1
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Schubert I. Macromutations Yielding Karyotype Alterations (and the Process(es) behind Them) Are the Favored Route of Carcinogenesis and Speciation. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:554. [PMID: 38339305 PMCID: PMC10854648 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16030554] [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: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
It is argued that carcinogenesis and speciation are evolutionary events which are based on changes in the 'karyotypic code' through a phase of 'genome instability', followed by a bottleneck of selection for the viability and adaptability of the initial cells. Genomic (i.e., chromosomal) instability is caused by (massive) DNA breakage and the subsequent mis-repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) resulting in various chromosome rearrangements. Potential tumor cells are selected for rapid somatic proliferation. Cells eventually yielding a novel species need not only to be viable and proliferation proficient, but also to have a balanced genome which, after passing meiosis as another bottleneck and fusing with an identical gamete, can result in a well-adapted organism. Such new organisms should be genetically or geographically isolated from the ancestral population and possess or develop an at least partial sexual barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingo Schubert
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), 04644 Gatersleben, Germany
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2
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Dziubańska-Kusibab PJ, Nevedomskaya E, Haendler B. Preclinical Anticipation of On- and Off-Target Resistance Mechanisms to Anti-Cancer Drugs: A Systematic Review. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:705. [PMID: 38255778 PMCID: PMC10815614 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020705] [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: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The advent of targeted therapies has led to tremendous improvements in treatment options and their outcomes in the field of oncology. Yet, many cancers outsmart precision drugs by developing on-target or off-target resistance mechanisms. Gaining the ability to resist treatment is the rule rather than the exception in tumors, and it remains a major healthcare challenge to achieve long-lasting remission in most cancer patients. Here, we discuss emerging strategies that take advantage of innovative high-throughput screening technologies to anticipate on- and off-target resistance mechanisms before they occur in treated cancer patients. We divide the methods into non-systematic approaches, such as random mutagenesis or long-term drug treatment, and systematic approaches, relying on the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system, saturated mutagenesis, or computational methods. All these new developments, especially genome-wide CRISPR-based screening platforms, have significantly accelerated the processes for identification of the mechanisms responsible for cancer drug resistance and opened up new avenues for future treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Bernard Haendler
- Research and Early Development Oncology, Pharmaceuticals, Bayer AG, Müllerstr. 178, 13353 Berlin, Germany; (P.J.D.-K.); (E.N.)
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3
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Shityakov S, Kravtsov V, Skorb EV, Nosonovsky M. Ergodicity Breaking and Self-Destruction of Cancer Cells by Induced Genome Chaos. ENTROPY (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 26:37. [PMID: 38248163 PMCID: PMC10814486 DOI: 10.3390/e26010037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
During the progression of some cancer cells, the degree of genome instability may increase, leading to genome chaos in populations of malignant cells. While normally chaos is associated with ergodicity, i.e., the state when the time averages of relevant parameters are equal to their phase space averages, the situation with cancer propagation is more complex. Chromothripsis, a catastrophic massive genomic rearrangement, is observed in many types of cancer, leading to increased mutation rates. We present an entropic model of genome chaos and ergodicity and experimental evidence that increasing the degree of chaos beyond the non-ergodic threshold may lead to the self-destruction of some tumor cells. We study time and population averages of chromothripsis frequency in cloned rhabdomyosarcomas from rat stem cells. Clones with frequency above 10% result in cell apoptosis, possibly due to mutations in the BCL2 gene. Potentially, this can be used for suppressing cancer cells by shifting them into a non-ergodic proliferation regime.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey Shityakov
- Infochemistry Scientific Center (ISC), ITMO University, 9 Lomonosova St., 191002 St. Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Viacheslav Kravtsov
- Infochemistry Scientific Center (ISC), ITMO University, 9 Lomonosova St., 191002 St. Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Ekaterina V. Skorb
- Infochemistry Scientific Center (ISC), ITMO University, 9 Lomonosova St., 191002 St. Petersburg, Russia;
| | - Michael Nosonovsky
- Infochemistry Scientific Center (ISC), ITMO University, 9 Lomonosova St., 191002 St. Petersburg, Russia;
- College of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
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4
