1
|
Robertson R, Li S, Filippelli RL, Chang NC. Muscle stem cell dysfunction in rhabdomyosarcoma and muscular dystrophy. Curr Top Dev Biol 2024; 158:83-121. [PMID: 38670717 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2024.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Muscle stem cells (MuSCs) are crucial to the repair and homeostasis of mature skeletal muscle. MuSC dysfunction and dysregulation of the myogenic program can contribute to the development of pathology ranging from cancers like rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) or muscle degenerative diseases such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Both diseases exhibit dysregulation at nearly all steps of myogenesis. For instance, MuSC self-renewal processes are altered. In RMS, this leads to the creation of tumor propagating cells. In DMD, impaired asymmetric stem cell division creates a bias towards producing self-renewing stem cells instead of committing to differentiation. Hyperproliferation of these cells contribute to tumorigenesis in RMS and symmetric expansion of the self-renewing MuSC population in DMD. Both diseases also exhibit a repression of factors involved in terminal differentiation, halting RMS cells in the proliferative stage and thus driving tumor growth. Conversely, the MuSCs in DMD exhibit impaired differentiation and fuse prematurely, affecting myonuclei maturation and the integrity of the dystrophic muscle fiber. Finally, both disease states cause alterations to the MuSC niche. Various elements of the niche such as inflammatory and migratory signaling that impact MuSC behavior are dysregulated. Here we show how these seemingly distantly related diseases indeed have similarities in MuSC dysfunction, underlying the importance of considering MuSCs when studying the pathophysiology of muscle diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Robertson
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Shulei Li
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada; Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Romina L Filippelli
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Natasha C Chang
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada; Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sreenivas P, Wang L, Wang M, Challa A, Modi P, Hensch NR, Gryder B, Chou HC, Zhao XR, Sunkel B, Moreno-Campos R, Khan J, Stanton BZ, Ignatius MS. A SNAI2/CTCF Interaction is Required for NOTCH1 Expression in Rhabdomyosarcoma. Mol Cell Biol 2023; 43:547-565. [PMID: 37882064 PMCID: PMC10761179 DOI: 10.1080/10985549.2023.2256640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a pediatric malignancy of the muscle with characteristics of cells blocked in differentiation. NOTCH1 is an oncogene that promotes self-renewal and blocks differentiation in the fusion negative-RMS sub-type. However, how NOTCH1 expression is transcriptionally maintained in tumors is unknown. Analyses of SNAI2 and CTCF chromatin binding and HiC analyses revealed a conserved SNAI2/CTCF overlapping peak downstream of the NOTCH1 locus marking a sub-topologically associating domain (TAD) boundary. Deletion of the SNAI2-CTCF peak showed that it is essential for NOTCH1 expression and viability of FN-RMS cells. Reintroducing constitutively activated NOTCH1-ΔE in cells with the SNAI2-CTCF peak deleted restored cell-viability. Ablation of SNAI2 using CRISPR/Cas9 reagents resulted in the loss of majority of RD and SMS-CTR FN-RMS cells. However, the few surviving clones that repopulate cultures have recovered NOTCH1. Cells that re-establish NOTCH1 expression after SNAI2 ablation are unable to differentiate robustly as SNAI2 shRNA knockdown cells; yet, SNAI2-ablated cells continued to be exquisitely sensitive to ionizing radiation. Thus, we have uncovered a novel mechanism by which SNAI2 and CTCF maintenance of a sub-TAD boundary promotes rather than represses NOTCH1 expression. Further, we demonstrate that SNAI2 suppression of apoptosis post-radiation is independent of SNAI2/NOTCH1 effects on self-renewal and differentiation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Prethish Sreenivas
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Long Wang
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Meng Wang
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Anil Challa
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
| | - Paulomi Modi
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Nicole Rae Hensch
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Berkley Gryder
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Xiang R. Zhao
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Benjamin Sunkel
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Rodrigo Moreno-Campos
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Javed Khan
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Benjamin Z. Stanton
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Myron S. Ignatius
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zarrabi A, Perrin D, Kavoosi M, Sommer M, Sezen S, Mehrbod P, Bhushan B, Machaj F, Rosik J, Kawalec P, Afifi S, Bolandi SM, Koleini P, Taheri M, Madrakian T, Łos MJ, Lindsey B, Cakir N, Zarepour A, Hushmandi K, Fallah A, Koc B, Khosravi A, Ahmadi M, Logue S, Orive G, Pecic S, Gordon JW, Ghavami S. Rhabdomyosarcoma: Current Therapy, Challenges, and Future Approaches to Treatment Strategies. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5269. [PMID: 37958442 PMCID: PMC10650215 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15215269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare cancer arising in skeletal muscle that typically impacts children and young adults. It is a worldwide challenge in child health as treatment outcomes for metastatic and recurrent disease still pose a major concern for both basic and clinical scientists. The treatment strategies for rhabdomyosarcoma include multi-agent chemotherapies after surgical resection with or without ionization radiotherapy. In this comprehensive review, we first provide a detailed clinical understanding of rhabdomyosarcoma including its classification and subtypes, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. Later, we focus on chemotherapy strategies for this childhood sarcoma and discuss the impact of three mechanisms that are involved in the chemotherapy response including apoptosis, macro-autophagy, and the unfolded protein response. Finally, we discuss in vivo mouse and zebrafish models and in vitro three-dimensional bioengineering models of rhabdomyosarcoma to screen future therapeutic approaches and promote muscle regeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ali Zarrabi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istinye University, Sariyer, Istanbul 34396, Türkiye; (A.Z.); (A.Z.)
| | - David Perrin
- Section of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (D.P.); (M.S.)
| | - Mahboubeh Kavoosi
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
- Biotechnology Center, Silesian University of Technology, 8 Krzywousty St., 44-100 Gliwice, Poland;
| | - Micah Sommer
- Section of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (D.P.); (M.S.)
- Section of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada
| | - Serap Sezen
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Tuzla, Istanbul 34956, Türkiye; (S.S.); (N.C.); (B.K.)
| | - Parvaneh Mehrbod
- Department of Influenza and Respiratory Viruses, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran 1316943551, Iran;
| | - Bhavya Bhushan
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0C7, Canada
| | - Filip Machaj
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
- Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Jakub Rosik
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
- Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Philip Kawalec
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
- Section of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Manitoba, Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, MB R3A 1R9, Canada
| | - Saba Afifi
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
| | - Seyed Mohammadreza Bolandi
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
| | - Peiman Koleini
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
| | - Mohsen Taheri
- Genetics of Non-Communicable Disease Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan 9816743463, Iran;
| | - Tayyebeh Madrakian
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan 6517838695, Iran; (T.M.); (M.A.)
| | - Marek J. Łos
- Biotechnology Center, Silesian University of Technology, 8 Krzywousty St., 44-100 Gliwice, Poland;
| | - Benjamin Lindsey
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
| | - Nilufer Cakir
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Tuzla, Istanbul 34956, Türkiye; (S.S.); (N.C.); (B.K.)
| | - Atefeh Zarepour
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istinye University, Sariyer, Istanbul 34396, Türkiye; (A.Z.); (A.Z.)
| | - Kiavash Hushmandi
- Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Division of Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran 1419963114, Iran;
| | - Ali Fallah
- Integrated Manufacturing Technologies Research and Application Center, Sabanci University, Tuzla, Istanbul 34956, Türkiye;
| | - Bahattin Koc
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Tuzla, Istanbul 34956, Türkiye; (S.S.); (N.C.); (B.K.)
- Integrated Manufacturing Technologies Research and Application Center, Sabanci University, Tuzla, Istanbul 34956, Türkiye;
- Sabanci University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Tuzla, Istanbul 34956, Türkiye
| | - Arezoo Khosravi
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istanbul Okan University, Istanbul 34959, Türkiye;
| | - Mazaher Ahmadi
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan 6517838695, Iran; (T.M.); (M.A.)
| | - Susan Logue
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
| | - Gorka Orive
- NanoBioCel Research Group, School of Pharmacy, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 01007 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain;
- University Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Oral Implantology–UIRMI (UPV/EHU-Fundación Eduardo Anitua), 01007 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
- Bioaraba, NanoBioCel Research Group, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Stevan Pecic
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, California State University Fullerton, Fullerton, CA 92831, USA;
| | - Joseph W. Gordon
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
- College of Nursing, Rady Faculty of Health Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada
| | - Saeid Ghavami
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba College of Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada; (M.K.); (B.B.); (F.M.); (J.R.); (P.K.); (S.A.); (S.M.B.); (P.K.); (B.L.); (S.L.); (J.W.G.)
