Rovo
- Department of Hematology and Central Hematology Laboratory, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Anne Angelillo-Scherrer
- Department of Hematology and Central Hematology Laboratory, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Dmitry Pankov
- Immunology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Stefan Dirnhofer
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ross L. Levine
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program and Leukemia service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Richard Koche
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program and Leukemia service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Sara C. Meyer
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department for Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Hematology and Central Hematology Laboratory, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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12
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Fang F, Dai Y, Wang H, Ji Y, Liang X, Peng X, Li J, Zhao Y, Li C, Wang D, Li Y, Zhang D, Zhang D, Geng M, Liu H, Ai J, Zhou Y. Structure-based drug discovery of novel fused-pyrazolone carboxamide derivatives as potent and selective AXL inhibitors. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023; 13:4918-4933. [PMID: 38045061 PMCID: PMC10692477 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
As a novel and promising antitumor target, AXL plays an important role in tumor growth, metastasis, immunosuppression and drug resistance of various malignancies, which has attracted extensive research interest in recent years. In this study, by employing the structure-based drug design and bioisosterism strategies, we designed and synthesized in total 54 novel AXL inhibitors featuring a fused-pyrazolone carboxamide scaffold, of which up to 20 compounds exhibited excellent AXL kinase and BaF3/TEL-AXL cell viability inhibitions. Notably, compound 59 showed a desirable AXL kinase inhibitory activity (IC50: 3.5 nmol/L) as well as good kinase selectivity, and it effectively blocked the cellular AXL signaling. In turn, compound 59 could potently inhibit BaF3/TEL-AXL cell viability (IC50: 1.5 nmol/L) and significantly suppress GAS6/AXL-mediated cancer cell invasion, migration and wound healing at the nanomolar level. More importantly, compound 59 oral administration showed good pharmacokinetic profile and in vivo antitumor efficiency, in which we observed significant AXL phosphorylation suppression, and its antitumor efficacy at 20 mg/kg (qd) was comparable to that of BGB324 at 50 mg/kg (bid), the most advanced AXL inhibitor. Taken together, this work provided a valuable lead compound as a potential AXL inhibitor for the further antitumor drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yang Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Drug Discovery & Development Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yinchun Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xuewu Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xia Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jiyuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yangrong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Chunpu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Danyi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yazhou Li
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Dong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Meiyu Geng
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai 264117, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Hong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Jing Ai
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Yu Zhou
- Drug Discovery & Development Center, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS, Hangzhou 310024, China
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13
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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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14
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Gadiyar V, Patel G, Chen J, Vigil D, Ji N, Campbell V, Sharma K, Shi Y, Weiss MM, Birge RB, Davra V. Targeted degradation of MERTK and other TAM receptor paralogs by heterobifunctional targeted protein degraders. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1135373. [PMID: 37545504 PMCID: PMC10397400 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1135373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
TAM receptors (TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK) comprise a family of homologous receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) that are expressed across a range of liquid and solid tumors where they contribute to both oncogenic signaling to promote tumor proliferation and survival, as well as expressed on myeloid and immune cells where they function to suppress host anti-tumor immunity. In recent years, several strategies have been employed to inhibit TAM kinases, most notably small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors and inhibitory neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that block receptor dimerization. Targeted protein degraders (TPD) use the ubiquitin proteasome pathway to redirect E3 ubiquitin ligase activity and target specific proteins for degradation. Here we employ first-in-class TPDs specific for MERTK/TAMs that consist of a cereblon E3 ligase binder linked to a tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting MERTK and/or AXL and TYRO3. A series of MERTK TPDs were designed and investigated for their capacity to selectively degrade MERTK chimeric receptors, reduce surface expression on primary efferocytic bone marrow-derived macrophages, and impact on functional reduction in efferocytosis (clearance of apoptotic cells). We demonstrate proof-of-concept and establish that TPDs can be tailored to either selectivity degrades MERTK or concurrently degrade multiple TAMs and modulate receptor expression in vitro and in vivo. This work demonstrates the utility of proteome editing, enabled by tool degraders developed here towards dissecting the therapeutically relevant pathway biology in preclinical models, and the ability for TPDs to degrade transmembrane proteins. These data also provide proof of concept that TPDs may serve as a viable therapeutic strategy for targeting MERTK and other TAMs and that this technology could be expanded to other therapeutically relevant transmembrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varsha Gadiyar
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Gopi Patel
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Jesse Chen
- Department of Research and Development, Kymera Therapeutics, Watertown, MA, United States
| | - Dominico Vigil
- Department of Research and Development, Kymera Therapeutics, Watertown, MA, United States
| | - Nan Ji
- Department of Research and Development, Kymera Therapeutics, Watertown, MA, United States
| | - Veronica Campbell
- Department of Research and Development, Kymera Therapeutics, Watertown, MA, United States
| | - Kirti Sharma
- Department of Research and Development, Kymera Therapeutics, Watertown, MA, United States
| | - Yatao Shi
- Department of Research and Development, Kymera Therapeutics, Watertown, MA, United States
| | - Matthew M. Weiss
- Department of Research and Development, Kymera Therapeutics, Watertown, MA, United States
| | - Raymond B. Birge
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Viralkumar Davra
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Cancer Center, Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
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15
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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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16
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Vallés-Martí A, Mantini G, Manoukian P, Waasdorp C, Sarasqueta AF, de Goeij-de Haas RR, Henneman AA, Piersma SR, Pham TV, Knol JC, Giovannetti E, Bijlsma MF, Jiménez CR. Phosphoproteomics guides effective low-dose drug combinations against pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112581. [PMID: 37269289 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a devastating disease with a limited set of known driver mutations but considerable cancer cell heterogeneity. Phosphoproteomics provides a readout of aberrant signaling and has the potential to identify new targets and guide treatment decisions. Using two-step sequential phosphopeptide enrichment, we generate a comprehensive phosphoproteome and proteome of nine PDAC cell lines, encompassing more than 20,000 phosphosites on 5,763 phospho-proteins, including 316 protein kinases. By using integrative inferred kinase activity (INKA) scoring, we identify multiple (parallel) activated kinases that are subsequently matched to kinase inhibitors. Compared with high-dose single-drug treatments, INKA-tailored low-dose 3-drug combinations against multiple targets demonstrate superior efficacy against PDAC cell lines, organoid cultures, and patient-derived xenografts. Overall, this approach is particularly more effective against the aggressive mesenchymal PDAC model compared with the epithelial model in both preclinical settings and may contribute to improved treatment outcomes in PDAC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Vallés-Martí
- Amsterdam University Medical Center, VU University, Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, OncoProteomics Laboratory, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, Pharmacology Laboratory, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Giulia Mantini
- Amsterdam University Medical Center, VU University, Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, OncoProteomics Laboratory, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, Pharmacology Laboratory, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Pharmacology Lab, AIRC Start-Up Unit, Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, San Giuliano Terme, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paul Manoukian
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Cynthia Waasdorp
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Richard R de Goeij-de Haas
- Amsterdam University Medical Center, VU University, Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, OncoProteomics Laboratory, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Alex A Henneman
- Amsterdam University Medical Center, VU University, Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, OncoProteomics Laboratory, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sander R Piersma
- Amsterdam University Medical Center, VU University, Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, OncoProteomics Laboratory, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Thang V Pham
- Amsterdam University Medical Center, VU University, Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, OncoProteomics Laboratory, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jaco C Knol
- Amsterdam University Medical Center, VU University, Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, OncoProteomics Laboratory, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Elisa Giovannetti
- Amsterdam University Medical Center, VU University, Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, Pharmacology Laboratory, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Pharmacology Lab, AIRC Start-Up Unit, Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, San Giuliano Terme, Pisa, Italy
| | - Maarten F Bijlsma
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Cancer Biology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Connie R Jiménez
- Amsterdam University Medical Center, VU University, Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Cancer Center Amsterdam, OncoProteomics Laboratory, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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17
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Tang Y, Zang H, Wen Q, Fan S. AXL in cancer: a modulator of drug resistance and therapeutic target. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:148. [PMID: 37328828 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02726-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023] Open
Abstract
AXL is a member of the TAM (TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK) receptor tyrosine kinases family (RTKs), and its abnormal expression has been linked to clinicopathological features and poor prognosis of cancer patients. There is mounting evidence supporting AXL's role in the occurrence and progression of cancer, as well as drug resistance and treatment tolerance. Recent studies revealed that reducing AXL expression can weaken cancer cells' drug resistance, indicating that AXL may be a promising target for anti-cancer drug treatment. This review aims to summarize the AXL's structure, the mechanisms regulating and activating it, and its expression pattern, especially in drug-resistant cancers. Additionally, we will discuss the diverse functions of AXL in mediating cancer drug resistance and the potential of AXL inhibitors in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaoxiang Tang
- Department of Pathology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Hongjing Zang
- Department of Pathology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Qiuyuan Wen
- Department of Pathology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.
| | - Songqing Fan
- Department of Pathology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.