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Nicolazzo C, Francescangeli F, Magri V, Giuliani A, Zeuner A, Gazzaniga P. Is cancer an intelligent species? Cancer Metastasis Rev 2023; 42:1201-1218. [PMID: 37540301 PMCID: PMC10713722 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10123-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Some relevant emerging properties of intelligent systems are "adaptation to a changing environment," "reaction to unexpected situations," "capacity of problem solving," and "ability to communicate." Single cells have remarkable abilities to adapt, make adequate context-dependent decision, take constructive actions, and communicate, thus theoretically meeting all the above-mentioned requirements. From a biological point of view, cancer can be viewed as an invasive species, composed of cells that move from primary to distant sites, being continuously exposed to changes in the environmental conditions. Blood represents the first hostile habitat that a cancer cell encounters once detached from the primary site, so that cancer cells must rapidly carry out multiple adaptation strategies to survive. The aim of this review was to deepen the adaptation mechanisms of cancer cells in the blood microenvironment, particularly referring to four adaptation strategies typical of animal species (phenotypic adaptation, metabolic adaptation, niche adaptation, and collective adaptation), which together define the broad concept of biological intelligence. We provided evidence that the required adaptations (either structural, metabolic, and related to metastatic niche formation) and "social" behavior are useful principles allowing putting into a coherent frame many features of circulating cancer cells. This interpretative frame is described by the comparison with analog behavioral traits typical of various animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Nicolazzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Francescangeli
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Magri
- Department of Pathology, Oncology and Radiology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Giuliani
- Environment and Health Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Ann Zeuner
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Gazzaniga
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161, Rome, Italy.
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5
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Mirzayans R, Murray D. Intratumor Heterogeneity and Treatment Resistance of Solid Tumors with a Focus on Polyploid/Senescent Giant Cancer Cells (PGCCs). Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11534. [PMID: 37511291 PMCID: PMC10380821 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411534] [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: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Single cell biology has revealed that solid tumors and tumor-derived cell lines typically contain subpopulations of cancer cells that are readily distinguishable from the bulk of cancer cells by virtue of their enormous size. Such cells with a highly enlarged nucleus, multiple nuclei, and/or multiple micronuclei are often referred to as polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs), and may exhibit features of senescence. PGCCs may enter a dormant phase (active sleep) after they are formed, but a subset remain viable, secrete growth promoting factors, and can give rise to therapy resistant and tumor repopulating progeny. Here we will briefly discuss the prevalence and prognostic value of PGCCs across different cancer types, the current understanding of the mechanisms of their formation and fate, and possible reasons why these tumor repopulating "monsters" continue to be ignored in most cancer therapy-related preclinical studies. In addition to PGCCs, other subpopulations of cancer cells within a solid tumor (such as oncogenic caspase 3-activated cancer cells and drug-tolerant persister cancer cells) can also contribute to therapy resistance and pose major challenges to the delivery of cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razmik Mirzayans
- Department of Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1Z2, Canada
| | - David Murray
- Department of Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1Z2, Canada
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6
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Zhao Y, Lu T, Song Y, Wen Y, Deng Z, Fan J, Zhao M, Zhao R, Luo Y, xie J, Hu B, Sun H, Wang Y, He S, Gong Y, Cheng J, Liu X, Yu L, Li J, Li C, Shi Y, Huang Q. Cancer Cells Enter an Adaptive Persistence to Survive Radiotherapy and Repopulate Tumor. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2204177. [PMID: 36658726 PMCID: PMC10015890 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202204177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Repopulation of residual tumor cells impedes curative radiotherapy, yet the mechanism is not fully understood. It is recently appreciated that cancer cells adopt a transient persistence to survive the stress of chemo- or targeted therapy and facilitate eventual relapse. Here, it is shown that cancer cells likewise enter a "radiation-tolerant persister" (RTP) state to evade radiation pressure in vitro and in vivo. RTP cells are characterized by enlarged cell size with complex karyotype, activated type I interferon pathway and two gene patterns represented by CST3 and SNCG. RTP cells have the potential to regenerate progenies via viral budding-like division, and type I interferon-mediated antiviral signaling impaired progeny production. Depleting CST3 or SNCG does not attenuate the formation of RTP cells, but can suppress RTP cells budding with impaired tumor repopulation. Interestingly, progeny cells produced by RTP cells actively lose their aberrant chromosomal fragments and gradually recover back to a chromosomal constitution similar to their unirradiated parental cells. Collectively, this study reveals a novel mechanism of tumor repopulation, i.e., cancer cell populations employ a reversible radiation-persistence by poly- and de-polyploidization to survive radiotherapy and repopulate the tumor, providing a new therapeutic concept to improve outcome of patients receiving radiotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yucui Zhao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pancreatic Diseases and Cancer CenterShanghai General HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai201620China