- Biology of Breathing Theme, Children Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada
- Autophagy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz 7134845794, Iran
- Academy of Silesia, Faculty of Medicine, Rolna 43, 40-555 Katowice, Poland
- Research Institutes of Oncology and Hematology, Cancer Care Manitoba-University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wang M, Sreenivas P, Sunkel BD, Wang L, Ignatius M, Stanton B. The 3D chromatin landscape of rhabdomyosarcoma. NAR Cancer 2023; 5:zcad028. [PMID: 37325549 PMCID: PMC10261698 DOI: 10.1093/narcan/zcad028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a pediatric soft tissue cancer with a lack of precision therapy options for patients. We hypothesized that with a general paucity of known mutations in RMS, chromatin structural driving mechanisms are essential for tumor proliferation. Thus, we carried out high-depth in situ Hi-C in representative cell lines and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) to define chromatin architecture in each major RMS subtype. We report a comprehensive 3D chromatin structural analysis and characterization of fusion-positive (FP-RMS) and fusion-negative RMS (FN-RMS). We have generated spike-in in situ Hi-C chromatin interaction maps for the most common FP-RMS and FN-RMS cell lines and compared our data with PDX models. In our studies, we uncover common and distinct structural elements in large Mb-scale chromatin compartments, tumor-essential genes within variable topologically associating domains and unique patterns of structural variation. Our high-depth chromatin interactivity maps and comprehensive analyses provide context for gene regulatory events and reveal functional chromatin domains in RMS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meng Wang
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Center for Childhood Cancer, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Prethish Sreenivas
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Benjamin D Sunkel
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Center for Childhood Cancer, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Long Wang
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Myron Ignatius
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Benjamin Z Stanton
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Center for Childhood Cancer, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Chen J, Baxi K, Lipsitt AE, Hensch NR, Wang L, Sreenivas P, Modi P, Zhao XR, Baudin A, Robledo DG, Bandyopadhyay A, Sugalski A, Challa AK, Kurmashev D, Gilbert AR, Tomlinson GE, Houghton P, Chen Y, Hayes MN, Chen EY, Libich DS, Ignatius MS. Defining function of wild-type and three patient-specific TP53 mutations in a zebrafish model of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. eLife 2023; 12:e68221. [PMID: 37266578 PMCID: PMC10322150 DOI: 10.7554/elife.68221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) and generally in sarcomas, the role of wild-type and loss- or gain-of-function TP53 mutations remains largely undefined. Eliminating mutant or restoring wild-type p53 is challenging; nevertheless, understanding p53 variant effects on tumorigenesis remains central to realizing better treatment outcomes. In ERMS, >70% of patients retain wild-type TP53, yet mutations when present are associated with worse prognosis. Employing a kRASG12D-driven ERMS tumor model and tp53 null (tp53-/-) zebrafish, we define wild-type and patient-specific TP53 mutant effects on tumorigenesis. We demonstrate that tp53 is a major suppressor of tumorigenesis, where tp53 loss expands tumor initiation from <35% to >97% of animals. Characterizing three patient-specific alleles reveals that TP53C176F partially retains wild-type p53 apoptotic activity that can be exploited, whereas TP53P153Δ and TP53Y220C encode two structurally related proteins with gain-of-function effects that predispose to head musculature ERMS. TP53P153Δ unexpectedly also predisposes to hedgehog-expressing medulloblastomas in the kRASG12D-driven ERMS-model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiangfei Chen
- Institute of Environmental Safety and Human Health, Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhouChina
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Kunal Baxi
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
- Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Amanda E Lipsitt
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology Oncology, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Nicole Rae Hensch
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
- Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Long Wang
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
- Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Prethish Sreenivas
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
- Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Paulomi Modi
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
- Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Xiang Ru Zhao
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
- Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Antoine Baudin
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Daniel G Robledo
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Abhik Bandyopadhyay
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Aaron Sugalski
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology Oncology, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Anil K Challa
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamUnited States
| | - Dias Kurmashev
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Andrea R Gilbert
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Gail E Tomlinson
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology Oncology, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Peter Houghton
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
- Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Yidong Chen
- Department of Population Health Sciences, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Madeline N Hayes
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoCanada
| | - Eleanor Y Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of WashingtonSeattleUnited States
| | - David S Libich
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| | - Myron S Ignatius
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
- Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences CenterSan AntonioUnited States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Hensch NR, Bondra K, Wang L, Sreenivas P, Zhao XR, Modi P, Vaseva AV, Houghton PJ, Ignatius MS. Sensitization to Ionizing Radiation by MEK Inhibition Is Dependent on SNAI2 in Fusion-Negative Rhabdomyosarcoma. Mol Cancer Ther 2023; 22:123-134. [PMID: 36162055 PMCID: PMC10046682 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-22-0310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
In fusion-negative rhabdomyosarcoma (FN-RMS), a pediatric malignancy with skeletal muscle characteristics, >90% of high-risk patients have mutations that activate the RAS/MEK signaling pathway. We recently discovered that SNAI2, in addition to blocking myogenic differentiation downstream of MEK signaling in FN-RMS, represses proapoptotic BIM expression to protect RMS tumors from ionizing radiation (IR). As clinically relevant concentrations of the MEK inhibitor trametinib elicit poor responses in preclinical xenograft models, we investigated the utility of low-dose trametinib in combination with IR for the treatment of RAS-mutant FN-RMS. We hypothesized that trametinib would sensitize FN-RMS to IR through its downregulation of SNAI2 expression. While we observed little to no difference in myogenic differentiation or cell survival with trametinib treatment alone, robust differentiation and reduced survival were observed after IR. In addition, IR-induced apoptosis was significantly increased in FN-RMS cells treated concurrently with trametinib, as was increased BIM expression. SNAI2's role in these processes was established using overexpression rescue experiments, where overexpression of SNAI2 prevented IR-induced myogenic differentiation and apoptosis. Moreover, combining MEK inhibitor with IR resulted in complete tumor regression and a 2- to 4-week delay in event-free survival (EFS) in preclinical xenograft and patient-derived xenograft models. Our findings demonstrate that the combination of MEK inhibition and IR results in robust differentiation and apoptosis, due to the reduction of SNAI2, which leads to extended EFS in FN-RMS. SNAI2 thus is a potential biomarker of IR insensitivity and target for future therapies to sensitize aggressive sarcomas to IR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole R. Hensch
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Kathryn Bondra
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Long Wang
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Prethish Sreenivas
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Xiang R. Zhao
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Paulomi Modi
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Angelina V. Vaseva
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Peter J. Houghton
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Myron S. Ignatius
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), Department of Molecular Medicine, UT Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Camero S, Cassandri M, Pomella S, Milazzo L, Vulcano F, Porrazzo A, Barillari G, Marchese C, Codenotti S, Tomaciello M, Rota R, Fanzani A, Megiorni F, Marampon F. Radioresistance in rhabdomyosarcomas: Much more than a question of dose. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1016894. [PMID: 36248991 PMCID: PMC9559533 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1016894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Management of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children, frequently accounting the genitourinary tract is complex and requires a multimodal therapy. In particular, as a consequence of the advancement in dose conformity technology, radiation therapy (RT) has now become the standard therapeutic option for patients with RMS. In the clinical practice, dose and timing of RT are adjusted on the basis of patients' risk stratification to reduce late toxicity and side effects on normal tissues. However, despite the substantial improvement in cure rates, local failure and recurrence frequently occur. In this review, we summarize the general principles of the treatment of RMS, focusing on RT, and the main molecular pathways and specific proteins involved into radioresistance in RMS tumors. Specifically, we focused on DNA damage/repair, reactive oxygen species, cancer stem cells, and epigenetic modifications that have been reported in the context of RMS neoplasia in both in vitro and in vivo studies. The precise elucidation of the radioresistance-related molecular mechanisms is of pivotal importance to set up new more effective and tolerable combined therapeutic approaches that can radiosensitize cancer cells to finally ameliorate the overall survival of patients with RMS, especially for the most aggressive subtypes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simona Camero
- Department of Maternal, Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Cassandri
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Anatomical Pathology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Department of Oncohematology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Pomella
- Department of Oncohematology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Luisa Milazzo
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Vulcano
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Porrazzo
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Anatomical Pathology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Units of Molecular Genetics of Complex Phenotypes, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCSS), Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Barillari
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Cinzia Marchese
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Codenotti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Miriam Tomaciello
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Anatomical Pathology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Rota
- Department of Oncohematology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Fanzani
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Megiorni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Marampon
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Anatomical Pathology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Napoli GC, Figg WD, Chau CH. Functional Drug Screening in the Era of Precision Medicine. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:912641. [PMID: 35879922 PMCID: PMC9307928 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.912641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The focus of precision medicine is providing the right treatment to each unique patient. This scientific movement has incited monumental advances in oncology including the approval of effective, targeted agnostic therapies. Yet, precision oncology has focused largely on genomics in the treatment decision making process, and several recent clinical trials demonstrate that genomics is not the only variable to be considered. Drug screening in three dimensional (3D) models, including patient derived organoids, organs on a chip, xenografts, and 3D-bioprinted models provide a functional medicine perspective and necessary complement to genomic testing. In this review, we discuss the practicality of various 3D drug screening models and each model’s ability to capture the patient’s tumor microenvironment. We highlight the potential for enhancing precision medicine that personalized functional drug testing holds in combination with genomic testing and emerging mathematical models.