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18
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Brown BA, Lazzara MJ. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals microenvironment context-specific routes for epithelial-mesenchymal transition in pancreas cancer cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.30.542969. [PMID: 37398348 PMCID: PMC10312528 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.30.542969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
In the PDAC tumor microenvironment, multiple factors initiate the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) that occurs heterogeneously among transformed ductal cells, but it is unclear if different drivers promote EMT through common or distinct signaling pathways. Here, we use single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to identify the transcriptional basis for EMT in pancreas cancer cells in response to hypoxia or EMT-inducing growth factors. Using clustering and gene set enrichment analysis, we find EMT gene expression patterns that are unique to the hypoxia or growth factor conditions or that are common between them. Among the inferences from the analysis, we find that the FAT1 cell adhesion protein is enriched in epithelial cells and suppresses EMT. Further, the receptor tyrosine kinase AXL is preferentially expressed in hypoxic mesenchymal cells in a manner correlating with YAP nuclear localization, which is suppressed by FAT1 expression. AXL inhibition prevents EMT in response to hypoxia but not growth factors. Relationships between FAT1 or AXL expression with EMT were confirmed through analysis of patient tumor scRNA-seq data. Further exploration of inferences from this unique dataset will reveal additional microenvironment context-specific signaling pathways for EMT that may represent novel drug targets for PDAC combination therapies.
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19
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Bhadresha K, Mirza S, Penny C, Mughal MJ. Targeting AXL in Mesothelioma: from functional characterization to clinical implication. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2023:104043. [PMID: 37268175 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2023.104043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MM) is a highly aggressive and lethal cancer with a poor survival rate. Current treatment approaches primarily rely on chemotherapy and radiation, but their effectiveness is limited. Consequently, there is an urgent need for alternative treatment strategies, a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying MM, and the identification of potential therapeutic targets. Extensive studies over the past decade have emphasized the role of Axl in driving tumor development and metastasis, while high levels of Axl expression have been associated with immune evasion, drug resistance, and reduced patient survival in various cancer types. Ongoing clinical trials are investigating the efficacy of Axl inhibitors for different cancers. However, the precise role of Axl in MM progression, development, and metastasis, as well as its regulatory mechanisms within MM, remain inadequately understood. This review aims to comprehensively investigate the involvement of Axl in MM. We discuss Axl role in MM progression, development, and metastasis, along with its specific regulatory mechanisms. Additionally, we examined the Axl associated signaling pathways, the relationship between Axl and immune evasion, and the clinical implications of Axl for MM treatment. Furthermore, we discussed the potential utility of liquid biopsy as a non-invasive diagnostic technique for early detection of Axl in MM. Lastly, we evaluated the potential of a microRNA signature that targets Axl. By consolidating existing knowledge and identifying research gaps, this review contributes to a better understanding of Axl's role in MM and sets the stage for future investigations and the development of effective therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinjal Bhadresha
- Cancer Genetics and Comparative Genomics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sheefa Mirza
- Department of Internal Medicine, Common Epithelial Cancer Research Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Clement Penny
- Department of Internal Medicine, Common Epithelial Cancer Research Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Muhammed Jameel Mughal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Science, The George Washington University, Washington DC, United States of America.
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20
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He Y, Huang W, Tang Y, Li Y, Peng X, Li J, Wu J, You N, Li L, Liu C, Zheng L, Huang X. Clinical and genetic characteristics in pancreatic cancer from Chinese patients revealed by whole exome sequencing. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1167144. [PMID: 37313463 PMCID: PMC10258306 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1167144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most fatal malignancies worldwide, mostly as a result of the absence of early detection and specific treatment solutions. Consequently, identifying mutational profiles and molecular biomarkers is essential for increasing the viability of precision therapy for pancreatic cancer. Methods We collected blood and tumor tissue samples from 47 Chinese pancreatic cancer patients and used whole-exome sequencing (WES) to evaluate the genetic landscape. Results Our results showed the most frequently somatic alteration genes were KRAS (74.5%), TP53(51.1%), SMAD4 (17%), ARID1A (12.8%), CDKN2A (12.8%), TENM4 (10.6%), TTN (8.5%), RNF43(8.5%), FLG (8.5%) and GAS6 (6.4%) in Chinese PDAC patients. We also found that three deleterious germline mutations (ATM c.4852C>T/p. R1618*, WRN c.1105C>T/p. R369*, PALB2 c.2760dupA/p. Q921Tfs*7) and two novel fusions (BRCA1-RPRML, MIR943 (intergenic)-FGFR3). When compared to the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, there is a greater mutation frequency of TENM4 (10.6% vs. 1.6%, p = 0.01), GAS6(6.4% vs. 0.5%, p = 0.035), MMP17(6.4% vs. 0.5%, p = 0.035), ITM2B (6.4% vs. 0.5%, p = 0.035) and USP7 (6.4% vs. 0.5%, p= 0.035) as well as a reduced mutation frequency of SMAD4 (17.0% vs. 31.5%, p = 0.075) and CDKN2A (12.8% vs. 47.3%, p < 0.001) were observed in the Chinese cohort. Among the 41 individuals examined for programmed cell death ligand 1(PD-L1) expression, 15 (36.6%) had positive PD-L1 expression. The median tumor mutational burden (TMB) was found to be 12muts (range, 0124). The TMB index was higher in patients with mutant-type KRAS MUT/TP53 MUT (p < 0.001), CDKN2A (p = 0.547), or SMAD4 (p = 0.064) compared to patients with wild-type KRAS/TP53, CDKN2A, or SMAD4. Conclusions We exhibited real-world genetic traits and new alterations in Chinese individuals with cancer of the pancreas, which might have interesting implications for future individualized therapy and medication development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonggang He
- Department of Hepatobiliary, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wen Huang
- Department of Hepatobiliary, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yichen Tang
- Department of Hepatobiliary, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuming Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xuehui Peng
- Department of Hepatobiliary, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jing Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Nan You
- Department of Hepatobiliary, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ling Li
- Department of Medicine, Yinfeng Gene Technology Co Ltd, Jinan, China
| | - Chuang Liu
- Department of Medicine, Yinfeng Gene Technology Co Ltd, Jinan, China
| | - Lu Zheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaobing Huang
- Department of Hepatobiliary, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
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21
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Zhai X, Pu D, Wang R, Zhang J, Lin Y, Wang Y, Zhai N, Peng X, Zhou Q, Li L. Gas6/AXL pathway: immunological landscape and therapeutic potential. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1121130. [PMID: 37265798 PMCID: PMC10231434 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1121130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a disease with ecological and evolutionary unity, which seriously affects the survival and quality of human beings. Currently, many reports have suggested Gas6 plays an important role in cancer. Binding of gas6 to TAM receptors is associated with the carcinogenetic mechanisms of multiple malignancies, such as in breast cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma, prostate cancer, etc., and shortened overall survival. It is accepted that the Gas6/TAM pathway can promote the malignant transformation of various types of cancer cells. Gas6 has the highest affinity for Axl, an important member of the TAM receptor family. Knockdown of the TAM receptors Axl significantly affects cell cycle progression in tumor cells. Interestingly, Gas6 also has an essential function in the tumor microenvironment. The Gas6/AXL pathway regulates angiogenesis, immune-related molecular markers and the secretion of certain cytokines in the tumor microenvironment, and also modulates the functions of a variety of immune cells. In addition, evidence suggests that the Gas6/AXL pathway is involved in tumor therapy resistance. Recently, multiple studies have begun to explore in depth the importance of the Gas6/AXL pathway as a potential tumor therapeutic target as well as its broad promise in immunotherapy; therefore, a timely review of the characteristics of the Gas6/AXL pathway and its value in tumor treatment strategies is warranted. This comprehensive review assessed the roles of Gas6 and AXL receptors and their associated pathways in carcinogenesis and cancer progression, summarized the impact of Gas6/AXL on the tumor microenvironment, and highlighted the recent research progress on the relationship between Gas6/AXL and cancer drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqian Zhai
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Dan Pu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Rulan Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jiabi Zhang
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, College of Health, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Yiyun Lin
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, MD Anderson Cancer Center UT Health, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Yuqing Wang
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Ni Zhai
- Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit, The 987th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Baoji, Shanxi, China
| | - Xuan Peng
- Department of Pathophysiology, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi, Hubei, China
| | - Qinghua Zhou
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Lu Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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22
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Kostecki KL, Iida M, Wiley AL, Kimani S, Mehall B, Tetreault K, Alexandridis R, Yu M, Hong S, Salgia R, Bruce JY, Birge RB, Harari P, Wheeler DL. Dual Axl/MerTK inhibitor INCB081776 creates a proinflammatory tumor immune microenvironment and enhances anti-PDL1 efficacy in head and neck cancer. Head Neck 2023; 45:1255-1271. [PMID: 36939040 PMCID: PMC10079616 DOI: 10.1002/hed.27340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The tyrosine kinase receptors Axl and MerTK are highly overexpressed in head and neck cancer (HNC) cells, where they are critical drivers of survival, proliferation, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. METHODS We investigated the role of Axl and MerTK in creating an immunologically "cold" tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) by targeting both receptors simultaneously with a small molecule inhibitor of Axl and MerTK (INCB081776). Effects of INCB081776 and/or anti-PDL1 on mouse oral cancer (MOC) cell growth and on the TIME were evaluated. RESULTS Targeting Axl and MerTK can reduce M2 and induce M1 macrophage polarization. In vivo, INCB081776 treatment alone or with anti-PDL1 appears to slow MOC tumor growth, increase proinflammatory immune infiltration, and decrease anti-inflammatory immune infiltration. CONCLUSIONS This data indicates that simultaneous targeting of Axl and MerTK with INCB081776, either alone or in combination with anti-PDL1, slows tumor growth and creates a proinflammatory TIME in mouse models of HNC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kourtney L Kostecki
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Mari Iida
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Anne L Wiley
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Stanley Kimani
- Rutgers Biomedical Health and Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Bridget Mehall
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Kaitlin Tetreault
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Roxana Alexandridis
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Menggang Yu
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Seungpyo Hong
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy, Madison, WI, USA
- Yonsei Frontier Lab and Department of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Ravi Salgia
- Department of Medical Oncology and Experimental Therapeutics, Comprehensive Cancer Center, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Justine Y Bruce
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Raymond B Birge
- Rutgers Biomedical Health and Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Paul Harari
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Deric L Wheeler
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
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23
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Safaroghli-Azar A, Emadi F, Lenjisa J, Mekonnen L, Wang S. Kinase inhibitors: Opportunities for small molecule anticancer immunotherapies. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103525. [PMID: 36907320 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
As the fifth pillar of cancer treatment, immunotherapy has dramatically changed the paradigm of therapeutic strategies by focusing on the host's immune system. In the long road of immunotherapy development, the identification of immune-modulatory effects for kinase inhibitors opened a new chapter in this therapeutic approach. These small molecule inhibitors not only directly eradicate tumors by targeting essential proteins of cell survival and proliferation but can also drive immune responses against malignant cells. This review summarizes the current standings and challenges of kinase inhibitors in immunotherapy, either as a single agent or in a combined modality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ava Safaroghli-Azar
- Drug Discovery and Development, University of South Australia, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Fatemeh Emadi
- Drug Discovery and Development, University of South Australia, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Jimma Lenjisa
- Drug Discovery and Development, University of South Australia, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Laychiluh Mekonnen
- Drug Discovery and Development, University of South Australia, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Shudong Wang
- Drug Discovery and Development, University of South Australia, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, SA 5000, Australia.