| | - Tingting Lu
- Bio‐X InstitutesKey Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education)Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai200030China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic DiseaseThe First Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhou310009China
| | - Yanwei Song
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pancreatic Diseases and Cancer CenterShanghai General HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai201620China
| | - Yanqin Wen
- Bio‐X InstitutesKey Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education)Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai200030China
| | - Zheng Deng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pancreatic Diseases and Cancer CenterShanghai General HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai201620China
| | - Jiahui Fan
- Bio‐X InstitutesKey Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education)Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai200030China
| | - Minghui Zhao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pancreatic Diseases and Cancer CenterShanghai General HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai201620China
| | - Ruyi Zhao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pancreatic Diseases and Cancer CenterShanghai General HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai201620China
| | - Yuntao Luo
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pancreatic Diseases and Cancer CenterShanghai General HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai201620China
| | - Jianzhu xie
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pancreatic Diseases and Cancer CenterShanghai General HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai201620China
| | - Binjie Hu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pancreatic Diseases and Cancer CenterShanghai General HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai201620China
| | - Haoran Sun
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pancreatic Diseases and Cancer CenterShanghai General HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai201620China
| | - Yiwei Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pancreatic Diseases and Cancer CenterShanghai General HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai201620China
| | - Sijia He
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pancreatic Diseases and Cancer CenterShanghai General HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai201620China
| | - Yanping Gong
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pancreatic Diseases and Cancer CenterShanghai General HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai201620China
| | - Jin Cheng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pancreatic Diseases and Cancer CenterShanghai General HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai201620China
| | - Xinjian Liu
- Department of BiochemistrySchool of MedicineSun Yat‐sen UniversityShenzhen518107China
| | - Liang Yu
- Department of General SurgeryShanghai General HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai201620China
| | - Jikun Li
- Department of General SurgeryShanghai General HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai201620China
| | - Chuanyuan Li
- Department of DermatologyDuke University Medical CenterBox 3135DurhamNC27710USA
| | - Yongyong Shi
- Bio‐X InstitutesKey Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Ministry of Education)Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai200030China
- Biomedical Sciences Institute of Qingdao University (Qingdao Branch of SJTU Bio‐X Institutes)Qingdao UniversityQingdao266003China
| | - Qian Huang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pancreatic Diseases and Cancer CenterShanghai General HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghai201620China
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7
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Heng E, Thanedar S, Heng HH. Challenges and Opportunities for Clinical Cytogenetics in the 21st Century. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:493. [PMID: 36833419 PMCID: PMC9956237 DOI: 10.3390/genes14020493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The powerful utilities of current DNA sequencing technology question the value of developing clinical cytogenetics any further. By briefly reviewing the historical and current challenges of cytogenetics, the new conceptual and technological platform of the 21st century clinical cytogenetics is presented. Particularly, the genome architecture theory (GAT) has been used as a new framework to emphasize the importance of clinical cytogenetics in the genomic era, as karyotype dynamics play a central role in information-based genomics and genome-based macroevolution. Furthermore, many diseases can be linked to elevated levels of genomic variations within a given environment. With karyotype coding in mind, new opportunities for clinical cytogenetics are discussed to integrate genomics back into cytogenetics, as karyotypic context represents a new type of genomic information that organizes gene interactions. The proposed research frontiers include: 1. focusing on karyotypic heterogeneity (e.g., classifying non-clonal chromosome aberrations (NCCAs), studying mosaicism, heteromorphism, and nuclear architecture alteration-mediated diseases), 2. monitoring the process of somatic evolution by characterizing genome instability and illustrating the relationship between stress, karyotype dynamics, and diseases, and 3. developing methods to integrate genomic data and cytogenomics. We hope that these perspectives can trigger further discussion beyond traditional chromosomal analyses. Future clinical cytogenetics should profile chromosome instability-mediated somatic evolution, as well as the degree of non-clonal chromosomal aberrations that monitor the genomic system's stress response. Using this platform, many common and complex disease conditions, including the aging process, can be effectively and tangibly monitored for health benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Heng