Collapse
|
9
|
Zeng M, Pi C, Li K, Sheng L, Zuo Y, Yuan J, Zou Y, Zhang X, Zhao W, Lee RJ, Wei Y, Zhao L. Patient-Derived Xenograft: A More Standard "Avatar" Model in Preclinical Studies of Gastric Cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:898563. [PMID: 35664756 PMCID: PMC9161630 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.898563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, gastric cancer remains the third most common cause of cancer-related death in humans. The establishment of relevant animal models of gastric cancer is critical for further research. Due to the complexity of the tumor microenvironment and the genetic heterogeneity of gastric cancer, the commonly used preclinical animal models fail to adequately represent clinically relevant models of gastric cancer. However, patient-derived models are able to replicate as much of the original inter-tumoral and intra-tumoral heterogeneity of gastric cancer as possible, reflecting the cellular interactions of the tumor microenvironment. In addition to implanting patient tissues or primary cells into immunodeficient mouse hosts for culture, the advent of alternative hosts such as humanized mouse hosts, zebrafish hosts, and in vitro culture modalities has also facilitated the advancement of gastric cancer research. This review highlights the current status, characteristics, interfering factors, and applications of patient-derived models that have emerged as more valuable preclinical tools for studying the progression and metastasis of gastric cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mingtang Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,Luzhou Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Chronic Diseases Jointly Built by Sichuan and Chongqing, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Chao Pi
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,Luzhou Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Chronic Diseases Jointly Built by Sichuan and Chongqing, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Ke Li
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,Luzhou Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Chronic Diseases Jointly Built by Sichuan and Chongqing, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Lin Sheng
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,Luzhou Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Chronic Diseases Jointly Built by Sichuan and Chongqing, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Ying Zuo
- Luzhou Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Chronic Diseases Jointly Built by Sichuan and Chongqing, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,Department of Comprehensive Medicine, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Jiyuan Yuan
- Luzhou Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Chronic Diseases Jointly Built by Sichuan and Chongqing, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,Clinical Trial Center, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Yonggen Zou
- Luzhou Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Chronic Diseases Jointly Built by Sichuan and Chongqing, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,Department of Spinal Surgery, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Xiaomei Zhang
- Luzhou Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Chronic Diseases Jointly Built by Sichuan and Chongqing, Institute of Medicinal Chemistry of Chinese Medicine, Chongqing Academy of Chinese MateriaMedica, Chongqing, China
| | - Wenmei Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,Luzhou Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Chronic Diseases Jointly Built by Sichuan and Chongqing, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Robert J Lee
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Yumeng Wei
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Ling Zhao
- Luzhou Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Chronic Diseases Jointly Built by Sichuan and Chongqing, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.,Central Nervous System Drug Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Canté-Barrett K, Meijer MT, Cordo' V, Hagelaar R, Yang W, Yu J, Smits WK, Nulle ME, Jansen JP, Pieters R, Yang JJ, Haigh JJ, Goossens S, Meijerink JP. MEF2C opposes Notch in lymphoid lineage decision and drives leukemia in the thymus. JCI Insight 2022; 7:150363. [PMID: 35536646 PMCID: PMC9310523 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.150363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Rearrangements that drive ectopic MEF2C expression have recurrently been found in patients with human early thymocyte progenitor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ETP-ALL). Here, we show high levels of MEF2C expression in patients with ETP-ALL. Using both in vivo and in vitro models of ETP-ALL, we demonstrate that elevated MEF2C expression blocks NOTCH-induced T cell differentiation while promoting a B-lineage program. MEF2C activates a B cell transcriptional program in addition to RUNX1, GATA3, and LMO2; upregulates the IL-7R; and boosts cell survival by upregulation of BCL2. MEF2C and the Notch pathway, therefore, demarcate opposite regulators of B- or T-lineage choices, respectively. Enforced MEF2C expression in mouse or human progenitor cells effectively blocks early T cell differentiation and promotes the development of biphenotypic lymphoid tumors that coexpress CD3 and CD19, resembling human mixed phenotype acute leukemia. Salt-inducible kinase (SIK) inhibitors impair MEF2C activity and alleviate the T cell developmental block. Importantly, this sensitizes cells to prednisolone treatment. Therefore, SIK-inhibiting compounds such as dasatinib are potentially valuable additions to standard chemotherapy for human ETP-ALL.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mariska T Meijer
- Princess Máxima Center for pediatric oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Valentina Cordo'
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Rico Hagelaar
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Wentao Yang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Childen's Research Hospital, Memphis, United States of America
| | - Jiyang Yu
- Computational Biology Department, St. Jude Childen's Research Hospital, Memphis, United States of America
| | - Willem K Smits
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Marloes E Nulle
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Joris P Jansen
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Rob Pieters
- Pieters Group, Princess Máxima Center for pediatric oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Jun J Yang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, United States of America
| | - Jody J Haigh
- Research Institute of Oncology and Hematology, University of Manitoba, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Steven Goossens
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jules Pp Meijerink
- Meijerink Group, Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Sarmiento BE, Callegari S, Ghotme KA, Akle V. Patient-Derived Xenotransplant of CNS Neoplasms in Zebrafish: A Systematic Review. Cells 2022; 11:cells11071204. [PMID: 35406768 PMCID: PMC8998145 DOI: 10.3390/cells11071204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma and neuroblastoma are the most common central nervous system malignant tumors in adult and pediatric populations. Both are associated with poor survival. These tumors are highly heterogeneous, having complex interactions among different cells within the tumor and with the tumor microenvironment. One of the main challenges in the neuro-oncology field is achieving optimal conditions to evaluate a tumor’s molecular genotype and phenotype. In this respect, the zebrafish biological model is becoming an excellent alternative for studying carcinogenic processes and discovering new treatments. This review aimed to describe the results of xenotransplantation of patient-derived CNS tumors in zebrafish models. The reviewed studies show that it is possible to maintain glioblastoma and neuroblastoma primary cell cultures and transplant the cells into zebrafish embryos. The zebrafish is a suitable biological model for understanding tumor progression and the effects of different treatments. This model offers new perspectives in providing personalized care and improving outcomes for patients living with central nervous system tumors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz E. Sarmiento
- School of Medicine, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá 11711, Colombia; (B.E.S.); (S.C.)
| | - Santiago Callegari
- School of Medicine, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá 11711, Colombia; (B.E.S.); (S.C.)
| | - Kemel A. Ghotme
- Department of Neurosurgery, Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Bogotá 111071, Colombia;
- Translational Neuroscience Research Lab, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de La Sabana, Chía 250001, Colombia
| | - Veronica Akle
- School of Medicine, Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá 11711, Colombia; (B.E.S.); (S.C.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Xiang X, Hoang HD, Gilchrist VH, Langlois S, Alain T, Cowan KN. Quercetin induces pannexin 1 expression via an alternative transcript with a translationally active 5' leader in rhabdomyosarcoma. Oncogenesis 2022; 11:9. [PMID: 35194046 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-022-00384-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a deadly cancer of skeletal muscle origin. Pannexin 1 (PANX1) is down-regulated in RMS and increasing its levels drastically inhibits RMS progression. PANX1 upregulation thus represents a prospective new treatment strategy for this malignancy. However, the mechanisms regulating PANX1 expression, in RMS and other contexts, remain largely unknown. Here we show that both RMS and normal skeletal muscle express a comparable amount of PANX1 mRNAs, but surprisingly the canonical 5′ untranslated region (5′ UTR) or 5′ leader of the transcript is completely lost in RMS. We uncover that quercetin, a natural plant flavonoid, increases PANX1 protein levels in RMS by inducing re-expression of a 5′ leader-containing PANX1 transcript variant that is efficiently translated. This particular PANX1 mRNA variant is also present in differentiated human skeletal muscle myoblasts (HSMM) that highly express PANX1. Mechanistically, abolishing ETV4 transcription factor binding sites in the PANX1 promoter significantly reduced the luciferase reporter activities and PANX1 5′ UTR levels, and both quercetin treatment in RMS cells and induction of differentiation in HSMM enriched the binding of ETV4 to its consensus element in the PANX1 promoter. Notably, quercetin treatment promoted RMS differentiation in a PANX1-dependent manner. Further showing its therapeutic potential, quercetin treatment prevented RMS in vitro tumor formation while inducing complete regression of established spheroids. Collectively, our results demonstrate the tumor-suppressive effects of quercetin in RMS and present a hitherto undescribed mechanism of PANX1 regulation via ETV4-mediated transcription of a translationally functional 5′ leader-containing PANX1 mRNA.
