1
|
McCrury M, Swafford K, Shuttleworth SL, Mehdi SH, Acharya B, Saha D, Naceanceno K, Byrum SD, Storey AJ, Xu YZ, Doshier C, Patel V, Post GR, De Loose A, Rodriguez A, Shultz LD, Zhan F, Yoon D, Frett B, Kendrick S. Bifunctional Inhibitor Reveals NEK2 as a Therapeutic Target and Regulator of Oncogenic Pathways in Lymphoma. Mol Cancer Ther 2024; 23:316-329. [PMID: 37816504 PMCID: PMC10932871 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-23-0299] [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: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
Expression of the serine/threonine kinase never in mitosis gene A (NIMA)-related kinase 2 (NEK2) is essential for entry into mitosis via its role in facilitating centrosome separation. Its overactivity can lead to tumorigenesis and drug resistance through the activation of several oncogenic pathways, including AKT. Although the cancer-enabling activities of NEK2 are documented in many malignancies, including correlations with poor survival in myeloma, breast, and non-small cell lung cancer, little is known about the role of NEK2 in lymphoma. Here, in tumors from patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common, aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma, we found a high abundance of NEK2 mRNA and protein associated with an inferior overall survival. Using our recently developed NEK2 inhibitor, NBI-961, we discovered that DLBCL cell lines and patient-derived cells exhibit a dependency on NEK2 for their viability. This compromised cell fitness was directly attributable to efficient NEK2 inhibition and proteasomal degradation by NBI-961. In a subset of particularly sensitive DLBCL cells, NBI-961 induced G2/mitosis arrest and apoptosis. In contrast, an existing indirect NEK2 inhibitor, INH154, did not prevent NEK2 autophosphorylation, induce NEK2 proteasomal degradation, or affect cell viability. Global proteomics and phospho-proteomics revealed that NEK2 orchestrates cell-cycle and apoptotic pathways through regulation of both known and new signaling molecules. We show the loss of NEK2-sensitized DLBCL to the chemotherapy agents, doxorubicin and vincristine, and effectively suppressed tumor growth in mice. These studies establish the oncogenic activity of NEK2 in DLBCL and set the foundation for development of anti-NEK2 therapeutic strategies in this frequently refractory and relapse-prone cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mason McCrury
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Kennith Swafford
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Sydnye L. Shuttleworth
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Syed Hassan Mehdi
- Myeloma Center, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Baku Acharya
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Debasmita Saha
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Kevin Naceanceno
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Stephanie D. Byrum
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
- Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Aaron J. Storey
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Ying-Zhi Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Claire Doshier
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Vijay Patel
- Department of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Ginell R. Post
- Department of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Annick De Loose
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Analiz Rodriguez
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | | | - Fenghuang Zhan
- Myeloma Center, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Donghoon Yoon
- Myeloma Center, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Brendan Frett
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Samantha Kendrick
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Tabatabai A, Arora A, Höfmann S, Jauch M, von Tresckow B, Hansen J, Flümann R, Jachimowicz RD, Klein S, Reinhardt HC, Knittel G. Mouse models of diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1313371. [PMID: 38124747 PMCID: PMC10731046 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1313371] [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: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a genetically highly heterogeneous disease. Yet, to date, the vast majority of patients receive standardized frontline chemo-immune-therapy consisting of an anthracycline backbone. Using these regimens, approximately 65% of patients can be cured, whereas the remaining 35% of patients will face relapsed or refractory disease, which, even in the era of CAR-T cells, is difficult to treat. To systematically tackle this high medical need, it is important to design, generate and deploy suitable in vivo model systems that capture disease biology, heterogeneity and drug response. Recently published, large comprehensive genomic characterization studies, which defined molecular sub-groups of DLBCL, provide an ideal framework for the generation of autochthonous mouse models, as well as an ideal benchmark for cell line-derived or patient-derived mouse models of DLBCL. Here we discuss the current state of the art in the field of mouse modelling of human DLBCL, with a particular focus on disease biology and genetically defined molecular vulnerabilities, as well as potential targeting strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Areya Tabatabai
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, West German Cancer Center, German Cancer Consortium Partner Site Essen, Center for Molecular Biotechnology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Aastha Arora
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, West German Cancer Center, German Cancer Consortium Partner Site Essen, Center for Molecular Biotechnology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Svenja Höfmann
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, West German Cancer Center, German Cancer Consortium Partner Site Essen, Center for Molecular Biotechnology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Maximilian Jauch
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, West German Cancer Center, German Cancer Consortium Partner Site Essen, Center for Molecular Biotechnology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Bastian von Tresckow
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, West German Cancer Center, German Cancer Consortium Partner Site Essen, Center for Molecular Biotechnology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Julia Hansen
- Department I of Internal Medicine, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Response in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Mildred Scheel School of Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf (MSSO ABCD), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
| | - Ruth Flümann
- Department I of Internal Medicine, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Response in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Mildred Scheel School of Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf (MSSO ABCD), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
| | - Ron D. Jachimowicz
- Department I of Internal Medicine, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Response in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Mildred Scheel School of Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf (MSSO ABCD), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
| | - Sebastian Klein
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, West German Cancer Center, German Cancer Consortium Partner Site Essen, Center for Molecular Biotechnology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Hans Christian Reinhardt
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, West German Cancer Center, German Cancer Consortium Partner Site Essen, Center for Molecular Biotechnology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Gero Knittel
