MITF depletion elevates expression levels of ERBB3 receptor and its cognate ligand NRG1-beta in melanoma

Cooperative induction of receptor tyrosine kinases contributes to adaptive MAPK drug resistance in melanoma through the PI3K pathway

Vemurafenib-induced drug resistance in melanoma has been linked to receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) upregulation. The MITF and SOX10 genes play roles as master regulators of melanocyte and melanoma development. Here, we aimed to explore the complex mechanisms behind the MITF/SOX10-controlled RTK-induced drug resistance in melanoma. To achieve this, we used a number of molecular techniques, including melanoma patient data from TCGA, vemurafenib-resistant melanoma cell lines, and knock-down studies. The melanoma cell lines were classified as proliferative or invasive based upon their MITF/AXL expression activity. We measured the change of expression activity for MITF/SOX10 and their receptor (AXL/ERBB3) and ligand (NRG1/GAS6) targets known to be involved in RTK-induced drug resistance after vemurafenib treatment. We find that melanoma cell lines characterized as proliferative (high MITF low AXL), transform into an invasive (low MITF, high AXL) cell state after vemurafenib resistance, indicating novel feedback loops and advanced compensatory regulation mechanisms between the master regulators, receptors, and ligands involved in vemurafenib-induced resistance. Together, our data disclose fine-tuned mechanisms involved in RTK-facilitated vemurafenib resistance that will be challenging to overcome by using single drug targeting strategies against melanoma.

Xmrks the Spot: Fish Models for Investigating Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Signaling in Cancer Research

Studies conducted in several fish species, e.g., Xiphophorus hellerii (green swordtail) and Xiphophorus maculatus (southern platyfish) crosses, Oryzias latipes (medaka), and Danio rerio (zebrafish), have identified an oncogenic role for the receptor tyrosine kinase, Xmrk, a gene product closely related to the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is associated with a wide variety of pathological conditions, including cancer. Comparative analyses of Xmrk and EGFR signal transduction in melanoma have shown that both utilize STAT5 signaling to regulate apoptosis and cell proliferation, PI3K to modulate apoptosis, FAK to control migration, and the Ras/Raf/MEK/MAPK pathway to regulate cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation. Further, Xmrk and EGFR may also modulate similar chemokine, extracellular matrix, oxidative stress, and microRNA signaling pathways in melanoma. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), Xmrk and EGFR signaling utilize STAT5 to regulate cell proliferation, and Xmrk may signal through PI3K and FasR to modulate apoptosis. At the same time, both activate the Ras/Raf/MEK/MAPK pathway to regulate cell proliferation and E-cadherin signaling. Xmrk models of melanoma have shown that inhibitors of PI3K and MEK have an anti-cancer effect, and in HCC, that the steroidal drug, adrenosterone, can prevent metastasis and recover E-cadherin expression, suggesting that fish Xmrk models can exploit similarities with EGFR signal transduction to identify and study new chemotherapeutic drugs.

The significance of the neuregulin-1/ErbB signaling pathway and its effect on Sox10 expression in the development of terminally differentiated Schwann cells in vitro

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to explore the significance of the neuregulin-1/ErbB signaling pathway and its effect on Sox10 expression in the course of the differentiation of mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into Schwann-like cells in vitro.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The experiment was conducted with three groups-control, TAK 165, and HRG-off. In the control group, we used the classical induction method of adding β-ME, RA, FSK, b-FGF, PDGF, and neuregulin (HRG); the cells were collected on the 7^th day. Using the same basic protocol as the control group, the specific ErbB2 inhibitor mubritinib (TAK 165) was added to block the neuregulin-1/ErbB pathway in the TAK 165 group, while HRG was not added in the HRG-off group. We detected the degree of differentiation of stem cells into Schwann-like cells by using RT-PCR to examine the expression of Sox10, NRG-1, ErbB2, ErbB3, and ErbB4 and by using immunofluorescence staining to examine the Schwann cell marker S100B, Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) and P75.

RESULTS

Our results showed that the proliferation of Schwann cells was reduced and apoptosis was increased in the TAK 165 group and the HRG-off group. Sox10 was stably expressed and NRG-1, ErbB2, and ErbB3 increased in the control group. However, the expression of Sox10 in the TAK 165 group was obviously decreased at the end of induced differentiation; meanwhile, the degree of stem cell differentiation also decreased.

CONCLUSIONS

the neuregulin-1/ErbB signaling pathway plays an important role in the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into Schwann-like cells and can promote the maintenance of Sox10 。.