Collapse
|
13
|
Cecchini A, Cornelison DDW. Eph/Ephrin-Based Protein Complexes: The Importance of cis Interactions in Guiding Cellular Processes. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 8:809364. [PMID: 35096972 PMCID: PMC8793696 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.809364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although intracellular signal transduction is generally represented as a linear process that transmits stimuli from the exterior of a cell to the interior via a transmembrane receptor, interactions with additional membrane-associated proteins are often critical to its success. These molecules play a pivotal role in mediating signaling via the formation of complexes in cis (within the same membrane) with primary effectors, particularly in the context of tumorigenesis. Such secondary effectors may act to promote successful signaling by mediating receptor-ligand binding, recruitment of molecular partners for the formation of multiprotein complexes, or differential signaling outcomes. One signaling family whose contact-mediated activity is frequently modulated by lateral interactions at the cell surface is Eph/ephrin (EphA and EphB receptor tyrosine kinases and their ligands ephrin-As and ephrin-Bs). Through heterotypic interactions in cis, these molecules can promote a diverse range of cellular activities, including some that are mutually exclusive (cell proliferation and cell differentiation, or adhesion and migration). Due to their broad expression in most tissues and their promiscuous binding within and across classes, the cellular response to Eph:ephrin interaction is highly variable between cell types and is dependent on the cellular context in which binding occurs. In this review, we will discuss interactions between molecules in cis at the cell membrane, with emphasis on their role in modulating Eph/ephrin signaling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Cecchini
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - D. D. W. Cornelison
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- *Correspondence: D. D. W. Cornelison,
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Yang D, Zhang N, Li M, Hong T, Meng W, Ouyang T. The Hippo Signaling Pathway: The Trader of Tumor Microenvironment. Front Oncol 2021; 11:772134. [PMID: 34858852 PMCID: PMC8632547 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.772134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Hippo pathway regulates cancer biology in many aspects and the crosstalk with other pathways complicates its role. Accumulated evidence has shown that the bidirectional interactions between tumor cells and tumor microenvironment (TME) are the premises of tumor occurrence, development, and metastasis. The relationship among different components of the TME constitutes a three-dimensional network. We point out the core position of the Hippo pathway in this network and discuss how the regulatory inputs cause the chain reaction of the network. We also discuss the important role of Hippo-TME involvement in cancer treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Duo Yang
- Department of the Forth Clinical Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Na Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Meihua Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Tao Hong
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Wei Meng
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Taohui Ouyang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Wang L, Hensch NR, Bondra K, Sreenivas P, Zhao XR, Chen J, Moreno Campos R, Baxi K, Vaseva AV, Sunkel BD, Gryder BE, Pomella S, Stanton BZ, Zheng S, Chen EY, Rota R, Khan J, Houghton PJ, Ignatius MS. SNAI2-Mediated Repression of BIM Protects Rhabdomyosarcoma from Ionizing Radiation. Cancer Res 2021; 81:5451-5463. [PMID: 34462275 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-4191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Ionizing radiation (IR) and chemotherapy are mainstays of treatment for patients with rhabdomyosarcoma, yet the molecular mechanisms that underlie the success or failure of radiotherapy remain unclear. The transcriptional repressor SNAI2 was previously identified as a key regulator of IR sensitivity in normal and malignant stem cells through its repression of the proapoptotic BH3-only gene PUMA/BBC3. Here, we demonstrate a clear correlation between SNAI2 expression levels and radiosensitivity across multiple rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines. Modulating SNAI2 levels in rhabdomyosarcoma cells through its overexpression or knockdown altered radiosensitivity in vitro and in vivo. SNAI2 expression reliably promoted overall cell growth and inhibited mitochondrial apoptosis following exposure to IR, with either variable or minimal effects on differentiation and senescence, respectively. Importantly, SNAI2 knockdown increased expression of the proapoptotic BH3-only gene BIM, and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing experiments established that SNAI2 is a direct repressor of BIM/BCL2L11. Because the p53 pathway is nonfunctional in the rhabdomyosarcoma cells used in this study, we have identified a new, p53-independent SNAI2/BIM signaling axis that could potentially predict clinical responses to IR treatment and be exploited to improve rhabdomyosarcoma therapy. SIGNIFICANCE: SNAI2 is identified as a major regulator of radiation-induced apoptosis in rhabdomyosarcoma through previously unknown mechanisms independent of p53.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Long Wang
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Nicole R Hensch
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Kathryn Bondra
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Prethish Sreenivas
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Xiang R Zhao
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Jiangfei Chen
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.,School of Environmental Safety and Public Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Rodrigo Moreno Campos
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Kunal Baxi
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Angelina V Vaseva
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Benjamin D Sunkel
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Berkley E Gryder
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Silvia Pomella
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Benjamin Z Stanton
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Siyuan Zheng
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Eleanor Y Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Rossella Rota
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Javed Khan
- Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Peter J Houghton
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Myron S Ignatius
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI), UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas. .,Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Xu X, Yan H, Zhang L, Liu J, Huang Y, Cheng H. Up-regulation of miR-34c-5p inhibits nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by mediating NOTCH1. Biosci Rep. 2020;40. [PMID: 32458967 DOI: 10.1042/BSR20200302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the correlation between miR-34c-5p and NOTCH1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). MATERIALS AND METHODS qPCR was employed to quantify miR-34c-5p and NOTCH1 mRNA in NPC, and Western blot to detect NOTCH1. MiR-34c-5p mimics/inhibitor and NOTCH1 siRNA were constructed to analyze the role of miR-34c-5p/NOTCH1 on the biological function of NPC cells. RESULTS NPC cells showed lower miR-34c-5p expression and higher NOTCH1 expression than normal cells, and up-regulating miR-34c-5p or inhibiting NOTCH1 could strongly suppress the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), proliferation, invasion and migration of NPC cells, and induce apoptosis in them. Up-regulating miR-34c-5p could inhibit NOTCH1, and miR-34c-5p was negatively correlated with NOTCH1. Rescue experiment results revealed that NOTCH1 up-regulation could counteract the changes of cell process induced by increased miR-34c-5p. CONCLUSION MiR-34c-5p inhibits the growth of NPC by down-regulating NOTCH1, so up-regulating miR-34c-5p or down-regulating NOTCH1 may become the potential direction of NPC treatment.
Collapse
|
17
|
Abstract
Zebrafish are rapidly becoming a leading model organism for cancer research. The genetic pathways driving cancer are highly conserved between zebrafish and humans, and the ability to easily manipulate the zebrafish genome to rapidly generate transgenic animals makes zebrafish an excellent model organism. Transgenic zebrafish containing complex, patient-relevant genotypes have been used to model many cancer types. Here we present a comprehensive review of transgenic zebrafish cancer models as a resource to the field and highlight important areas of cancer biology that have yet to be studied in the fish. The ability to image cancer cells and niche biology in an endogenous tumor makes zebrafish an indispensable model organism in which we can further understand the mechanisms that drive tumorigenesis and screen for potential new cancer therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alicia M. McConnell
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02138, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Haley R. Noonan
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02138, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Leonard I. Zon
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02138, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology Department and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02138, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Abstract
As a promising in vivo tool for cancer research, zebrafish have been widely applied in various tumor studies. The zebrafish xenograft model is a low-cost, high-throughput tool for cancer research that can be established quickly and requires only a small sample size, which makes it favorite among researchers. Zebrafish patient-derived xenograft (zPDX) models provide promising evidence for short-term clinical treatment. In this review, we discuss the characteristics and advantages of zebrafish, such as their transparent and translucent features, the use of vascular fluorescence imaging, the establishment of metastatic and intracranial orthotopic models, individual pharmacokinetics measurements, and tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, we introduce how these characteristics and advantages are applied other in tumor studies. Finally, we discuss the future direction of the use of zebrafish in tumor studies and provide new ideas for the application of it.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xingyu Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongyun Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Tengteng Yao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Renbing Jia
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Slemmons KK, Deel MD, Lin YT, Oristian KM, Kuprasertkul N, Genadry KC, Chen PH, Chi JTA, Linardic CM. A method to culture human alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines as rhabdospheres demonstrates an enrichment in stemness and Notch signaling. Biol Open 2021; 10:bio.050211. [PMID: 33372065 PMCID: PMC7888706 DOI: 10.1242/bio.050211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of three-dimensional cell culture techniques has allowed cancer researchers to study the stemness properties of cancer cells in in vitro culture. However, a method to grow PAX3-FOXO1 fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma (FP-RMS), an aggressive soft tissue sarcoma of childhood, has to date not been reported, hampering efforts to identify the dysregulated signaling pathways that underlie FP-RMS stemness. Here, we first examine the expression of canonical stem cell markers in human RMS tumors and cell lines. We then describe a method to grow FP-RMS cell lines as rhabdospheres and demonstrate that these spheres are enriched in expression of canonical stemness factors as well as Notch signaling components. Specifically, FP-RMS rhabdospheres have increased expression of SOX2, POU5F1 (OCT4), and NANOG, and several receptors and transcriptional regulators in the Notch signaling pathway. FP-RMS rhabdospheres also exhibit functional stemness characteristics including multipotency, increased tumorigenicity in vivo, and chemoresistance. This method provides a novel practical tool to support research into FP-RMS stemness and chemoresistance signaling mechanisms. Summary: Here we report on a method to culture human PAX3-FOXO1 fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma cells in three dimensions, and use these rhabdospheres as a novel tool to study their stemness and chemoresistance signaling mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine K Slemmons
- Departments of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Michael D Deel
- Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Yi-Tzu Lin
- Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Kristianne M Oristian
- Departments of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina.,Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | | | - Katia C Genadry
- Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Po-Han Chen
- Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Jen-Tsan Ashley Chi
- Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Corinne M Linardic