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, West German Cancer Center, German Cancer Consortium Partner Site Essen, Center for Molecular Biotechnology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Vlasevska S, Garcia-Ibanez L, Duval R, Holmes A, Jahan R, Cai B, Kim A, Mo T, Basso K, Soni R, Bhagat G, Dalla-Favera R, Pasqualucci L. KMT2D acetylation by CREBBP reveals a cooperative functional interaction at enhancers in normal and malignant germinal center B cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2218330120. [PMID: 36893259 PMCID: PMC10089214 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2218330120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Heterozygous inactivating mutations of the KMT2D methyltransferase and the CREBBP acetyltransferase are among the most common genetic alterations in B cell lymphoma and co-occur in 40 to 60% of follicular lymphoma (FL) and 30% of EZB/C3 diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cases, suggesting they may be coselected. Here, we show that combined germinal center (GC)-specific haploinsufficiency of Crebbp and Kmt2d synergizes in vivo to promote the expansion of abnormally polarized GCs, a common preneoplastic event. These enzymes form a biochemical complex on select enhancers/superenhancers that are critical for the delivery of immune signals in the GC light zone and are only corrupted upon dual Crebbp/Kmt2d loss, both in mouse GC B cells and in human DLBCL. Moreover, CREBBP directly acetylates KMT2D in GC-derived B cells, and, consistently, its inactivation by FL/DLBCL-associated mutations abrogates its ability to catalyze KMT2D acetylation. Genetic and pharmacologic loss of CREBBP and the consequent decrease in KMT2D acetylation lead to reduced levels of H3K4me1, supporting a role for this posttranslational modification in modulating KMT2D activity. Our data identify a direct biochemical and functional interaction between CREBBP and KMT2D in the GC, with implications for their role as tumor suppressors in FL/DLBCL and for the development of precision medicine approaches targeting enhancer defects induced by their combined loss.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sofija Vlasevska
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University, New York, NY10032
| | | | - Romain Duval
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University, New York, NY10032
| | - Antony B. Holmes
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University, New York, NY10032
| | - Rahat Jahan
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University, New York, NY10032
| | - Bowen Cai
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University, New York, NY10032
| | - Andrew Kim
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University, New York, NY10032
| | - Tongwei Mo
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University, New York, NY10032
| | - Katia Basso
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University, New York, NY10032
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY10032
| | - Rajesh K. Soni
- Proteomics and Macromolecular Crystallography Shared Resource, Columbia University, New York, NY10032
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, NY10032
| | - Govind Bhagat
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY10032
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, NY10032
| | - Riccardo Dalla-Favera
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University, New York, NY10032
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY10032
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, NY10032
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University, New York, NY10032
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University, New York, NY10032
| | - Laura Pasqualucci
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University, New York, NY10032
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY10032
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, NY10032
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
The Clonal Diversity of Peripheral B Cell Receptor Immune Repertoire Impaired by Residual Malignant B Cells Predicts Treatment Efficacy in B Cell Lymphoma Patients. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194628. [PMID: 36230551 PMCID: PMC9564088 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Germinal center (GC) is the vital locus for the evolution of naïve B cells into memory B and plasma cells, but also a hotbed for the proliferation of malignant B cells. We hypothesized that malignant B cells may locally or globally impact GCs to produce peripheral B cell receptor immune repertoire (BCR IR) with reduced clonal diversity. In this study, we first validated our hypothesis in a novel human in-vitro GC (hiGC) model. The addition of the diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cells to the hiGC culture attenuated the rate of diversity growth. For clinical validation, we collected samples from 17 DLBCL patients at various points during high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell rescue. The elimination and reestablishment of the patients’ lymphatic pool allowed us to unambiguously monitor the impact of tumor cells on the replenishment of the peripheral BCR IR. Compared to the nine patients who did not relapse after treatment, relapsed patients tended to have a slower rate of recovery regarding the clonal diversity of their peripheral BCR IR. Our results suggest a mechanistic and clinical connection between residual tumor cells and abnormal peripheral BCR IR, which may corelate with treatment efficacy in B cell lymphomas.
Collapse
|
5
|
Dawes JC, Uren AG. Forward and Reverse Genetics of B Cell Malignancies: From Insertional Mutagenesis to CRISPR-Cas. Front Immunol 2021; 12:670280. [PMID: 34484175 PMCID: PMC8414522 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.670280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer genome sequencing has identified dozens of mutations with a putative role in lymphomagenesis and leukemogenesis. Validation of driver mutations responsible for B cell neoplasms is complicated by the volume of mutations worthy of investigation and by the complex ways that multiple mutations arising from different stages of B cell development can cooperate. Forward and reverse genetic strategies in mice can provide complementary validation of human driver genes and in some cases comparative genomics of these models with human tumors has directed the identification of new drivers in human malignancies. We review a collection of forward genetic screens performed using insertional mutagenesis, chemical mutagenesis and exome sequencing and discuss how the high coverage of subclonal mutations in insertional mutagenesis screens can identify cooperating mutations at rates not possible using human tumor genomes. We also compare a set of independently conducted screens from Pax5 mutant mice that converge upon a common set of mutations observed in human acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We also discuss reverse genetic models and screens that use CRISPR-Cas, ORFs and shRNAs to provide high throughput in vivo proof of oncogenic function, with an emphasis on models using adoptive transfer of ex vivo cultured cells. Finally, we summarize mouse models that offer temporal regulation of candidate genes in an in vivo setting to demonstrate the potential of their encoded proteins as therapeutic targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joanna C Dawes
- Medical Research Council, London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, United Kingdom.,Institute of Clinical Sciences (ICS), Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony G Uren
- Medical Research Council, London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, United Kingdom.,Institute of Clinical Sciences (ICS), Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|