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24
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Shetu SA, James N, Rivera G, Bandyopadhyay D. Molecular Research in Pancreatic Cancer: Small Molecule Inhibitors, Their Mechanistic Pathways and Beyond. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:1914-1949. [PMID: 36975494 PMCID: PMC10047141 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45030124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic enzymes assist metabolic digestion, and hormones like insulin and glucagon play a critical role in maintaining our blood sugar levels. A malignant pancreas is incapable of doing its regular functions, which results in a health catastrophe. To date, there is no effective biomarker to detect early-stage pancreatic cancer, which makes pancreatic cancer the cancer with the highest mortality rate of all cancer types. Primarily, mutations of the KRAS, CDKN2A, TP53, and SMAD4 genes are responsible for pancreatic cancer, of which mutations of the KRAS gene are present in more than 80% of pancreatic cancer cases. Accordingly, there is a desperate need to develop effective inhibitors of the proteins that are responsible for the proliferation, propagation, regulation, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis of pancreatic cancer. This article discusses the effectiveness and mode of action at the molecular level of a wide range of small molecule inhibitors that include pharmaceutically privileged molecules, compounds under clinical trials, and commercial drugs. Both natural and synthetic small molecule inhibitors have been counted. Anti-pancreatic cancer activity and related benefits of using single and combined therapy have been discussed separately. This article sheds light on the scenario, constraints, and future aspects of various small molecule inhibitors for treating pancreatic cancer-the most dreadful cancer so far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaila A. Shetu
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 1201 West University Drive, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA
| | - Nneoma James
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 1201 West University Drive, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA
| | - Gildardo Rivera
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Farmacéutica, Centro de Biotecnología Genómica, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Reynosa 88710, Mexico
| | - Debasish Bandyopadhyay
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 1201 West University Drive, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA
- School of Earth Environment & Marine Sciences (SEEMS), The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 1201 West University Drive, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA
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25
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Bellomo G, Rainer C, Quaranta V, Astuti Y, Raymant M, Boyd E, Stafferton R, Campbell F, Ghaneh P, Halloran CM, Hammond DE, Morton JP, Palmer D, Vimalachandran D, Jones R, Mielgo A, Schmid MC. Chemotherapy-induced infiltration of neutrophils promotes pancreatic cancer metastasis via Gas6/AXL signalling axis. Gut 2022; 71:2284-2299. [PMID: 35022267 PMCID: PMC9554050 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2021-325272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly metastatic disease and cytotoxic chemotherapy is the standard of care treatment for patients with advanced disease. Here, we investigate how the microenvironment in PDAC liver metastases reacts to chemotherapy and its role in metastatic disease progression post-treatment, an area which is poorly understood. DESIGN The impact of chemotherapy on metastatic disease progression and immune cell infiltrates was characterised using flow and mass cytometry combined with transcriptional and histopathological analysis in experimental PDAC liver metastases mouse models. Findings were validated in patient derived liver metastases and in an autochthonous PDAC mouse model. Human and murine primary cell cocultures and ex vivo patient-derived liver explants were deployed to gain mechanistical insights on whether and how chemotherapy affects the metastatic tumour microenvironment. RESULTS We show that in vivo, chemotherapy induces an initial infiltration of proinflammatory macrophages into the liver and activates cytotoxic T cells, leading only to a temporary restraining of metastatic disease progression. However, after stopping treatment, neutrophils are recruited to the metastatic liver via CXCL1 and 2 secretion by metastatic tumour cells. These neutrophils express growth arrest specific 6 (Gas6) which leads to AXL receptor activation on tumour cells enabling their regrowth. Disruption of neutrophil infiltration or inhibition of the Gas6/AXL signalling axis in combination with chemotherapy inhibits metastatic growth. Chemotherapy increases Gas6 expression in circulating neutrophils from patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer and recombinant Gas6 is sufficient to promote tumour cell proliferation ex vivo, in patient-derived metastatic liver explants. CONCLUSION Combining chemotherapy with Gas6/AXL or neutrophil targeted therapy could provide a therapeutic benefit for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaia Bellomo
- Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Carolyn Rainer
- Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Valeria Quaranta
- Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Yuliana Astuti
- Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Meirion Raymant
- Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Elzbieta Boyd
- Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Ruth Stafferton
- Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Fiona Campbell
- Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Paula Ghaneh
- Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Dean E Hammond
- Molecular Physiology and Cell Signalling, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Jennifer P Morton
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Daniel Palmer
- Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Dale Vimalachandran
- Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Robert Jones
- Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Ainhoa Mielgo
- Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Michael C Schmid
- Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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26
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Xia Y, Zhang R, Wang M, Li J, Dong J, He K, Guo T, Ju X, Ru J, Zhang S, Sun Y. Development and validation of a necroptosis-related gene prognostic score to predict prognosis and efficiency of immunotherapy in gastric cancer. Front Immunol 2022; 13:977338. [PMID: 36159818 PMCID: PMC9504871 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.977338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Necroptosis is a novel type of regulated cell death that is intimately associated with a variety of tumors. However, how necroptosis affects the identification of gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear. Here we seek to find new potential necroptosis-related biomarkers to predict GC prognosis and immunotherapy effect. We used Cox analysis to obtain shared prognostic markers related to necroptosis from five datasets (TCGA and four GEO datasets). Then, a necroptosis-related gene prognostic score (NRGPS) system was constructed using LASSO Cox regression, NRGPS consisting of three necroptosis-related mRNAs (AXL, RAI14, and NOX4) was identified, 31 pairs of GC and adjacent normal tissues from the Second Hospital of Harbin Medical University were collected and Real-Time Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the relative expression levels of the three necroptosis-related mRNAs, and external validation was performed on four GEO datasets (GSE84437, GSE26901, GSE62254 and GSE15459). In this study, Overall survival (OS) in the high-NRGPS group was significantly lower than in the low-NRGPS group. Cox regression analyses showed that NRGPS was an independent prognostic variable. Tumor-mutation-burden (TMB), tumor microenvironment (TME), microsatellite instability (MSI), and Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) scoring were used as predictors of the immunotherapy response. A cancer-friendly immune microenvironment, a high TIDE score, a low TMB, and a low MSI were all characteristics of the high-NRGPS group, and they all consistently showed that the issues seen there are related to immune escape in GC. The combination of three candidate genes may be an effective method for diagnostic assessment of GC prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Xia
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Rongzheng Zhang
- Scientific Research Center, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Mingzhu Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Jiaqi Li
- Scientific Research Center, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Jianming Dong
- Scientific Research Center, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Kaitong He
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Ting Guo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Xiaomei Ju
- Scientific Research Center, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Jiaqiu Ru
- Scientific Research Center, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Shuyun Zhang
- Scientific Research Center, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- *Correspondence: Yihua Sun, ; Shuyun Zhang,
| | - Yihua Sun
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
- *Correspondence: Yihua Sun, ; Shuyun Zhang,
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27
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Krebs N, Klein L, Wegwitz F, Espinet E, Maurer HC, Tu M, Penz F, Küffer S, Xu X, Bohnenberger H, Cameron S, Brunner M, Neesse A, Kishore U, Hessmann E, Trumpp A, Ströbel P, Brekken RA, Ellenrieder V, Singh SK. Axon guidance receptor ROBO3 modulates subtype identity and prognosis via AXL-associated inflammatory network in pancreatic cancer. JCI Insight 2022; 7:154475. [PMID: 35993361 PMCID: PMC9462476 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.154475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastatic pancreatic cancer (PDAC) has a poor clinical outcome with a 5-year survival rate below 3%. Recent transcriptome profiling of PDAC biopsies has identified 2 clinically distinct subtypes - the "basal-like" (BL) subtype with poor prognosis and therapy resistance compared with the less aggressive and drug-susceptible "classical" (CLA) subtype. However, the mechanistic events and environmental factors that promote the BL subtype identity are not very clear. Using preclinical models, patient-derived xenografts, and FACS-sorted PDAC patient biopsies, we report here that the axon guidance receptor, roundabout guidance receptor 3 (ROBO3), promotes the BL metastatic program via a potentially unique AXL/IL-6/phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3) regulatory axis. RNA-Seq identified a ROBO3-mediated BL-specific gene program, while tyrosine kinase profiling revealed AXL as the key mediator of the p-STAT3 activation. CRISPR/dCas9-based ROBO3 silencing disrupted the AXL/p-STAT3 signaling axis, thereby halting metastasis and enhancing therapy sensitivity. Transcriptome analysis of resected patient tumors revealed that AXLhi neoplastic cells associated with the inflammatory stromal program. Combining AXL inhibitor and chemotherapy substantially restored a CLA phenotypic state and reduced disease aggressiveness. Thus, we conclude that a ROBO3-driven hierarchical network determines the inflammatory and prometastatic programs in a specific PDAC subtype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklas Krebs