- Departments of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina .,Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Pomella S, Sreenivas P, Gryder BE, Wang L, Milewski D, Cassandri M, Baxi K, Hensch NR, Carcarino E, Song Y, Chou HC, Yohe ME, Stanton BZ, Amadio B, Caruana I, De Stefanis C, De Vito R, Locatelli F, Chen Y, Chen EY, Houghton P, Khan J, Rota R, Ignatius MS. Interaction between SNAI2 and MYOD enhances oncogenesis and suppresses differentiation in Fusion Negative Rhabdomyosarcoma. Nat Commun 2021; 12:192. [PMID: 33420019 PMCID: PMC7794422 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20386-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is an aggressive pediatric malignancy of the muscle, that includes Fusion Positive (FP)-RMS harboring PAX3/7-FOXO1 and Fusion Negative (FN)-RMS commonly with RAS pathway mutations. RMS express myogenic master transcription factors MYOD and MYOG yet are unable to terminally differentiate. Here, we report that SNAI2 is highly expressed in FN-RMS, is oncogenic, blocks myogenic differentiation, and promotes growth. MYOD activates SNAI2 transcription via super enhancers with striped 3D contact architecture. Genome wide chromatin binding analysis demonstrates that SNAI2 preferentially binds enhancer elements and competes with MYOD at a subset of myogenic enhancers required for terminal differentiation. SNAI2 also suppresses expression of a muscle differentiation program modulated by MYOG, MEF2, and CDKN1A. Further, RAS/MEK-signaling modulates SNAI2 levels and binding to chromatin, suggesting that the differentiation blockade by oncogenic RAS is mediated in part by SNAI2. Thus, an interplay between SNAI2, MYOD, and RAS prevents myogenic differentiation and promotes tumorigenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Pomella
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Genetics Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Prethish Sreenivas
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | | | - Long Wang
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | | | - Matteo Cassandri
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Kunal Baxi
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Nicole R Hensch
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Elena Carcarino
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Young Song
- Genetics Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Marielle E Yohe
- Genetics Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Benjamin Z Stanton
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA
| | - Bruno Amadio
- SAFU Laboratory, Translational Research Area, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Ignazio Caruana
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Rita De Vito
- Department of Pathology Unit, Department of Laboratories, Bambino Gesu' Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Departmentof Pediatrics, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Yidong Chen
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Eleanor Y Chen
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Peter Houghton
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Javed Khan
- Genetics Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Rossella Rota
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
| | - Myron S Ignatius
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Singh S, Abu-Zaid A, Lin W, Low J, Abdolvahabi A, Jin H, Wu Q, Cooke B, Fang J, Bowling J, Vaithiyalingam S, Currier D, Yun MK, Fernando DM, Maier J, Tillman H, Bulsara P, Lu Z, Das S, Shelat A, Li Z, Young B, Lee R, Rankovic Z, Murphy AJ, White SW, Davidoff AM, Chen T, Yang J. 17-DMAG dually inhibits Hsp90 and histone lysine demethylases in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. iScience 2020; 24:101996. [PMID: 33490904 PMCID: PMC7811140 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Histone lysine demethylases (KDMs) play critical roles in oncogenesis and therefore may be effective targets for anticancer therapy. Using a time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer demethylation screen assay, in combination with multiple orthogonal validation approaches, we identified geldanamycin and its analog 17-DMAG as KDM inhibitors. In addition, we found that these Hsp90 inhibitors increase degradation of the alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (aRMS) driver oncoprotein PAX3-FOXO1 and induce the repressive epigenetic mark H3K9me3 and H3K36me3 at genomic loci of PAX3-FOXO1 targets. We found that as monotherapy 17-DMAG significantly inhibits expression of PAX3-FOXO1 target genes and multiple oncogenic pathways, induces a muscle differentiation signature, delays tumor growth and extends survival in aRMS xenograft mouse models. The combination of 17-DMAG with conventional chemotherapy significantly enhances therapeutic efficacy, indicating that targeting KDM in combination with chemotherapy may serve as a therapeutic approach to PAX3-FOXO1-positive aRMS. Identification of geldanamycin/17-DMAG as histone lysine demethylase inhibitors Geldanamycin/17-DMAG causes degradation of PAX3-FOXO1, an Hsp90 client Geldanamycin/17-DMAG induces epigenetic changes and targets PAX3-FOXO1 pathway 17-DMAG alone or combined with chemotherapy show potency to PAX3-FOXO1 xenografts
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shivendra Singh
- Department of Surgery, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis TN 38105, USA
| | - Ahmed Abu-Zaid
- Department of Surgery, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis TN 38105, USA
| | - Wenwei Lin
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Jonathan Low
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Alireza Abdolvahabi
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Hongjian Jin
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Qiong Wu
- Department of Surgery, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis TN 38105, USA
| | - Bailey Cooke
- Department of Surgery, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis TN 38105, USA
| | - Jie Fang
- Department of Surgery, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis TN 38105, USA
| | - John Bowling
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Sivaraja Vaithiyalingam
- Protein Technologies Center, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.,Department of Structural Biology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Duane Currier
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Mi-Kyung Yun
- Department of Structural Biology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Dinesh M Fernando
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Julie Maier
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Heather Tillman
- Department of Pathology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Purva Bulsara
- Department of Biostatistics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Zhaohua Lu
- Department of Biostatistics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Sourav Das
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Anang Shelat
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Zhenmei Li
- Department of Structural Biology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Brandon Young
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Richard Lee
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Zoran Rankovic
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Andrew J Murphy
- Department of Surgery, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis TN 38105, USA
| | - Stephen W White
- Department of Structural Biology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.,Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Andrew M Davidoff
- Department of Surgery, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis TN 38105, USA
| | - Taosheng Chen
- Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Surgery, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis TN 38105, USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Pal A, Leung JY, Ang GCK, Rao VK, Pignata L, Lim HJ, Hebrard M, Chang KT, Lee VK, Guccione E, Taneja R. EHMT2 epigenetically suppresses Wnt signaling and is a potential target in embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. eLife 2020; 9:57683. [PMID: 33252038 PMCID: PMC7728445 DOI: 10.7554/elife.57683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt signaling is downregulated in embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) and contributes to the block of differentiation. Epigenetic mechanisms leading to its suppression are unknown and could pave the way toward novel therapeutic modalities. We demonstrate that EHMT2 suppresses canonical Wnt signaling by activating expression of the Wnt antagonist DKK1. Inhibition of EHMT2 expression or activity in human ERMS cell lines reduced DKK1 expression and elevated canonical Wnt signaling resulting in myogenic differentiation in vitro and in mouse xenograft models in vivo. Mechanistically, EHMT2 impacted Sp1 and p300 enrichment at the DKK1 promoter. The reduced tumor growth upon EHMT2 deficiency was reversed by recombinant DKK1 or LGK974, which also inhibits Wnt signaling. Consistently, among 13 drugs targeting chromatin modifiers, EHMT2 inhibitors were highly effective in reducing ERMS cell viability. Our study demonstrates that ERMS cells are vulnerable to EHMT2 inhibitors and suggest that targeting the EHMT2-DKK1-β-catenin node holds promise for differentiation therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ananya Pal
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jia Yu Leung
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gareth Chin Khye Ang
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Vinay Kumar Rao
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Luca Pignata
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Huey Jin Lim
- Department of Pathology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Maxime Hebrard
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kenneth Te Chang
- Department of Pathology, KK Women and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Victor Km Lee
- Department of Pathology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ernesto Guccione
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Reshma Taneja
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is an aggressive childhood mesenchymal tumor with two major molecular and histopathologic subtypes: fusion-positive (FP)RMS, characterized by the PAX3-FOXO1 fusion protein and largely of alveolar histology, and fusion-negative (FN)RMS, the majority of which exhibit embryonal tumor histology. Metastatic disease continues to be associated with poor overall survival despite intensive treatment strategies. Studies on RMS biology have provided some insight into autocrine as well as paracrine signaling pathways that contribute to invasion and metastatic propensity. Such pathways include those driven by the PAX3-FOXO1 fusion oncoprotein in FPRMS and signaling pathways such as IGF/RAS/MEK/ERK, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, cMET, FGFR4, and PDGFR in both FP and FNRMS. In addition, specific cytoskeletal proteins, G protein coupled receptors, Hedgehog, Notch, Wnt, Hippo, and p53 pathways play a role, as do specific microRNA. Paracrine factors, including secreted proteins and RMS-derived exosomes that carry cargo of protein and miRNA, have also recently emerged as potentially important players in RMS biology. This review summarizes the known factors contributing to RMS invasion and metastasis and their implications on identifying targets for treatment and a better understanding of metastatic RMS.
Collapse
|
24
|
Skrzypek K, Kot M, Konieczny P, Nieszporek A, Kusienicka A, Lasota M, Bobela W, Jankowska U, Kędracka-Krok S, Majka M. SNAIL Promotes Metastatic Behavior of Rhabdomyosarcoma by Increasing EZRIN and AKT Expression and Regulating MicroRNA Networks. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E1870. [PMID: 32664538 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12071870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a predominant soft tissue tumor in children and adolescents. For high-grade RMS with metastatic involvement, the 3-year overall survival rate is only 25 to 30%. Thus, understanding the regulatory mechanisms involved in promoting the metastasis of RMS is important. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that the SNAIL transcription factor regulates the metastatic behavior of RMS both in vitro and in vivo. SNAIL upregulates the protein expression of EZRIN and AKT, known to promote metastatic behavior, by direct interaction with their promoters. Our data suggest that SNAIL promotes RMS cell motility, invasion and chemotaxis towards the prometastatic factors: HGF and SDF-1 by regulating RHO, AKT and GSK3β activity. In addition, miRNA transcriptome analysis revealed that SNAIL-miRNA axis regulates processes associated with actin cytoskeleton reorganization. Our data show a novel role of SNAIL in regulating RMS cell metastasis that may also be important in other mesenchymal tumor types and clearly suggests SNAIL as a promising new target for future RMS therapies.
Collapse
|
25
|
Martínez-Delgado P, Lacerenza S, Obrador-Hevia A, Lopez-Alvarez M, Mondaza-Hernandez JL, Blanco-Alcaina E, Sanchez-Bustos P, Hindi N, Moura DS, Martin-Broto J. Cancer Stem Cells in Soft-Tissue Sarcomas. Cells 2020; 9:E1449. [PMID: 32532153 DOI: 10.3390/cells9061449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 06/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are a rare group of mesenchymal solid tumors with heterogeneous genetic profiles and clinical features. Systemic chemotherapy is the backbone treatment for advanced STS; however, STS frequently acquire resistance to standard therapies, which highlights the need to improve treatments and identify novel therapeutic targets. Increases in the knowledge of the molecular pathways that drive sarcomas have brought to light different molecular alterations that cause tumor initiation and progression. These findings have triggered a breakthrough of targeted therapies that are being assessed in clinical trials. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) exhibit mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) features and represent a subpopulation of tumor cells that play an important role in tumor progression, chemotherapy resistance, recurrence and metastasis. In fact, CSCs phenotypes have been identified in sarcomas, allied to drug resistance and tumorigenesis. Herein, we will review the published evidence of CSCs in STS, discussing the molecular characteristic of CSCs, the commonly used isolation techniques and the new possibilities of targeting CSCs as a way to improve STS treatment and consequently patient outcome.