- Stanford University, 450 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Sanjana Thanedar
- Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Henry H. Heng
- Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
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8
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Mirzayans R, Murray D. What Are the Reasons for Continuing Failures in Cancer Therapy? Are Misleading/Inappropriate Preclinical Assays to Be Blamed? Might Some Modern Therapies Cause More Harm than Benefit? Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:13217. [PMID: 36362004 PMCID: PMC9655591 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Over 50 years of cancer research has resulted in the generation of massive amounts of information, but relatively little progress has been made in the treatment of patients with solid tumors, except for extending their survival for a few months at best. Here, we will briefly discuss some of the reasons for this failure, focusing on the limitations and sometimes misunderstanding of the clinical relevance of preclinical assays that are widely used to identify novel anticancer drugs and treatment strategies (e.g., "synthetic lethality"). These include colony formation, apoptosis (e.g., caspase-3 activation), immunoblotting, and high-content multiwell plate cell-based assays, as well as tumor growth studies in animal models. A major limitation is that such assays are rarely designed to recapitulate the tumor repopulating properties associated with therapy-induced cancer cell dormancy (durable proliferation arrest) reflecting, for example, premature senescence, polyploidy and/or multinucleation. Furthermore, pro-survival properties of apoptotic cancer cells through phoenix rising, failed apoptosis, and/or anastasis (return from the brink of death), as well as cancer immunoediting and the impact of therapeutic agents on interactions between cancer and immune cells are often overlooked in preclinical studies. A brief review of the history of cancer research makes one wonder if modern strategies for treating patients with solid tumors may sometimes cause more harm than benefit.
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9
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Somarelli JA, DeGregori J, Gerlinger M, Heng HH, Marusyk A, Welch DR, Laukien FH. Questions to guide cancer evolution as a framework for furthering progress in cancer research and sustainable patient outcomes. Med Oncol 2022; 39:137. [PMID: 35781581 PMCID: PMC9252949 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-022-01721-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
We appear to be faced with ‘two truths’ in cancer—one of major advances and successes and another one of remaining short-comings and significant challenges. Despite decades of research and substantial progress in treating cancer, most patients with metastatic cancer still experience great suffering and poor outcomes. Metastatic cancer, for the vast majority of patients, remains incurable. In the context of advanced disease, many clinical trials report only incremental advances in progression-free and overall survival. At the same time, the breadth and depth of new scientific discoveries in cancer research are staggering. These discoveries are providing increasing mechanistic detail into the inner workings of normal and cancer cells, as well as into cancer–host interactions; however, progress remains frustratingly slow in translating these discoveries into improved diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic interventions. Despite enormous advances in cancer research and progress in progression-free survival, or even cures, for certain cancer types—with earlier detection followed by surgical, adjuvant, targeted, or immuno- therapies, we must challenge ourselves to do even better where patients do not respond or experience evolving therapy resistance. We propose that defining cancer evolution as a separate domain of study and integrating the concept of evolvability as a core hallmark of cancer can help position scientific discoveries into a framework that can be more effectively harnessed to improve cancer detection and therapy outcomes and to eventually decrease cancer lethality. In this perspective, we present key questions and suggested areas of study that must be considered—not only by the field of cancer evolution, but by all investigators researching, diagnosing, and treating cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason A Somarelli
- Department of Medicine, Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - James DeGregori
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Marco Gerlinger
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.,St Bartholomew's Hospital Cancer Centre, London, UK
| | - Henry H Heng
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Andriy Marusyk
- Department of Cancer Physiology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Danny R Welch
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Kansas Medical Center and The University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Frank H Laukien
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
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10
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Metts J, Russell T, Reed D, Trucco M. A Proposed Trial Design for the Treatment of Widely Metastatic Ewing Sarcoma Inspired by Evolutionary Dynamics. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030736. [PMID: 35159003 PMCID: PMC8833360 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastatic Ewing sarcoma has dismal long-term survival despite multiple attempts to intensify standard therapy through the addition of new agents to the existing chemotherapy backbone. Here, based on the application of evolutionary dynamics to pediatric sarcoma, we propose an alternative treatment strategy that varies exposure to agents and dosing intensities, termed sequential second-strike therapy (SSST). We announce an upcoming clinical trial to apply these principles to patients with widely metastatic Ewing sarcoma, those with metastatic disease beyond the lungs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Metts