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology and
| | - Lukas Klein
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology and
| | - Florian Wegwitz
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Elisa Espinet
- Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany.,HI-STEM: The Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine gGmbH, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapy, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.,Molecular Mechanisms and Experimental Therapy in Oncology Program (Oncobell), Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Hans Carlo Maurer
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Mengyu Tu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology and
| | - Frederike Penz
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology and
| | | | - Xingbo Xu
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, and
| | | | - Silke Cameron
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology and
| | - Marius Brunner
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology and
| | - Albrecht Neesse
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology and,Clinical Research Unit 5002, KFO5002, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Uday Kishore
- Biosciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom.,Department of Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Elisabeth Hessmann
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology and,Clinical Research Unit 5002, KFO5002, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Trumpp
- Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany.,HI-STEM: The Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine gGmbH, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Philipp Ströbel
- Institute of Pathology,,Clinical Research Unit 5002, KFO5002, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rolf A. Brekken
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Departments of Surgery and Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Volker Ellenrieder
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology and,Clinical Research Unit 5002, KFO5002, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Shiv K. Singh
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology and,Clinical Research Unit 5002, KFO5002, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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Peters S, Paz-Ares L, Herbst RS, Reck M. Addressing CPI resistance in NSCLC: targeting TAM receptors to modulate the tumor microenvironment and future prospects. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2022-004863. [PMID: 35858709 PMCID: PMC9305809 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-004863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer death worldwide, with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for the majority of cases. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs), including those targeting programmed cell death protein-1 and its ligand (PD-1/PD-L1), have revolutionized the treatment landscape for various cancers. Notably, PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-based regimens now form the standard first-line therapy for metastatic NSCLC, substantially improving patients' overall survival. Despite the progress made using CPI-based therapies in advanced NSCLC, most patients experience disease progression after an initial response due to resistance. Given the currently limited therapeutic options available for second-line and beyond settings in NSCLC, new treatment approaches are needed to improve long-term survival in these patients. Thus, CPI resistance is an emerging concept in cancer treatment and an active area of clinical research.Among the key mechanisms of CPI resistance is the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Effective CPI therapy is based on shifting immune responses against cancer cells, therefore, manipulating the immunosuppressive TME comprises an important strategy to combat CPI resistance. Several aspects of the TME can contribute to treatment resistance in NSCLC, including through the activation of Tyro3, Axl, MerTK (TAM) receptors which are essential pleiotropic regulators of immune homeostasis. Their roles include negatively modulating the immune response, therefore ectopic expression of TAM receptors in the context of cancer can contribute to the immunosuppressive, protumorigenic TME. Furthermore, TAM receptors represent important candidates to simultaneously target both tumor cells and immune cells in the TME. Clinical development of TAM receptor inhibitors (TAM RIs) is increasingly focused on their ability to rescue the antitumor immune response, thereby shifting the immunosuppressive TME to an immunostimulatory TME. There is a strong biological rationale for combining TAM RIs with a CPI to overcome resistance and improve long-term clinical responses in NSCLC. Combinatorial clinical trials of TAM RIs with CPIs are underway with encouraging preliminary results. This review outlines the key mechanisms of CPI resistance, including the role of the immunosuppressive TME, and discusses the rationale for targeting TAM receptors as a novel, promising therapeutic strategy to overcome CPI resistance in NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solange Peters
- Medical Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Luis Paz-Ares
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre and CNIO-H12O Lung Cancer Unit, Universidad Complutense and Ciberonc, Madrid, Spain
| | - Roy S Herbst
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Martin Reck
- Lung Clinic Grosshansdorf, Airway Research Center North, Center for Lung Research, Grosshansdorf, Germany
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Huang H, Wang Z, Zhang Y, Pradhan RN, Ganguly D, Chandra R, Murimwa G, Wright S, Gu X, Maddipati R, Müller S, Turley SJ, Brekken RA. Mesothelial cell-derived antigen-presenting cancer-associated fibroblasts induce expansion of regulatory T cells in pancreatic cancer. Cancer Cell 2022; 40:656-673.e7. [PMID: 35523176 PMCID: PMC9197998 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2022.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 192] [Impact Index Per Article: 96.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have identified a unique cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) population termed antigen-presenting CAFs (apCAFs), characterized by the expression of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules, suggesting a function in regulating tumor immunity. Here, by integrating multiple single-cell RNA-sequencing studies and performing robust lineage-tracing assays, we find that apCAFs are derived from mesothelial cells. During pancreatic cancer progression, mesothelial cells form apCAFs by downregulating mesothelial features and gaining fibroblastic features, a process induced by interleukin-1 and transforming growth factor β. apCAFs directly ligate and induce naive CD4+ T cells into regulatory T cells (Tregs) in an antigen-specific manner. Moreover, treatment with an antibody targeting the mesothelial cell marker mesothelin can effectively inhibit mesothelial cell to apCAF transition and Treg formation induced by apCAFs. Taken together, our study elucidates how mesothelial cells may contribute to immune evasion in pancreatic cancer and provides insight on strategies to enhance cancer immune therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huocong Huang
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
| | - Zhaoning Wang
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Yuqing Zhang
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Cancer Biology Graduate Program, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | | | - Debolina Ganguly
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Cancer Biology Graduate Program, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Raghav Chandra
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Gilbert Murimwa
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Steven Wright
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Xiaowu Gu
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Ravikanth Maddipati
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | | | | | - Rolf A Brekken
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Cancer Biology Graduate Program, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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Two-Front War on Cancer-Targeting TAM Receptors in Solid Tumour Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14102488. [PMID: 35626092 PMCID: PMC9140196 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14102488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In recent years, many studies have shown the importance of TAM kinases in both normal and neoplastic cells. In this review, we present and discuss the role of the TAM family (AXL, MERTK, TYRO3) of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) as a dual target in cancer, due to their intrinsic roles in tumour cell survival, migration, chemoresistance, and their immunosuppressive roles in the tumour microenvironment. This review presents the potential of TAMs as emerging therapeutic targets in cancer treatment, focusing on the distinct structures of TAM receptor tyrosine kinases. We analyse and compare different strategies of TAM inhibition, for a full perspective of current and future battlefields in the war with cancer. Abstract Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are transmembrane receptors that bind growth factors and cytokines and contain a regulated kinase activity within their cytoplasmic domain. RTKs play an important role in signal transduction in both normal and malignant cells, and their encoding genes belong to the most frequently affected genes in cancer cells. The TAM family proteins (TYRO3, AXL, and MERTK) are involved in diverse biological processes: immune regulation, clearance of apoptotic cells, platelet aggregation, cell proliferation, survival, and migration. Recent studies show that TAMs share overlapping functions in tumorigenesis and suppression of antitumour immunity. MERTK and AXL operate in innate immune cells to suppress inflammatory responses and promote an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment, while AXL expression correlates with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, metastasis, and motility in tumours. Therefore, TAM RTKs represent a dual target in cancer due to their intrinsic roles in tumour cell survival, migration, chemoresistance, and their immunosuppressive roles in the tumour microenvironment (TME). In this review, we discuss the potential of TAMs as emerging therapeutic targets in cancer treatment. We critically assess and compare current approaches to target TAM RTKs in solid tumours and the development of new inhibitors for both extra- and intracellular domains of TAM receptor kinases.