Collapse
|
26
|
Abstract
In precision oncology, two major strategies are being pursued for predicting clinically relevant tumour behaviours, such as treatment response and emergence of drug resistance: inference based on genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic and/or proteomic analysis of patient samples, and phenotypic assays in personalized cancer avatars. The latter approach has historically relied on in vivo mouse xenografts and in vitro organoids or 2D cell cultures. Recent progress in rapid combinatorial genetic modelling, the development of a genetically immunocompromised strain for xenotransplantation of human patient samples in adult zebrafish and the first clinical trial using xenotransplantation in zebrafish larvae for phenotypic testing of drug response bring this tiny vertebrate to the forefront of the precision medicine arena. In this Review, we discuss advances in transgenic and transplantation-based zebrafish cancer avatars, and how these models compare with and complement mouse xenografts and human organoids. We also outline the unique opportunities that these different models present for prediction studies and current challenges they face for future clinical deployment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maurizio Fazio
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Julien Ablain
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yan Chuan
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - David M Langenau
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Leonard I Zon
- Stem Cell Program and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Boscolo Sesillo F, Fox D, Sacco A. Muscle Stem Cells Give Rise to Rhabdomyosarcomas in a Severe Mouse Model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Cell Rep 2020; 26:689-701.e6. [PMID: 30650360 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.12.089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Revised: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Most human cancers originate from high-turnover tissues, while low-proliferating tissues, like skeletal muscle, exhibit a lower incidence of tumor development. In Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), which induces increased skeletal muscle regeneration, tumor incidence is increased. Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMSs), a rare and aggressive type of soft tissue sarcoma, can develop in this context, but the impact of DMD severity on RMS development and its cell of origin are poorly understood. Here, we show that RMS latency is affected by DMD severity and that muscle stem cells (MuSCs) can give rise to RMS in dystrophic mice. We report that even before tumor formation, MuSCs exhibit increased self-renewal and an expression signature associated with RMSs. These cells can form tumorspheres in vitro and give rise to RMSs in vivo. Finally, we show that the inflammatory genes Ccl11 and Rgs5 are involved in RMS growth. Together, our results show that DMD severity drives MuSC-mediated RMS development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Boscolo Sesillo
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - David Fox
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Alessandra Sacco
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Ni J, Liang S, Shan B, Tian W, Wang H, Ren Y. Methylation‑associated silencing of miR‑638 promotes endometrial carcinoma progression by targeting MEF2C. Int J Mol Med 2020; 45:1753-1770. [PMID: 32186750 PMCID: PMC7169941 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2020.4540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Promoter methylation‑associated silencing of cancer‑associated microRNAs (miRNAs) is a common epigenetic mechanism during tumorigenesis in various types of human cancer. However, this has not been comprehensively examined in endometrial carcinoma (EC). In the present study, an miRNA microarray consisting of 1,347 common human miRNAs was used to select potential tumor suppressive miRNAs that were hyper‑methylated in EC. This led to the identification of miR‑638, miR‑210 and miR‑3665. The methylation status of miR‑638 was examined by bisulfite sequencing polymerase chain reaction and miR‑638 expression was measured by TaqMan miRNA assays. EC cell lines transfected with vectors overexpressing miR‑638, its target gene myocyte enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C) or both, were constructed. Dual‑luciferase reporter assays, a xenograft mouse model and rescue experiments were designed to study miR‑638 and its target gene MEF2C. The results indicated that the promoter region of miR‑638 was highly methylated and the expression of miR‑638 was significantly downregulated in cancerous tissues from 42 patients with EC who underwent surgical resection. Additionally, a low expression of miR‑638 was significantly associated with advanced Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage and was demonstrated to indicate shorter disease‑free survival. Functional studies indicated that the overexpression of miR‑638 in EC cell lines inhibited in vitro tumor progression and in vivo tumorigenicity. MEF2C was verified as a direct target of miR‑638 and was demonstrated to mediate the tumor‑suppressive function of miR‑638 in EC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianjiao Ni
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Shanhui Liang
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Boer Shan
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Wenjuan Tian
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Huaying Wang
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| | - Yulan Ren
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Abstract
Pediatric cancer is a leading cause of death in children and adolescents. Improvements in pediatric cancer treatment that include the alleviation of long-term adverse effects require a deeper understanding of the genetic, epigenetic, and developmental factors driving these cancers. Here, we review how the unique attributes of the zebrafish model system in embryology, imaging, and scalability have been used to identify new mechanisms of tumor initiation, progression, and relapse and for drug discovery. We focus on zebrafish models of leukemias, neural tumors and sarcomas - the most common and difficult childhood cancers to treat.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mattie J Casey
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Rodney A Stewart
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Park S, Song CS, Lin CL, Jiang S, Osmulski PA, Wang CM, Marck BT, Matsumoto AM, Morrissey C, Gaczynska ME, Chen Y, Mostaghel EA, Chatterjee B. Inhibitory Interplay of SULT2B1b Sulfotransferase with AKR1C3 Aldo-keto Reductase in Prostate Cancer. Endocrinology 2020; 161:bqz042. [PMID: 31894239 PMCID: PMC7341717 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqz042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
SULT2B1b (SULT2B) is a prostate-expressed hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase, which may regulate intracrine androgen homeostasis by mediating 3β-sulfation of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), the precursor for 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) biosynthesis. The aldo-keto reductase (AKR)1C3 regulates androgen receptor (AR) activity in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) by promoting tumor tissue androgen biosynthesis from adrenal DHEA and also by functioning as an AR-selective coactivator. Herein we report that SULT2B-depleted CRPC cells, arising from stable RNA interference or gene knockout (KO), are markedly upregulated for AKR1C3, activated for ERK1/2 survival signal, and induced for epithelial-to-mesenchymal (EMT)-like changes. EMT was evident from increased mesenchymal proteins and elevated EMT-inducing transcription factors SNAI1 and TWIST1 in immunoblot and single-cell mass cytometry analyses. SULT2B KO cells showed greater motility and invasion in vitro; growth escalation in xenograft study; and enhanced metastatic potential predicted on the basis of decreased cell stiffness and adhesion revealed from atomic force microscopy analysis. While AR and androgen levels were unchanged, AR activity was elevated, since PSA and FKBP5 mRNA induction by DHT-activated AR was several-fold higher in SULT2B-silenced cells. AKR1C3 silencing prevented ERK1/2 activation and SNAI1 induction in SULT2B-depleted cells. SULT2B was undetectable in nearly all CRPC metastases from 50 autopsy cases. Primary tumors showed variable and Gleason score (GS)-independent SULT2B levels. CRPC metastases lacking SULT2B expressed AKR1C3. Since AKR1C3 is frequently elevated in advanced prostate cancer, the inhibitory influence of SULT2B on AKR1C3 upregulation, ERK1/2 activation, EMT-like induction, and on cell motility and invasiveness may be clinically significant. Pathways regulating the inhibitory SULT2B-AKR1C3 axis may inform new avenue(s) for targeting SULT2B-deficient prostate cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sulgi Park
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, South Korea
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Chung-Seog Song
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Chun-Lin Lin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Shoulei Jiang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Pawel A Osmulski
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Chiou-Miin Wang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Brett T Marck
- Geriatric Research, Education & Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA
| | - Alvin M Matsumoto
- Geriatric Research, Education & Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA
| | - Colm Morrissey
- Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Maria E Gaczynska
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Yidong Chen
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
- Greehy Children’s Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Elahe A Mostaghel
- Geriatric Research, Education & Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
| | - Bandana Chatterjee
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children, and can be subcategorized histologically and/or based on PAX-FOXO1 fusion gene status. Over the last four decades, there have been no significant improvements in clinical outcomes for advanced and metastatic RMS patients, underscoring a need for new treatment options for these groups. Despite significant advancements in our understanding of the genomic landscape and underlying biological mechanisms governing RMS that have informed the identification of novel therapeutic targets, development of these therapies in clinical trials has lagged far behind. In this review, we summarize the current frontline multi-modality therapy for RMS according to pediatric protocols, highlight emerging targeted therapies and immunotherapies identified by preclinical studies, and discuss early clinical trial data and the implications they hold for future clinical development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Celine Chen
- Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Heathcliff Dorado Garcia
- Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Monika Scheer
- Pediatrics 5, Klinikum Stuttgart, Olgahospital, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Anton G. Henssen
- Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) of the MDC and Charité Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Yohe ME, Heske CM, Stewart E, Adamson PC, Ahmed N, Antonescu CR, Chen E, Collins N, Ehrlich A, Galindo RL, Gryder BE, Hahn H, Hammond S, Hatley ME, Hawkins DS, Hayes MN, Hayes-Jordan A, Helman LJ, Hettmer S, Ignatius MS, Keller C, Khan J, Kirsch DG, Linardic CM, Lupo PJ, Rota R, Shern JF, Shipley J, Sindiri S, Tapscott SJ, Vakoc CR, Wexler LH, Langenau DM. Insights into pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma research: Challenges and goals. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2019; 66:e27869. [PMID: 31222885 PMCID: PMC6707829 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.27869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Overall survival rates for pediatric patients with high-risk or relapsed rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) have not improved significantly since the 1980s. Recent studies have identified a number of targetable vulnerabilities in RMS, but these discoveries have infrequently translated into clinical trials. We propose streamlining the process by which agents are selected for clinical evaluation in RMS. We believe that strong consideration should be given to the development of combination therapies that add biologically targeted agents to conventional cytotoxic drugs. One example of this type of combination is the addition of the WEE1 inhibitor AZD1775 to the conventional cytotoxic chemotherapeutics, vincristine and irinotecan.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Nabil Ahmed
- Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | | | | | | | | | - Rene L. Galindo
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390
| | | | - Heidi Hahn
- University Medical Center Gӧttingen, Gӧttingen, Germany
| | | | - Mark E. Hatley
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105
| | - Douglas S. Hawkins
- Seattle Children’s Hospital, University of Washington, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98105
| | - Madeline N. Hayes
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02114
| | | | - Lee J. Helman
- Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027
| | | | | | - Charles Keller
- Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute, Beaverton, OR 97005
| | - Javed Khan
- National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | | | | | - Philip J. Lupo
- Texas Children’s Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Rossella Rota
- Children’s Hospital Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Janet Shipley
- The Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | - David M. Langenau
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02114