- Cancer and Blood Disorders Institute, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Thomas Russell
- Departments of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA;
| | - Damon Reed
- Moffitt Cancer Center, Department of Individualized Cancer Management, Tampa, FL 33612, USA;
| | - Matteo Trucco
- Department of Pediatric Hematology Oncology and BMT, Cleveland Clinic Children’s, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA;
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11
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Heng J, Heng HH. Genome Chaos, Information Creation, and Cancer Emergence: Searching for New Frameworks on the 50th Anniversary of the "War on Cancer". Genes (Basel) 2021; 13:genes13010101. [PMID: 35052441 PMCID: PMC8774498 DOI: 10.3390/genes13010101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The year 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the National Cancer Act, signed by President Nixon, which declared a national “war on cancer.” Powered by enormous financial support, this past half-century has witnessed remarkable progress in understanding the individual molecular mechanisms of cancer, primarily through the characterization of cancer genes and the phenotypes associated with their pathways. Despite millions of publications and the overwhelming volume data generated from the Cancer Genome Project, clinical benefits are still lacking. In fact, the massive, diverse data also unexpectedly challenge the current somatic gene mutation theory of cancer, as well as the initial rationales behind sequencing so many cancer samples. Therefore, what should we do next? Should we continue to sequence more samples and push for further molecular characterizations, or should we take a moment to pause and think about the biological meaning of the data we have, integrating new ideas in cancer biology? On this special anniversary, we implore that it is time for the latter. We review the Genome Architecture Theory, an alternative conceptual framework that departs from gene-based theories. Specifically, we discuss the relationship between genes, genomes, and information-based platforms for future cancer research. This discussion will reinforce some newly proposed concepts that are essential for advancing cancer research, including two-phased cancer evolution (which reconciles evolutionary contributions from karyotypes and genes), stress-induced genome chaos (which creates new system information essential for macroevolution), the evolutionary mechanism of cancer (which unifies diverse molecular mechanisms to create new karyotype coding during evolution), and cellular adaptation and cancer emergence (which explains why cancer exists in the first place). We hope that these ideas will usher in new genomic and evolutionary conceptual frameworks and strategies for the next 50 years of cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Heng
- Harvard College, 16 Divinity Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA;
| | - Henry H. Heng
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Department of Pathology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
- Correspondence:
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12
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Fabian-Morales E, Vallejo-Escamilla D, Gudiño A, Rodríguez A, González-Barrios R, Rodríguez Torres YL, Castro Hernández C, de la Torre-Luján AH, Oliva-Rico DA, Ornelas Guzmán EC, López Saavedra A, Frias S, Herrera LA. Large-scale topological disruption of chromosome territories 9 and 22 is associated with nonresponse to treatment in CML. Int J Cancer 2021; 150:1455-1470. [PMID: 34913480 PMCID: PMC9303775 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.33903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm defined by the presence of t(9;22) translocation whose origin has been associated with the tridimensional genome organization. This rearrangement leads to the fusion of BCR and ABL1 genes giving rise to a chimeric protein with constitutive kinase activity. Imatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), is used as a first‐line treatment for CML, though ~40% of CML patients do not respond. Here, using structured illumination microscopy (SIM) and 3D reconstruction, we studied the 3D organization patterns of the ABL1 and BCR genes, and their chromosome territories (CTs) CT9 and CT22, in CD34+ cells from CML patients that responded or not to TKI. We found that TKI resistance in CML is associated with high levels of structural disruption of CT9 and CT22 in CD34+ cells, increased CT volumes (especially for CT22), intermingling between CT9 and CT22, and an open‐chromatin epigenetic mark in CT22. Altogether our results suggest that large‐scale disruption of CT9 and CT22 correlates with the clinical response of CML patients, which could be translated into a potential prognostic marker of response to treatment in this disease and provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying resistance to TKI in CML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunice Fabian-Morales
- Doctorado en Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico.,Unidad de Aplicaciones Avanzadas en Microscopía (ADMiRA), Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Red de Apoyo a la Investigación (RAI), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico.,Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Mexico City, Mexico.,Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Apartado Postal 70228, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - David Vallejo-Escamilla
- Unidad de Aplicaciones Avanzadas en Microscopía (ADMiRA), Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Red de Apoyo a la Investigación (RAI), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico.,Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Mexico City, Mexico.,Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Apartado Postal 70228, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Adriana Gudiño