Neuregulin 1 enhances cell adhesion molecule L1 like expression levels and promotes malignancy in human glioma

Neural cell adhesion molecular L1-like protein (CHL1) is a member of the cell adhesion molecule L1 family and serves an important role in the development and progression of tumors. The cytokine neuregulin 1 (NRG1) has been indicated in the tumorigenesis and promotion of metastasis through the modulation of L1. However, the roles of NRG1 in regulating CHL1 in glioma have not been elucidated. The present study investigated the protein expression levels and roles of CHL1 and the possible correlation between NRG1 and CHL1 protein expression levels in human gliomas, both in vivo and in vitro. Using immunohistochemistry coupled with a human glioma tissue microarray, it was demonstrated that the percentage of CHL1-positive areas was the highest in grade II glioma tissues. Using immunofluorescence staining, a positive correlation was identified between the expression levels of CHL1 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen. In addition, CHL1 downregulation also resulted in increased senescence of U-87 MG human glioblastoma cells. In vitro, administration of NRG1α induced a significant increase in CHL1 protein expression levels in human glioma SHG-44 and U251 cells and in human glioblastoma U-87 MG cells, whereas NRG1β failed to increase CHL1 expression levels in U251 cells. These findings were further confirmed by the downregulation of NRG1 expression levels using small interfering RNA treatment, which resulted in the reduction of CHL1 protein expression levels in U-87 MG cells. These data indicate that NRG1 can regulate CHL1 protein expression levels in gliomas, that it is correlated with malignancy, and that NRG1 may contribute to malignancy by upregulating CHL1 protein expression levels in glioma/glioblastoma cells.

Dysregulation of MITF Leads to Transformation in MC1R-Defective Melanocytes

The MC1R/cAMP/MITF pathway is a key determinant for growth, differentiation, and survival of melanocytes and melanoma. MITF-M is the melanocyte-specific isoform of Microphthalmia-associated Transcription Factor (MITF) in human melanoma. Here we use two melanocyte cell lines to show that forced expression of hemagglutinin (HA) -tagged MITF-M through lentiviral transduction represents an oncogenic insult leading to consistent cell transformation of the immortalized melanocyte cell line Hermes 4C, being a melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) compound heterozygote, while not causing transformation of the MC1R wild type cell line Hermes 3C. The transformed HA-tagged MITF-M transduced Hermes 4C cells form colonies in soft agar and tumors in mice. Further, Hermes 4C cells display increased MITF chromatin binding, and transcriptional reprogramming consistent with an invasive melanoma phenotype. Mechanistically, forced expression of MITF-M drives the upregulation of the AXL tyrosine receptor kinase (AXL), with concomitant downregulation of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), leading to increased activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. Treatment with AXL inhibitors reduces growth of the transformed cells by reverting AKT activation. In conclusion, we present a model system of melanoma development, driven by MITF-M in the context of MC1R loss of function, and independent of UV exposure. This model provides a basis for further studies of critical changes in the melanocyte transformation process.

HER family in cancer progression: From discovery to 2020 and beyond

The human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are among the first layer of molecules that receive, interpret, and transduce signals leading to distinct cancer cell phenotypes. Since the discovery of the tooth-lid factor-later characterized as the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-and its high-affinity binding EGF receptor, HER kinases have emerged as one of the commonly upregulated or hyperactivated or mutated kinases in epithelial tumors, thus allowing HER1-3 family members to regulate several hallmarks of cancer development and progression. Each member of the HER family exhibits shared and unique structural features to engage multiple receptor activation modes, leading to a range of overlapping and distinct phenotypes. EGFR, the founding HER family member, provided the roadmap for the development of the cell surface RTK-directed targeted cancer therapy by serving as a prototype/precursor for the currently used HER-directed cancer drugs. We herein provide a brief account of the discoveries, defining moments, and historical context of the HER family and guidepost advances in basic, translational, and clinical research that solidified a prominent position of the HER family in cancer research and treatment. We also discuss the significance of HER3 pseudokinase in cancer biology; its unique structural features that drive transregulation among HER1-3, leading to a superior proximal signaling response; and potential role of HER3 as a shared effector of acquired therapeutic resistance against diverse oncology drugs. Finally, we also narrate some of the current drawbacks of HER-directed therapies and provide insights into postulated advances in HER biology with extensive implications of these therapies in cancer research and treatment.

Tracking extracellular vesicle phenotypic changes enables treatment monitoring in melanoma

Monitoring targeted therapy in real time for cancer patients could provide vital information about the development of drug resistance and improve therapeutic outcomes. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have recently emerged as a promising cancer biomarker, and EV phenotyping shows high potential for monitoring treatment responses. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of monitoring patient treatment responses based on the plasma EV phenotypic evolution using a multiplex EV phenotype analyzer chip (EPAC). EPAC incorporates the nanomixing-enhanced microchip and the multiplex surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nanotag system for direct EV phenotyping without EV enrichment. In a preclinical model, we observe the EV phenotypic heterogeneity and different phenotypic responses to the treatment. Furthermore, we successfully detect cancer-specific EV phenotypes from melanoma patient plasma. We longitudinally monitor the EV phenotypic evolution of eight melanoma patients receiving targeted therapy and find specific EV profiles involved in the development of drug resistance, reflecting the potential of EV phenotyping for monitoring treatment responses.