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Yan C, Brunson DC, Tang Q, Do D, Iftimia NA, Moore JC, Hayes MN, Welker AM, Garcia EG, Dubash TD, Hong X, Drapkin BJ, Myers DT, Phat S, Volorio A, Marvin DL, Ligorio M, Dershowitz L, McCarthy KM, Karabacak MN, Fletcher JA, Sgroi DC, Iafrate JA, Maheswaran S, Dyson NJ, Haber DA, Rawls JF, Langenau DM. Visualizing Engrafted Human Cancer and Therapy Responses in Immunodeficient Zebrafish. Cell 2019; 177:1903-1914.e14. [PMID: 31031007 PMCID: PMC6570580 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Revised: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Xenograft cell transplantation into immunodeficient mice has become the gold standard for assessing pre-clinical efficacy of cancer drugs, yet direct visualization of single-cell phenotypes is difficult. Here, we report an optically-clear prkdc-/-, il2rga-/- zebrafish that lacks adaptive and natural killer immune cells, can engraft a wide array of human cancers at 37°C, and permits the dynamic visualization of single engrafted cells. For example, photoconversion cell-lineage tracing identified migratory and proliferative cell states in human rhabdomyosarcoma, a pediatric cancer of muscle. Additional experiments identified the preclinical efficacy of combination olaparib PARP inhibitor and temozolomide DNA-damaging agent as an effective therapy for rhabdomyosarcoma and visualized therapeutic responses using a four-color FUCCI cell-cycle fluorescent reporter. These experiments identified that combination treatment arrested rhabdomyosarcoma cells in the G2 cell cycle prior to induction of apoptosis. Finally, patient-derived xenografts could be engrafted into our model, opening new avenues for developing personalized therapeutic approaches in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Yan
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Dalton C Brunson
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Bethesda, MD 20815, USA
| | - Qin Tang
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Bethesda, MD 20815, USA
| | - Daniel Do
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Bethesda, MD 20815, USA
| | - Nicolae A Iftimia
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - John C Moore
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Madeline N Hayes
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Alessandra M Welker
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Elaine G Garcia
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Taronish D Dubash
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Xin Hong
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Benjamin J Drapkin
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - David T Myers
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Sarah Phat
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Angela Volorio
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Dieuwke L Marvin
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Matteo Ligorio
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Lyle Dershowitz
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Karin M McCarthy
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Murat N Karabacak
- Shriners Hospitals for Children-Boston, MA 02114, USA; Center for Engineering in Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jonathan A Fletcher
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Dennis C Sgroi
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - John A Iafrate
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Shyamala Maheswaran
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Nick J Dyson
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Daniel A Haber
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Bethesda, MD 20815, USA
| | - John F Rawls
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - David M Langenau
- Molecular Pathology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Hayes MN, McCarthy K, Jin A, Oliveira ML, Iyer S, Garcia SP, Sindiri S, Gryder B, Motala Z, Nielsen GP, Borg JP, van de Rijn M, Malkin D, Khan J, Ignatius MS, Langenau DM. Vangl2/RhoA Signaling Pathway Regulates Stem Cell Self-Renewal Programs and Growth in Rhabdomyosarcoma. Cell Stem Cell 2019; 22:414-427.e6. [PMID: 29499154 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2018.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Revised: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Tumor growth and relapse are driven by tumor propagating cells (TPCs). However, mechanisms regulating TPC fate choices, maintenance, and self-renewal are not fully understood. Here, we show that Van Gogh-like 2 (Vangl2), a core regulator of the non-canonical Wnt/planar cell polarity (Wnt/PCP) pathway, affects TPC self-renewal in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS)-a pediatric cancer of muscle. VANGL2 is expressed in a majority of human RMS and within early mononuclear progenitor cells. VANGL2 depletion inhibited cell proliferation, reduced TPC numbers, and induced differentiation of human RMS in vitro and in mouse xenografts. Using a zebrafish model of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS), we determined that Vangl2 expression enriches for TPCs and promotes their self-renewal. Expression of constitutively active and dominant-negative isoforms of RHOA revealed that it acts downstream of VANGL2 to regulate proliferation and maintenance of TPCs in human RMS. Our studies offer insights into pathways that control TPCs and identify new potential therapeutic targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Madeline N Hayes
- Molecular Pathology, Cancer Center, and Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Karin McCarthy
- Molecular Pathology, Cancer Center, and Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Alexander Jin
- Molecular Pathology, Cancer Center, and Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Mariana L Oliveira
- Molecular Pathology, Cancer Center, and Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sowmya Iyer
- Molecular Pathology, Cancer Center, and Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Sara P Garcia
- Molecular Pathology, Cancer Center, and Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Sivasish Sindiri
- Oncogenomics Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, 37 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Berkley Gryder
- Oncogenomics Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, 37 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Zainab Motala
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Hospital for Sick Children and Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G1X8, Canada
| | - G Petur Nielsen
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Jean-Paul Borg
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, Aix Marseille Univ UM105, Inst Paoli Calmettes, UMR7258 CNRS, U1068 INSERM, "Cell Polarity, Cell signalling and Cancer - Equipe labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer," Marseille, France
| | - Matt van de Rijn
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - David Malkin
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Hospital for Sick Children and Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G1X8, Canada
| | - Javed Khan
- Oncogenomics Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, 37 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Myron S Ignatius
- Molecular Medicine and Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, UTHSCSA, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - David M Langenau
- Molecular Pathology, Cancer Center, and Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Kang H, Kim C, Ji E, Ahn S, Jung M, Hong Y, Kim W, Lee EK. The MicroRNA-551a/MEF2C Axis Regulates the Survival and Sphere Formation of Cancer Cells in Response to 5-Fluorouracil. Mol Cells 2019; 42:175-182. [PMID: 30703870 PMCID: PMC6399004 DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2018.0288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 12/06/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
microRNAs regulate a diverse spectrum of cancer biology, including tumorigenesis, metastasis, stemness, and drug resistance. To investigate miRNA-mediated regulation of drug resistance, we characterized the resistant cell lines to 5-fluorouracil by inducing stable expression of miRNAs using lenti-miRNA library. Here, we demonstrate miR-551a as a novel factor regulating cell survival after 5-FU treatment. miR-551a-expressing cells (Hep3B-lenti-miR-551a) were resistant to 5-FU-induced cell death, and after 5-FU treatment, and showed significant increases in cell viability, cell survival, and sphere formation. It was further shown that myocyte-specific factor 2C is the direct target of miR-551a. Our results suggest that miR-551a plays a novel function in regulating 5-FU-induced cell death, and targeting miR-551a might be helpful to sensitize cells to anti-cancer drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hoin Kang
- Department of Biochemistry, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul,
Korea
| | - Chongtae Kim
- Department of Biochemistry, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul,
Korea
| | - Eunbyul Ji
- Department of Biochemistry, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul,
Korea
| | - Sojin Ahn
- Department of Biochemistry, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul,
Korea
| | - Myeongwoo Jung
- Department of Biochemistry, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul,
Korea
| | - Youlim Hong
- Department of Biochemistry, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul,
Korea
| | - WooK Kim
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon,
Korea
| | - Eun Kyung Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul,
Korea
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Pal A, Chiu HY, Taneja R. Genetics, epigenetics and redox homeostasis in rhabdomyosarcoma: Emerging targets and therapeutics. Redox Biol 2019; 25:101124. [PMID: 30709791 PMCID: PMC6859585 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2019.101124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 01/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma accounting for 5–8% of malignant tumours in children and adolescents. Children with high risk disease have poor prognosis. Anti-RMS therapies include surgery, radiation and combination chemotherapy. While these strategies improved survival rates, they have plateaued since 1990s as drugs that target differentiation and self-renewal of tumours cells have not been identified. Moreover, prevailing treatments are aggressive with drug resistance and metastasis causing failure of several treatment regimes. Significant advances have been made recently in understanding the genetic and epigenetic landscape in RMS. These studies have identified novel diagnostic and prognostic markers and opened new avenues for treatment. An important target identified in high throughput drug screening studies is reactive oxygen species (ROS). Indeed, many drugs in clinical trials for RMS impact tumour progression through ROS. In light of such emerging evidence, we discuss recent findings highlighting key pathways, epigenetic alterations and their impacts on ROS that form the basis of developing novel molecularly targeted therapies in RMS. Such targeted therapies in combination with conventional therapy could reduce adverse side effects in young survivors and lead to a decline in long-term morbidity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ananya Pal
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore
| | - Hsin Yao Chiu
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore
| | - Reshma Taneja
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117593, Singapore.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children and represents a high-grade neoplasm of skeletal myoblast-like cells. Decades of clinical and basic research have gradually improved our understanding of the pathophysiology of RMS and helped to optimize clinical care. The two major subtypes of RMS, originally characterized on the basis of light microscopic features, are driven by fundamentally different molecular mechanisms and pose distinct clinical challenges. Curative therapy depends on control of the primary tumour, which can arise at many distinct anatomical sites, as well as controlling disseminated disease that is known or assumed to be present in every case. Sophisticated risk stratification for children with RMS incorporates various clinical, pathological and molecular features, and that information is used to guide the application of multifaceted therapy. Such therapy has historically included cytotoxic chemotherapy as well as surgery, ionizing radiation or both. This Primer describes our current understanding of RMS epidemiology, disease susceptibility factors, disease mechanisms and elements of clinical care, including diagnostics, risk-based care of newly diagnosed and relapsed disease and the prevention and management of late effects in survivors. We also outline potential opportunities to further translate new biological insights into improved clinical outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephen X Skapek
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
| | - Andrea Ferrari
- Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Abha A Gupta
- Department of Pediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Philip J Lupo
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Erin Butler
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Janet Shipley
- Divisions of Molecular Pathology and Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, Belmont, UK
| | - Frederic G Barr
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Douglas S Hawkins
- Seattle Children's Hospital, University of Washington, and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Schäfer BW. Duxbling Stem Cells Meet Tumorigenesis. Cell Stem Cell 2018; 23:773-4. [PMID: 30526876 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2018.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Identification of tumor-initiating populations could provide insights into tumor heterogeneity and responses to treatments, but this has proven difficult in most cancers. Now in Cell Stem Cell, Preussner et al. (2018) provide direct evidence that regenerating muscle satellite cells can be transformed to initiate and propagate rhabdomyosarcoma tumors.