- Unidad de Aplicaciones Avanzadas en Microscopía (ADMiRA), Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Red de Apoyo a la Investigación (RAI), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico.,Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Alfredo Rodríguez
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Apartado Postal 70228, Mexico City, Mexico.,Instituto Nacional de Pediatría (INP), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rodrigo González-Barrios
- Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Mexico City, Mexico.,Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Apartado Postal 70228, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Yameli L Rodríguez Torres
- Unidad de Aplicaciones Avanzadas en Microscopía (ADMiRA), Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Red de Apoyo a la Investigación (RAI), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico.,Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Clementina Castro Hernández
- Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Mexico City, Mexico.,Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Apartado Postal 70228, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Diego A Oliva-Rico
- Unidad de Aplicaciones Avanzadas en Microscopía (ADMiRA), Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Red de Apoyo a la Investigación (RAI), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico.,Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Mexico City, Mexico.,Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Apartado Postal 70228, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Erandhi C Ornelas Guzmán
- Unidad de Aplicaciones Avanzadas en Microscopía (ADMiRA), Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Red de Apoyo a la Investigación (RAI), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico.,Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Alejandro López Saavedra
- Unidad de Aplicaciones Avanzadas en Microscopía (ADMiRA), Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Red de Apoyo a la Investigación (RAI), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico.,Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Mexico City, Mexico.,Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Apartado Postal 70228, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Sara Frias
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Apartado Postal 70228, Mexico City, Mexico.,Laboratorio de Citogenética, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría (INP), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Luis A Herrera
- Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan), Mexico City, Mexico.,Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Apartado Postal 70228, Mexico City, Mexico.,Instituto Nacional de Medicina Genómica (INMEGEN), Mexico City, Mexico
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13
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Liu J, Niu N, Li X, Zhang X, Sood AK. The life cycle of polyploid giant cancer cells and dormancy in cancer: Opportunities for novel therapeutic interventions. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 81:132-144. [PMID: 34670140 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Recent data suggest that most genotoxic agents in cancer therapy can lead to shock of genome and increase in cell size, which leads whole genome duplication or multiplication, formation of polyploid giant cancer cells, activation of an early embryonic program, and dedifferentiation of somatic cells. This process is achieved via the giant cell life cycle, a recently proposed mechanism for malignant transformation of somatic cells. Increase in both cell size and ploidy allows cells to completely or partially restructures the genome and develop into a blastocyst-like structure, similar to that observed in blastomere-stage embryogenesis. Although blastocyst-like structures with reprogrammed genome can generate resistant or metastatic daughter cells or benign cells of different lineages, they also acquired ability to undergo embryonic diapause, a reversible state of suspended embryonic development in which cells enter dormancy for survival in response to environmental stress. Therapeutic agents can activate this evolutionarily conserved developmental program, and when cells awaken from embryonic diapause, this leads to recurrence or metastasis. Understanding of the key mechanisms that regulate the different stages of the giant cell life cycle offers new opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinsong Liu
- Departments of Anatomic Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Departments of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Na Niu
- Departments of Anatomic Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Xiaoran Li
- Departments of Anatomic Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Xudong Zhang
- Departments of Anatomic Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Anil K Sood
- Departments of Gynecologic Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
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14
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Heng E, Moy A, Liu G, Heng HH, Zhang K. ER Stress and Micronuclei Cluster: Stress Response Contributes to Genome Chaos in Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:673188. [PMID: 34422803 PMCID: PMC8371933 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.673188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Heng
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Amanda Moy
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Guo Liu
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Henry H Heng
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Kezhong Zhang
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
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