Drug resistance of BRAF-mutant melanoma: Review of up-to-date mechanisms of action and promising targeted agents

Melanoma onset and progression are associated with a high variety of activating mutations in the MAPK-pathway, most frequently involving BRAF (35-45%) and NRAS (15-25%) genes, but also c-KIT and PTEN. Targeted therapies with BRAF and MEK inhibitors showed promising results over the past years, but it is known that most responses are temporary, and almost all of patients develop a tumor relapse within one year. Different drug-resistance mechanisms underlie the progression of disease and activation of both MAPK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways. Therefore, in this article we reviewed the main studies about clinical effects of several target inhibitors, describing properly the most prominent mechanisms of both intrinsic and acquired resistance. Furthermore, suggestive strategies for overcoming drug resistance and the most recent alternative combination therapies to optimize the use of MAPK pathway inhibitors were also discussed.

Successful targeting of the NRG1 pathway indicates novel treatment strategy for metastatic cancer

Background

NRG1 fusion-positive lung cancers have emerged as potentially actionable events in lung cancer, but clinical support is currently limited and no evidence of efficacy of this approach in cancers beyond lung has been shown.

Patients and methods

Here, we describe two patients with advanced cancers refractory to standard therapies. Patient 1 had lung adenocarcinoma and patient 2 cholangiocarcinoma. Whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing were carried out for these cases with select findings validated by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Results

Both tumors were found to be positive for NRG1 gene fusions. In patient 1, an SDC4-NRG1 gene fusion was detected, similar gene fusions having been described in lung cancers previously. In patient 2, a novel ATP1B1-NRG1 gene fusion was detected. Cholangiocarcinoma is not a disease type in which NRG1 fusions had been described previously. Integrative genome analysis was used to assess the potential functional significance of the detected genomic events including the gene fusions, prioritizing therapeutic strategies targeting the HER-family of growth factor receptors. Both patients were treated with the pan HER-family kinase inhibitor afatinib and both displayed significant and durable response to treatment. Upon progression sites of disease were sequenced. The lack of obvious genomic events to describe the disease progression indicated that broad transcriptomic or epigenetic mechanisms could be attributed to the lack of prolonged response to afatinib.

Conclusion

These observations lend further support to the use of pan HER-tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the treatment of NRG1 fusion-positive in both cancers of lung and hepatocellular origin and indicate more broadly that cancers found to be NRG1 fusion-positive may benefit from such a clinical approach regardless of their site of origin.

Clinical trial information

Personalized Oncogenomics (POG) Program of British Columbia: Utilization of Genomic Analysis to Better Understand Tumour Heterogeneity and Evolution (NCT02155621).

Amino Acid Signature in Human Melanoma Cell Lines from Different Disease Stages

Cancer cells rewire metabolism to sustain high proliferation rates. Beside glycolysis and glutaminolysis, amino acids substitute as energy source, feed fatty acid biosynthesis and represent part of the secretome of transformed cells, including melanoma. We have therefore investigated acetate, pyruvate and the amino acid composition of the secretome of human melanoma cells representing the early slow (WM35, WM278, WM793b and VM21) and metastatic fast (A375, 518a2, 6F and WM8) growth phase in order to identify possible signalling components within these profiles. Proliferation assays and a principle component analysis revealed a stringent difference between the fast and slow growing melanoma cells. Moreover, upon inhibition of the mevalonate pathway, glutamic acid and alanine were identified as the central difference in the conditional media. A supplementation of the media with glutamic acid and the combination with alanine significantly accelerated the proliferation, migration and invasion of early stage melanoma cells, but not metastatic cells. Finally, the inhibition of the mevalonate pathway abolished the growth advantage of the melanoma cells in a time dependent manner. Taken together, these data corroborate a stage specific response in growth and aggressiveness to extracellular glutamic acid and alanine, indicative for microenvironmental signalling of individual amino acids.

Crosstalk signaling in targeted melanoma therapy

Inhibition of the BRAF/MAPK pathway belongs to the standard therapies for patients with activating BRAF^V600E/K mutations. However, even in well-responding tumors, anti-tumorigenic effect and clinical benefit are only transient, and the original tumors often relapse. This demonstrates that there are remaining residual tumors, which have withstood therapy-induced apoptosis and which have the potential to resume growth. Although BRAF mutant melanoma cells seem to depend on BRAF/MAPK signaling, the inhibition of this pathway triggers several events, which modulate the tumor as well as the tumor niche. After a certain adaptation period, this can turn out to be beneficial for tumor growth and metastasis-even in cases of good initial tumor response. This review sheds light on the biology of BRAF/MEK inhibitor-sensitive melanoma cells, which survive targeted therapy and will address the crosstalk signaling events occurring in BRAF mutant melanomas when the BRAF/MAPK pathway is fully blocked. The knowledge of these events is important for potential future drug combinations, which enhance the inhibitory effect of BRAF/MEK inhibition, particularly in patients not eligible for immune therapy.