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Engelsen AST, Lotsberg ML, Abou Khouzam R, Thiery JP, Lorens JB, Chouaib S, Terry S. Dissecting the Role of AXL in Cancer Immune Escape and Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Inhibition. Front Immunol 2022; 13:869676. [PMID: 35572601 PMCID: PMC9092944 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.869676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The development and implementation of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI) in clinical oncology have significantly improved the survival of a subset of cancer patients with metastatic disease previously considered uniformly lethal. However, the low response rates and the low number of patients with durable clinical responses remain major concerns and underscore the limited understanding of mechanisms regulating anti-tumor immunity and tumor immune resistance. There is an urgent unmet need for novel approaches to enhance the efficacy of ICI in the clinic, and for predictive tools that can accurately predict ICI responders based on the composition of their tumor microenvironment. The receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) AXL has been associated with poor prognosis in numerous malignancies and the emergence of therapy resistance. AXL is a member of the TYRO3-AXL-MERTK (TAM) kinase family. Upon binding to its ligand GAS6, AXL regulates cell signaling cascades and cellular communication between various components of the tumor microenvironment, including cancer cells, endothelial cells, and immune cells. Converging evidence points to AXL as an attractive molecular target to overcome therapy resistance and immunosuppression, supported by the potential of AXL inhibitors to improve ICI efficacy. Here, we review the current literature on the prominent role of AXL in regulating cancer progression, with particular attention to its effects on anti-tumor immune response and resistance to ICI. We discuss future directions with the aim to understand better the complex role of AXL and TAM receptors in cancer and the potential value of this knowledge and targeted inhibition for the benefit of cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnete S. T. Engelsen
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Maria L. Lotsberg
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Raefa Abou Khouzam
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Jean-Paul Thiery
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou, China
- Inserm, UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Villejuif, France
| | - James B. Lorens
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Salem Chouaib
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
- Inserm, UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Villejuif, France
- Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
- Faculty of Medicine, University Paris Sud, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Stéphane Terry
- Inserm, UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Villejuif, France
- Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
- Faculty of Medicine, University Paris Sud, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- Research Department, Inovarion, Paris, France
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Pu N, Chen Q, Yin H, Zhang J, Zhao G, Habib JR, Chen J, Yu J, Lou W, Wu W. Identification of an Immune-Related BAT Signature for Predicting Adjuvant Chemotherapy Response and Overall Survival in Patients with Resected Ductal Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas. J Gastrointest Surg 2022; 26:869-886. [PMID: 35059985 DOI: 10.1007/s11605-021-05232-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) is widely accepted in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) after surgery; however, effective models for predicting ACT response are scarce. Thus, the objective of this study was to develop a novel signature for predicting its response and overall survival (OS) in resected PDAC patients. METHODS A total of 50 PDAC patients with the transcriptome expression profiles, information about chemotherapy, and relevant clinical data were retrieved from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and twenty-nine patients with tissue specimens and clinical data from our hospital were included as a validation. A novel gene signature was developed using bioinformatic differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis, Lasso-penalized Cox regression, and multivariate Cox regression studies. RESULTS Between chemotherapy-resistant and chemotherapy-sensitive cohorts, 569 DEGs were identified, with 490 upregulated and 79 downregulated genes mainly specialized in the regulation of peptide/protein/hormone secretion, calcium ion homeostasis, and T cell activation regulation in biological processes. After Lasso-penalized Cox and multivariate Cox regression analysis, BAT (BCHE, ADH1A, and TNS4) signature was established to predict ACT response and OS. Moreover, BAT signature was verified as an independent risk factor for ACT response (p = 0.042) and OS (median OS: 17.5 months vs. 34.8 months, p = 0.040) and significantly associated with immune infiltrations (p < 0.05). Then, this signature was further validated as the independent risk factor for recurrence-free survival (RFS) in PDAC patients receiving postoperative ACT (median RFS: 9.0 months vs. not reached, p = 0.014), and tumor-infiltrating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were further validated to be significantly decreased in tissues with higher BAT signature scores (p = 0.015 and 0.021, respectively). CONCLUSION The BAT signature is a novel formulated and independent risk factor for predicting ACT response and long-term survival in patients with resected PDAC. This signature could comprehensively reflect local immune-related response, tumor purity, potential biological behavior, and chemo drug susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Pu
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA.
| | - Qiangda Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Hanlin Yin
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jicheng Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Guochao Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Joseph R Habib
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Naval Medical Center of PLA, Shanghai, 200052, China
| | - Jun Yu
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Wenhui Lou
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Wenchuan Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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Small-Molecule RAS Inhibitors as Anticancer Agents: Discovery, Development, and Mechanistic Studies. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073706. [PMID: 35409064 PMCID: PMC8999084 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations of RAS oncogenes are responsible for about 30% of all human cancer types, including pancreatic, lung, and colorectal cancers. While KRAS1 is a pseudogene, mutation of KRAS2 (commonly known as KRAS oncogene) is directly or indirectly associated with human cancers. Among the RAS family, KRAS is the most abundant oncogene related to uncontrolled cellular proliferation to generate solid tumors in many types of cancer such as pancreatic carcinoma (over 80%), colon carcinoma (40-50%), lung carcinoma (30-50%), and other types of cancer. Once described as 'undruggable', RAS proteins have become 'druggable', at least to a certain extent, due to the continuous efforts made during the past four decades. In this account, we discuss the chemistry and biology (wherever available) of the small-molecule inhibitors (synthetic, semi-synthetic, and natural) of KRAS proteins that were published in the past decades. Commercial drugs, as well as investigational molecules from preliminary stages to clinical trials, are categorized and discussed in this study. In summary, this study presents an in-depth discussion of RAS proteins, classifies the RAS superfamily, and describes the molecular mechanism of small-molecule RAS inhibitors.
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Abstract
More than half of metastatic melanoma patients receiving standard therapy fail to achieve a long-term survival due to primary and/or acquired resistance. Tumor cell ability to switch from epithelial to a more aggressive mesenchymal phenotype, attributed with AXLhigh molecular profile in melanoma, has been recently linked to such event, limiting treatment efficacy. In the current study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of the AXL inhibitor (AXLi) BGB324 alone or in combination with the clinically relevant BRAF inhibitor (BRAFi) vemurafenib. Firstly, AXL was shown to be expressed in majority of melanoma lymph node metastases. When treated ex vivo, the largest reduction in cell viability was observed when the two drugs were combined. In addition, a therapeutic benefit of adding AXLi to the BRAF-targeted therapy was observed in pre-clinical AXLhigh melanoma models in vitro and in vivo. When searching for mechanistic insights, AXLi was found to potentiate BRAFi-induced apoptosis, stimulate ferroptosis and inhibit autophagy. Altogether, our findings propose AXLi as a promising treatment in combination with standard therapy to improve therapeutic outcome in metastatic melanoma.
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Sang YB, Kim JH, Kim CG, Hong MH, Kim HR, Cho BC, Lim SM. The Development of AXL Inhibitors in Lung Cancer: Recent Progress and Challenges. Front Oncol 2022; 12:811247. [PMID: 35311091 PMCID: PMC8927964 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.811247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
AXL, along with MER and TYRO3, is a receptor tyrosine kinase from the TAM family. Although AXL itself is not thought to be a potent oncogenic driver, overexpression of AXL is known to trigger tumor cell growth, survival, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and immune suppression. Overexpression of AXL is associated with therapy resistance and poor prognosis. Therefore, it is being studied as a marker of prognosis in cancer treatment or as a target in various cancer types. Recently, many preclinical and clinical studies on agents with various mechanisms targeting AXL have been actively conducted. They include small molecule inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and antibody-drug conjugates. This article reviewed the fundamental role of AXL in solid tumors, and the development in research of AXL inhibitors in recent years. Emphasis was placed on the function of AXL in acquired therapy resistance in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Since clinical needs increase in NSCLC patients with acquired resistance after initial therapy, recent research efforts have focused on a combination treatment with AXL inhibitors and tyrosine kinase inhibitors or immunotherapy to overcome resistance. Lastly, we deal with challenges and limitations encountered in the development of AXL inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Beom Sang
- Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Joo-Hang Kim
- Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Chang-Gon Kim
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Min Hee Hong
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hye Ryun Kim
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Byoung Chul Cho
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sun Min Lim
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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Li H, Liu Z, Liu L, Zhang H, Han C, Girard L, Park H, Zhang A, Dong C, Ye J, Rayford A, Peyton M, Li X, Avila K, Cao X, Hu S, Alam MM, Akbay EA, Solis LM, Behrens C, Hernandez-Ruiz S, Lu W, Wistuba I, Heymach JV, Chisamore M, Micklem D, Gabra H, Gausdal G, Lorens JB, Li B, Fu YX, Minna JD, Brekken RA. AXL targeting restores PD-1 blockade sensitivity of STK11/LKB1 mutant NSCLC through expansion of TCF1 + CD8 T cells. Cell Rep Med 2022; 3:100554. [PMID: 35492873 PMCID: PMC9040166 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in STK11/LKB1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are associated with poor patient responses to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), and introduction of a Stk11/Lkb1 (L) mutation into murine lung adenocarcinomas driven by mutant Kras and Trp53 loss (KP) resulted in an ICB refractory syngeneic KPL tumor. Mechanistically this occurred because KPL mutant NSCLCs lacked TCF1-expressing CD8 T cells, a phenotype recapitulated in human STK11/LKB1 mutant NSCLCs. Systemic inhibition of Axl results in increased type I interferon secretion from dendritic cells that expanded tumor-associated TCF1+PD-1+CD8 T cells, restoring therapeutic response to PD-1 ICB in KPL tumors. This was observed in syngeneic immunocompetent mouse models and in humanized mice bearing STK11/LKB1 mutant NSCLC human tumor xenografts. NSCLC-affected individuals with identified STK11/LKB1 mutations receiving bemcentinib and pembrolizumab demonstrated objective clinical response to combination therapy. We conclude that AXL is a critical targetable driver of immune suppression in STK11/LKB1 mutant NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiyu Li
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-8593, USA
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Zhida Liu
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9072, USA
| | - Longchao Liu
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9072, USA
| | - Hongyi Zhang
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Chuanhui Han
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9072, USA
| | - Luc Girard
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-8593, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Hyunsil Park
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-8593, USA
| | - Anli Zhang
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9072, USA
| | - Chunbo Dong
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9072, USA
| | - Jianfeng Ye
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Austin Rayford
- BerGenBio ASA, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Biomedicine, Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, Norwegian Centre of Excellence, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Michael Peyton
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-8593, USA
| | - Xiaoguang Li
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9072, USA
| | - Kimberley Avila
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-8593, USA
| | - Xuezhi Cao
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9072, USA
| | - Shuiqing Hu
- Department of Molecular Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Md Maksudul Alam
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9072, USA
| | - Esra A. Akbay
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9072, USA
| | - Luisa M. Solis
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Carmen Behrens
- Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sharia Hernandez-Ruiz
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Wei Lu
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ignacio Wistuba
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - John V. Heymach
- Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - James B. Lorens
- Department of Biomedicine, Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, Norwegian Centre of Excellence, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Bo Li
- Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Department of Immunology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Yang-Xin Fu
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9072, USA
- Department of Immunology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - John D. Minna
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-8593, USA
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Rolf A. Brekken
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-8593, USA
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Department of Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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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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Maisel BA, Yi M, Peck AR, Sun Y, Hooke JA, Kovatich AJ, Shriver CD, Hu H, Nevalainen MT, Tanaka T, Simone N, Wang LL, Rui H, Chervoneva I. Spatial Metrics of Interaction between CD163-Positive Macrophages and Cancer Cells and Progression-Free Survival in Chemo-Treated Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:308. [PMID: 35053472 PMCID: PMC8773496 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14020308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) promote progression of breast cancer and other solid malignancies via immunosuppressive, pro-angiogenic and pro-metastatic effects. Tumor-promoting TAMs tend to express M2-like macrophage markers, including CD163. Histopathological assessments suggest that the density of CD163-positive TAMs within the tumor microenvironment is associated with reduced efficacy of chemotherapy and unfavorable prognosis. However, previous analyses have required research-oriented pathologists to visually enumerate CD163+ TAMs, which is both laborious and subjective and hampers clinical implementation. Objective, operator-independent image analysis methods to quantify TAM-associated information are needed. In addition, since M2-like TAMs exert local effects on cancer cells through direct juxtacrine cell-to-cell interactions, paracrine signaling, and metabolic factors, we hypothesized that spatial metrics of adjacency of M2-like TAMs to breast cancer cells will have further information value. Immunofluorescence histo-cytometry of CD163+ TAMs was performed retrospectively on tumor microarrays of 443 cases of invasive breast cancer from patients who subsequently received adjuvant chemotherapy. An objective and automated algorithm was developed to phenotype CD163+ TAMs and calculate their density within the tumor stroma and derive several spatial metrics of interaction with cancer cells. Shorter progression-free survival was associated with a high density of CD163+ TAMs, shorter median cancer-to-CD163+ nearest neighbor distance, and a high number of either directly adjacent CD163+ TAMs (within juxtacrine proximity <12 μm to cancer cells) or communicating CD163+ TAMs (within paracrine communication distance <250 μm to cancer cells) after multivariable adjustment for clinical and pathological risk factors and correction for optimistic bias due to dichotomization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenton A. Maisel
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (B.A.M.); (M.Y.)
| | - Misung Yi
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (B.A.M.); (M.Y.)
| | - Amy R. Peck
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (A.R.P.); (Y.S.); (M.T.N.)
| | - Yunguang Sun
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (A.R.P.); (Y.S.); (M.T.N.)
| | - Jeffrey A. Hooke
- John P. Murtha Cancer Center, Uniformed Services University and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA; (J.A.H.); (A.J.K.); (C.D.S.)
| | - Albert J. Kovatich
- John P. Murtha Cancer Center, Uniformed Services University and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA; (J.A.H.); (A.J.K.); (C.D.S.)
| | - Craig D. Shriver
- John P. Murtha Cancer Center, Uniformed Services University and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA; (J.A.H.); (A.J.K.); (C.D.S.)
| | - Hai Hu
- Chan Soon-Shiong Institute of Molecular Medicine at Windber, Windber, PA 15963, USA;
| | - Marja T. Nevalainen
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (A.R.P.); (Y.S.); (M.T.N.)
| | - Takemi Tanaka
- Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA;
| | - Nicole Simone
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA;
| | - Li Lily Wang
- Department of Translational Hematology and Oncology Research, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA;
| | - Hallgeir Rui
- Department of Pathology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (A.R.P.); (Y.S.); (M.T.N.)
| | - Inna Chervoneva
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; (B.A.M.); (M.Y.)
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Martínez-Bosch N, Cristóbal H, Iglesias M, Gironella M, Barranco L, Visa L, Calafato D, Jiménez-Parrado S, Earl J, Carrato A, Manero-Rupérez N, Moreno M, Morales A, Guerra C, Navarro P, García de Frutos P. Soluble AXL is a novel blood marker for early detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and differential diagnosis from chronic pancreatitis. EBioMedicine 2022; 75:103797. [PMID: 34973624 PMCID: PMC8724936 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Early diagnosis is crucial for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The AXL receptor tyrosine kinase is proteolytically processed releasing a soluble form (sAXL) into the blood stream. Here we explore the use of sAXL as a biomarker for PDAC. Methods AXL was analysed by immunohistochemistry in human pancreatic tissue samples. RNA expression analysis was performed using TCGA/GTEx databases. The plasma concentrations of sAXL, its ligand GAS6, and CA19-9 were studied in two independent cohorts, the HMar cohort (n = 59) and the HClinic cohort (n = 142), including healthy controls, chronic pancreatitis (CP) or PDAC patients, and in a familial PDAC cohort (n = 68). AXL expression and sAXL release were studied in PDAC cell lines and murine models. Findings AXL is increased in PDAC and precursor lesions as compared to CP or controls. sAXL determined in plasma from two independent cohorts was significantly increased in the PDAC group as compared to healthy controls or CP patients. Patients with high levels of AXL have a lower overall survival. ROC analysis of the plasma levels of sAXL, GAS6, or CA19-9 in our cohorts revealed that sAXL outperformed CA19-9 for discriminating between CP and PDAC. Using both sAXL and CA19-9 increased the diagnostic value. These results were validated in murine models, showing increased sAXL specifically in animals developing PDAC but not those with precursor lesions or acinar tumours. Interpretation sAXL appears as a biomarker for early detection of PDAC and PDAC–CP discrimination that could accelerate treatment and improve its dismal prognosis. Funding This work was supported by grants PI20/00625 (PN), RTI2018-095672-B-I00 (AM and PGF), PI20/01696 (MG) and PI18/01034 (AC) from MICINN-FEDER and grant 2017/SGR/225 (PN) from Generalitat de Catalunya.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neus Martínez-Bosch
- Cancer Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Unidad Asociada IIBB-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Helena Cristóbal
- Department of Cell Death and Proliferation, Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona (IIBB)-CSIC and Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mar Iglesias
- Department of Pathology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Hospital del Mar, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Oncología (CIBERONC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Meritxell Gironella
- Gastrointestinal & Pancreatic Oncology Group, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD); Hospital Clínic of Barcelona and IDIBAPS; Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luis Barranco
- Cancer Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Unidad Asociada IIBB-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Visa
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Domenico Calafato
- Department of Cell Death and Proliferation, Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona (IIBB)-CSIC and Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Jiménez-Parrado
- Molecular Oncology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Julie Earl
- Molecular Epidemiology and Predictive Tumour Markers Group, Medical Oncology Research Laboratory, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain. CIBERONC
| | - Alfredo Carrato
- Molecular Epidemiology and Predictive Tumour Markers Group, Medical Oncology Research Laboratory, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain. CIBERONC
| | - Noemí Manero-Rupérez
- Cancer Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Unidad Asociada IIBB-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mireia Moreno
- Cancer Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Unidad Asociada IIBB-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Albert Morales
- Department of Cell Death and Proliferation, IIBB-CSIC, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) Group, Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic, CIBEREHD and IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carmen Guerra
- Molecular Oncology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar Navarro
- Cancer Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Unidad Asociada IIBB-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Cell Death and Proliferation, Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona (IIBB)-CSIC and Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Pablo García de Frutos
- Department of Cell Death and Proliferation, IIBB-CSIC, Unidad Asociada IMIM/IIBB-CSIC; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), and IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain.
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Tumor perivascular cell-derived extracellular vesicles promote angiogenesis via the Gas6/Axl pathway. Cancer Lett 2022; 524:131-143. [PMID: 34678434 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.10.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant angiogenesis is a hallmark of cancer and is critically associated with tumor progression. Perivascular cells are essential components of blood vessels, and the role of tumor perivascular cell-derived extracellular vesicles (TPC-EVs) in angiogenesis remains elusive. In the present study, using genetic mouse models and pharmacological inhibitors, we found that ablation of perivascular cells inhibited angiogenesis in allografted colorectal cancer tumors. Further studies demonstrated that TPC-EVs promoted the proliferation, migration, invasion, viability, and tube formation of HUVECs. They also facilitated vessel spouting in rat aortic rings and induced neovascularization in chick chorioallantoic membranes (CAMs). Silencing of Gas6 or blockade of the Axl pathway suppressed TPC-EV-induced angiogenesis in vitro and ex vivo. Moreover, inhibition of the Gas6/Axl signaling pathway impaired TPC-EV-mediated angiogenesis in vivo. Our findings present a deeper insight into the biological functions of TPCs and TPC-EVs in tumor angiogenesis and demonstrate that TPC-EV-derived Gas6 could be an attractive and innovative regulator of tumor angiogenesis.
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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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Shi B, Chu J, Huang T, Wang X, Li Q, Gao Q, Xia Q, Luo S. The Scavenger Receptor MARCO Expressed by Tumor-Associated Macrophages Are Highly Associated With Poor Pancreatic Cancer Prognosis. Front Oncol 2021; 11:771488. [PMID: 34778091 PMCID: PMC8586414 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.771488] [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: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrophage-targeting therapies have become attractive strategies for immunotherapy. Deficiency of MARCO significantly inhibits tumor progression and metastasis in murine models of pancreatic cancer. However, the role of MARCO in patients with pancreatic cancer remains unclear. In the present study, we analyzed tumor-associated macrophage (TAM)-related changes using the Cancer Genome Atlas database. We observed a significant enrichment of M2 macrophages in pancreatic cancer tissues. We found that several pro-tumor markers are increased in cancer tissues, including CD163, CD206, SIRPα, LILRB1, SIGLEC10, AXL, MERTK, and MARCO. Crucially, MARCO is highly or exclusively expressed in pancreatic cancer across many types of solid tumors, suggesting its significant role in pancreatic cancer. Next, we investigated the expression of MARCO in relation to the macrophage marker CD163 in a treatment-naïve pancreatic cancer cohort after surgery (n = 65). MARCO and CD163 were analyzed using immunohistochemistry. We observed increased expression of CD163 and MARCO in pancreatic cancer tissues compared with paracancerous tissues. Furthermore, we observed a large variation in CD163 and MARCO expression in pancreatic cancer tissues among cases, suggesting the heterogeneous expression of these two markers among patients. Correlation to clinical data indicated a strong trend toward worse survival for patients with high CD163 and MARCO macrophage infiltration. Moreover, high CD163 and MARCO expression negatively affected the disease-free survival and overall survival rates of patients with pancreatic cancer. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that CD163 and MARCO expression was an independent indicator of pancreatic cancer prognosis. In conclusion, high CD163 and MARCO expression in cancer tissues is a negative prognostic marker for pancreatic cancer after surgery. Furthermore, anti-MARCO may be a novel therapy that is worth studying in depth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bian Shi
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Junfeng Chu
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Tao Huang
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiaoqian Wang
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qiujian Li
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qilong Gao
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qingxin Xia
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Suxia Luo
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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Zhang Y, Arner EN, Rizvi A, Toombs JE, Huang H, Warner SL, Foulks JM, Brekken RA. AXL inhibitor TP-0903 reduces metastasis and therapy resistance in pancreatic cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2021; 21:38-47. [PMID: 34675118 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-21-0293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is the 3rd leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States with a 5-year survival less than 5%. Resistance to standard therapy and limited response to immune checkpoint blockade due to the immunosuppressive and stroma-rich microenvironment remain major challenges in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. A key cellular program involved in therapy resistance is epithelial plasticity, which is also associated with invasion, metastasis, and evasion of immune surveillance. The receptor tyrosine kinase AXL is a key driver of tumor cell epithelial plasticity. High expression and activity of AXL is associated with poor prognosis, metastasis, and therapy resistance in multiple types of cancer including pancreatic. Here, we show that an AXL inhibitor (TP-0903), has anti-tumor and therapy sensitizing effects in pre-clinical models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). We demonstrate that TP-0903 as a single agent or in combination with gemcitabine and/or anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) antibody has anti-metastatic and anti-tumor effects in PDA tumor bearing mice, leading to increased survival. Additionally, gene expression analysis of tumors demonstrated upregulation of pro-inflammatory and immune activation genes in tumors from TP-0903-treated animals compared to the vehicle, indicating pharmacologic inhibition of AXL activation leads to an immunostimulatory microenvironment. This effect was augmented when TP-0903 was combined with gemcitabine and anti-PD1 antibody. These results provide clear rationale for evaluating TP-0903 in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Zhang
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Dallas, TX
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Dallas, TX
- Department of Surgery, Dallas, TX
| | - Emily N Arner
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Dallas, TX
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Dallas, TX
- Department of Surgery, Dallas, TX
| | - Ali Rizvi
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Dallas, TX
| | - Jason E Toombs
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Dallas, TX
- Department of Surgery, Dallas, TX
| | - Huocong Huang
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Dallas, TX
- Department of Surgery, Dallas, TX
| | | | | | - Rolf A Brekken
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Dallas, TX.
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Dallas, TX
- Department of Surgery, Dallas, TX
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern, Dallas, Texas
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44
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AXL Receptor in Cancer Metastasis and Drug Resistance: When Normal Functions Go Askew. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13194864. [PMID: 34638349 PMCID: PMC8507788 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary AXL is a member of the TAM (TYRO3, AXL, MER) family of receptor tyrosine kinases. In normal physiological conditions, AXL is involved in removing dead cells and their remains, and limiting the duration of immune responses. Both functions are utilized by cancers in the course of tumour progression. Cancer cells use the AXL pathway to detect toxic environments and to activate molecular mechanisms, thereby ensuring their survival or escape from the toxic zone. AXL is instrumental in controlling genetic programs of epithelial-mesenchymal and mesenchymal-epithelial transitions, enabling cancer cells to metastasize. Additionally, AXL signaling suppresses immune responses in tumour microenvironment and thereby helps cancer cells to evade immune surveillance. The broad role of AXL in tumour biology is the reason why its inhibition sensitizes tumours to a broad spectrum of anti-cancer drugs. In this review, we outline molecular mechanisms underlying AXL function in normal tissues, and discuss how these mechanisms are adopted by cancers to become metastatic and drug-resistant. Abstract The TAM proteins TYRO3, AXL, and MER are receptor tyrosine kinases implicated in the clearance of apoptotic debris and negative regulation of innate immune responses. AXL contributes to immunosuppression by terminating the Toll-like receptor signaling in dendritic cells, and suppressing natural killer cell activity. In recent years, AXL has been intensively studied in the context of cancer. Both molecules, the receptor, and its ligand GAS6, are commonly expressed in cancer cells, as well as stromal and infiltrating immune cells. In cancer cells, the activation of AXL signaling stimulates cell survival and increases migratory and invasive potential. In cells of the tumour microenvironment, AXL pathway potentiates immune evasion. AXL has been broadly implicated in the epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity of cancer cells, a key factor in drug resistance and metastasis. Several antibody-based and small molecule AXL inhibitors have been developed and used in preclinical studies. AXL inhibition in various mouse cancer models reduced metastatic spread and improved the survival of the animals. AXL inhibitors are currently being tested in several clinical trials as monotherapy or in combination with other drugs. Here, we give a brief overview of AXL structure and regulation and discuss the normal physiological functions of TAM receptors, focusing on AXL. We present a theory of how epithelial cancers exploit AXL signaling to resist cytotoxic insults, in order to disseminate and relapse.
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Chang H, An R, Li X, Lang X, Feng J, Lv M. Anti-Axl monoclonal antibodies attenuate the migration of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Oncol Lett 2021; 22:749. [PMID: 34539853 PMCID: PMC8436363 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2021.13010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The receptor tyrosine kinase, anexelekto (Axl) is involved in tumor cell growth, migration and invasion, and has been associated with chemotherapy resistance, which makes it an attractive target for cancer therapy. In total, six Axl-targeted monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and two antibody-drug conjugates have been reported in the last 10 years, which have been shown to have bioactivity in inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and migration. The Axl external cell domain (Axl−ECD), consisting of 426 amino acids, has always been used as an antigen in the screening process for all six of these Axl-targeted mAbs. However, the Axl functional domain, which interacts with its natural ligand, growth arrest-specific protein 6 (Gas6), is only a small part of the Axl−ECD. Antibodies targeting the Axl functional domain may efficiently block Gas6-Axl binding and attenuate its downstream signals and activities. To the best of our knowledge, no mAbs targeting the Axl functional domain have been reported. In the present study, a major Axl functional domain interacting with Gas6 was determined using bioinformatics and structural biology methods. In MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell assays, anti-Axl mAbs targeting this relatively specific Axl functional domain almost completely neutralized the stimulation of Gas6 in both Axl phosphorylation and cell migration assays, and showed similar activity to the positive control drug R428 (a small molecular tyrosine kinase inhibitor of Axl currently in phase II clinical trials) in the cell migration assay. Given the important role of Axl in tumor development and chemotherapy resistance, Axl-targeted mAbs could be used to inhibit tumor cells directly, as well as reduce the development of chemotherapy resistance by blocking Axl activity. The application of Axl-targeted mAbs combined with chemotherapy provides a promising treatment strategy for patients with tumors, particularly those with triple-negative breast cancer, for whom no targeted therapy is currently available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Chang
- Institute of Medical Technology, Suzhou Vocational Health College, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215009, P.R. China.,College of Basic Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050200, P.R. China
| | - Ran An
- College of Basic Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050200, P.R. China.,Hebei Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Research on Cardio-cerebrovascular Disease, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050051, P.R. China
| | - Xinying Li
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoling Lang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Gene Engineering Antibody, Beijing 100850, P.R. China
| | - Jiannan Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures, Beijing Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing 100850, P.R. China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Gene Engineering Antibody, Beijing 100850, P.R. China
| | - Ming Lv
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Gene Engineering Antibody, Beijing 100850, P.R. China.,Laboratory of Immunology, Institute of Military Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Beijing 100850, P.R. China
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Therapeutic Targeting of the Gas6/Axl Signaling Pathway in Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22189953. [PMID: 34576116 PMCID: PMC8469858 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Many signaling pathways are dysregulated in cancer cells and the host tumor microenvironment. Aberrant receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) pathways promote cancer development, progression, and metastasis. Hence, numerous therapeutic interventions targeting RTKs have been actively pursued. Axl is an RTK that belongs to the Tyro3, Axl, MerTK (TAM) subfamily. Axl binds to a high affinity ligand growth arrest specific 6 (Gas6) that belongs to the vitamin K-dependent family of proteins. The Gas6/Axl signaling pathway has been implicated to promote progression, metastasis, immune evasion, and therapeutic resistance in many cancer types. Therapeutic agents targeting Gas6 and Axl have been developed, and promising results have been observed in both preclinical and clinical settings when such agents are used alone or in combination therapy. This review examines the current state of therapeutics targeting the Gas6/Axl pathway in cancer and discusses Gas6- and Axl-targeting agents that have been evaluated preclinically and clinically.
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Terry S, Dalban C, Rioux Leclercq N, Adam J, Meylan M, Buart S, Bougoüin A, Lespagnol A, Dugay F, Colina Moreno I, Lacroix G, Lorens JB, Gausdal G, Fridman WH, Mami-Chouaib F, Chaput N, Beuselinck B, Chabaud S, Barros Monteiro J, Vano Y, Escudier B, Sautes-Fridman C, Albiges L, Chouaib S. Association of AXL and PD-L1 expression with clinical outcomes in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma treated with PD-1 blockade. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:6749-6760. [PMID: 34407968 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-21-0972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE A minority of patients currently respond to single agent immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and strategies to increase response rates are urgently needed. AXL is receptor tyrosine kinase commonly associated with drug-resistance and poor prognosis in many cancer types including in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Recent experimental cues in breast, pancreatic and lung cancer models have linked AXL with immune suppression and resistance to antitumor immunity. However, its role in intrinsic and acquired resistance to ICB remains largely unexplored. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN In this study, tumoral expression of AXL was examined in ccRCC specimens from 316 metastatic patients receiving PD-1 inhibitor, nivolumab, in the GETUG AFU 26 NIVOREN trial after failure of anti-angiogenic therapy. We assessed associations between AXL and patient outcomes following PD-1 blockade, as well as the relationship with various markers including PD-L1, VEGFA, the immune markers CD3, CD8, CD163, CD20, and the mutational status of the tumor suppressor gene VHL Results: Our results show that high AXL expression levels in tumor cells is associated with lower response rates and a trend to shorter progression-free survival following anti-PD-1 treatment. AXL expression was strongly associated with tumor PD-L1 expression, especially in tumors with VHL inactivation. Moreover, patients with tumors displaying concomitant PD-L1 expression and high AXL expression had the worst overall survival. CONCLUSIONS Our findings propose AXL as candidate factor of resistance to PD-1 blockade, and provide compelling support for screening both AXL and PD-L1 expression in the management of advanced ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Maxime Meylan
- Inflammation, complement & cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers
| | | | - Antoine Bougoüin
- Inflammation, Complement and Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers
| | - Alexandra Lespagnol
- Department of Somatic Cancer Genetics, Pontchaillou Hospital, CHU de Rennes, Rennes, France
| | | | | | - Guillaume Lacroix
- Inflammation, Complement and Cancer, Cordeliers Research Center, INSERM UMRS 1138
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Catherine Sautes-Fridman
- Laboratoire Inflammation, complement et cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Inserm UMRS 1138
| | - Laurence Albiges
- Department of Cancer Medicine, Institut Gustave Roussy, Université Paris Saclay
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AXL Inhibition Represents a Novel Therapeutic Approach in BCR-ABL Negative Myeloproliferative Neoplasms. Hemasphere 2021; 5:e630. [PMID: 34396051 PMCID: PMC8357258 DOI: 10.1097/hs9.0000000000000630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BCR-ABL negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) consist of essential thrombocythemia, polycythemia vera, and myelofibrosis. The majority of patients harbor the JAK2-activating mutation V617F. JAK2 inhibitors were shown to reduce symptom burden and splenomegaly in MPN patients. However, treatment options are limited after failure of JAK2 inhibitors. AXL, a member of the TAM family of receptor tyrosine kinases, mediates survival and therapy resistance of different myeloid cancers including acute myeloid leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia. We studied the relevance of AXL as a target in MPN using primary patient cells and preclinical disease models. We found that AXL is abundantly activated in MPN cells and that its ligand growth arrest-specific gene 6 is upregulated in MPN patients. Pharmacologic and genetic blockade of AXL impaired viability, decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis of MPN cells. Interestingly, ruxolitinib treatment induced increased phosphorylation of AXL indicating that activation of AXL might mediate resistance to ruxolitinib. Consistently, the AXL inhibitor bemcentinib exerted additive effects with ruxolitinib via impaired STAT3, STAT5, and AKT signaling. Both agents had activity when employed alone and exerted an additive effect on survival and splenomegaly in vivo. Moreover, bemcentinib treatment normalized red blood cell count and hemoglobin levels in vivo. Thus, our data indicate that AXL inhibition represents a novel treatment option in MPN warranting clinical investigation.
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Zaman A, Bivona TG. Targeting AXL in NSCLC. LUNG CANCER (AUCKLAND, N.Z.) 2021; 12:67-79. [PMID: 34408519 PMCID: PMC8364399 DOI: 10.2147/lctt.s305484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
State-of-the-art cancer precision medicine approaches involve targeted inactivation of chemically and immunologically addressable vulnerabilities that often yield impressive initial anti-tumor responses in patients. Nonetheless, these responses are overshadowed by therapy resistance that follows. AXL, a receptor tyrosine kinase with bona fide oncogenic capacity, has been associated with the emergence of resistance in an array of cancers with varying pathophysiology and cellular origins, including in non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). Here in this review, we summarize AXL biology during normal homeostasis, oncogenic development and therapy resistance with a focus on NSCLC. In the context of NSCLC therapy resistance, we delineate AXL's role in mediating resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) deployed against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as well as other notable oncogenes and to chemotherapeutics. We also discuss the current understanding of AXL's role in mediating cell-biological variables that function as important modifiers of therapy resistance such as epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), the tumor microenvironment and tumor heterogeneity. We also catalog and discuss a set of effective pharmacologic tools that are emerging to strategically perturb AXL mediated resistance programs in NSCLC. Finally, we enumerate ongoing and future exciting precision medicine approaches targeting AXL as well as challenges in this regard. We highlight that a holistic understanding of AXL biology in NSCLC may allow us to predict and improve targeted therapeutic strategies, such as through polytherapy approaches, potentially against a broad spectrum of NSCLC sub-types to forestall tumor evolution and drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aubhishek Zaman
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- UCSF Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Trever G Bivona
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- UCSF Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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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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