Collapse
|
39
|
Abstract
Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) are an uncommon group of solid tumors that can arise throughout the human lifespan. Despite their commonality as non-bony cancers that develop from mesenchymal cell precursors, they are heterogeneous in their genetic profiles, histology, and clinical features. This has made it difficult to identify a single target or therapy specific to STSs. And while there is no one cell of origin ascribed to all STSs, the cancer stem cell (CSC) principle—that a subpopulation of tumor cells possesses stem cell-like properties underlying tumor initiation, therapeutic resistance, disease recurrence, and metastasis—predicts that ultimately it should be possible to identify a feature common to all STSs that could function as a therapeutic Achilles' heel. Here we review the published evidence for CSCs in each of the most common STSs, then focus on the methods used to study CSCs, the developmental signaling pathways usurped by CSCs, and the epigenetic alterations critical for CSC identity that may be useful for further study of STS biology. We conclude with discussion of some challenges to the field and future directions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katia C Genadry
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Silvia Pietrobono
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Rota
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Corinne M Linardic
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States.,Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Ignatius MS, Hayes MN, Moore FE, Tang Q, Garcia SP, Blackburn PR, Baxi K, Wang L, Jin A, Ramakrishnan A, Reeder S, Chen Y, Nielsen GP, Chen EY, Hasserjian RP, Tirode F, Ekker SC, Langenau DM. tp53 deficiency causes a wide tumor spectrum and increases embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma metastasis in zebrafish. eLife 2018; 7:37202. [PMID: 30192230 PMCID: PMC6128690 DOI: 10.7554/elife.37202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The TP53 tumor-suppressor gene is mutated in >50% of human tumors and Li-Fraumeni patients with germ line inactivation are predisposed to developing cancer. Here, we generated tp53 deleted zebrafish that spontaneously develop malignant peripheral nerve-sheath tumors, angiosarcomas, germ cell tumors, and an aggressive Natural Killer cell-like leukemia for which no animal model has been developed. Because the tp53 deletion was generated in syngeneic zebrafish, engraftment of fluorescent-labeled tumors could be dynamically visualized over time. Importantly, engrafted tumors shared gene expression signatures with predicted cells of origin in human tissue. Finally, we showed that tp53del/del enhanced invasion and metastasis in kRASG12D-induced embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS), but did not alter the overall frequency of cancer stem cells, suggesting novel pro-metastatic roles for TP53 loss-of-function in human muscle tumors. In summary, we have developed a Li-Fraumeni zebrafish model that is amenable to large-scale transplantation and direct visualization of tumor growth in live animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Myron S Ignatius
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Center of Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, Massachusetts.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Madeline N Hayes
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Center of Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, Massachusetts.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Finola E Moore
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Center of Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, Massachusetts.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Qin Tang
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Center of Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, Massachusetts.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sara P Garcia
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Patrick R Blackburn
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States
| | - Kunal Baxi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Long Wang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Alexander Jin
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ashwin Ramakrishnan
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sophia Reeder
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yidong Chen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Gunnlaugur Petur Nielsen
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Center of Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, Massachusetts
| | - Eleanor Y Chen
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, United States
| | - Robert P Hasserjian
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Center of Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, Massachusetts
| | - Franck Tirode
- Department of Translational Research and Innovation, Université Claude Bernard Lyon, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Stephen C Ekker
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, United States
| | - David M Langenau
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Center of Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown, Massachusetts.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Totaro A, Castellan M, Di Biagio D, Piccolo S. Crosstalk between YAP/TAZ and Notch Signaling. Trends Cell Biol 2018; 28:560-573. [PMID: 29665979 PMCID: PMC6992418 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2018.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Revised: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
How the behavior of cells in living tissues is orchestrated according to tissue needs, size, and developmental stage is still poorly understood. Advances in these directions are essential to understand morphogenesis, 'self-organization' phenomena, to build new tissues for regenerative medicine or to reverse the changes in deranged organs, such as in cancer or in genetic disorders. This review outlines a new scenario by which the crosstalk between the Yes-associated protein/transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (YAP/TAZ) transcription factors and Notch signaling influences cell self-renewal, stem cell differentiation, cell fate decisions, epithelial-stromal interactions, inflammation, morphogenesis, and large-scale gene oscillations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Totaro
- Department of Molecular Medicine (DMM), University of Padua School of Medicine, viale Colombo 3, 35126 Padua, Italy.
| | - Martina Castellan
- Department of Molecular Medicine (DMM), University of Padua School of Medicine, viale Colombo 3, 35126 Padua, Italy
| | - Daniele Di Biagio
- Department of Molecular Medicine (DMM), University of Padua School of Medicine, viale Colombo 3, 35126 Padua, Italy
| | - Stefano Piccolo
- Department of Molecular Medicine (DMM), University of Padua School of Medicine, viale Colombo 3, 35126 Padua, Italy; IFOM - the FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Via Adamello, 16, 20139 Milano MI, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Di Giorgio E, Hancock WW, Brancolini C. MEF2 and the tumorigenic process, hic sunt leones. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2018; 1870:261-273. [PMID: 29879430 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2018.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Revised: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 05/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
While MEF2 transcription factors are well known to cooperate in orchestrating cell fate and adaptive responses during development and adult life, additional studies over the last decade have identified a wide spectrum of genetic alterations of MEF2 in different cancers. The consequences of these alterations, including triggering and maintaining the tumorigenic process, are not entirely clear. A deeper knowledge of the molecular pathways that regulate MEF2 expression and function, as well as the nature and consequences of MEF2 mutations are necessary to fully understand the many roles of MEF2 in malignant cells. This review discusses the current knowledge of MEF2 transcription factors in cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eros Di Giorgio
- Department of Medicine, Università degli Studi di Udine, P.le Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Wayne W Hancock
- Division of Transplant Immunology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Biesecker Center for Pediatric Liver Diseases, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Claudio Brancolini
- Department of Medicine, Università degli Studi di Udine, P.le Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Skrzypek K, Kusienicka A, Trzyna E, Szewczyk B, Ulman A, Konieczny P, Adamus T, Badyra B, Kortylewski M, Majka M. SNAIL is a key regulator of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma tumor growth and differentiation through repression of MYF5 and MYOD function. Cell Death Dis 2018; 9:643. [PMID: 29844345 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-018-0693-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Revised: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a mesenchymal tumor of soft tissue in children that originates from a myogenic differentiation defect. Expression of SNAIL transcription factor is elevated in the alveolar subtype of RMS (ARMS), characterized by a low myogenic differentiation status and high aggressiveness. In RMS patients SNAIL level increases with higher stage. Moreover, SNAIL level negatively correlates with MYF5 expression. The differentiation of human ARMS cells diminishes SNAIL level. SNAIL silencing in ARMS cells inhibits proliferation and induces differentiation in vitro, and thereby completely abolishes the growth of human ARMS xenotransplants in vivo. SNAIL silencing induces myogenic differentiation by upregulation of myogenic factors and muscle-specific microRNAs, such as miR-206. SNAIL binds to the MYF5 promoter suppressing its expression. SNAIL displaces MYOD from E-box sequences (CANNTG) that are associated with genes expressed during differentiation and G/C rich in their central dinucleotides. SNAIL silencing allows the re-expression of MYF5 and canonical MYOD binding, promoting ARMS cell myogenic differentiation. In differentiating ARMS cells SNAIL forms repressive complex with histone deacetylates 1 and 2 (HDAC1/2) and regulates their expression. Accordingly, in human myoblasts SNAIL silencing induces differentiation by upregulation of myogenic factors. Our data clearly point to SNAIL as a key regulator of myogenic differentiation and a new promising target for future ARMS therapies.
Collapse
|
44
|
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma is a mesenchymal malignancy associated with the skeletal muscle lineage and is also the most common pediatric soft tissue cancer. Between the two pediatric subtypes, embryonal and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, the alveolar subtype is generally more aggressive and high-risk. Despite intensive multimodal therapy, patients with high-risk rhabdomyosarcoma continue to have poor prognosis. In this chapter we address the mechanisms underlying the dysregulation of myogenesis in rhabdomyosarcoma. We specifically focus on recently identified signaling pathways that function to inhibit myogenesis and how similar functions have been shown to overlap in rhabdomyosarcoma, potentially contributing to the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Y Yu
- Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States; College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Denis C Guttridge
- Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States; The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Slemmons KK, Crose LES, Riedel S, Sushnitha M, Belyea B, Linardic CM. A Novel Notch-YAP Circuit Drives Stemness and Tumorigenesis in Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma. Mol Cancer Res 2017; 15:1777-1791. [PMID: 28923841 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-17-0004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Revised: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), a cancer characterized by skeletal muscle features, is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma of childhood. While low- and intermediate-risk groups have seen improved outcomes, high-risk patients still face a 5-year survival rate of <30%, a statistic that has not changed in over 40 years. Understanding the biologic underpinnings of RMS is critical. The developmental pathways of Notch and YAP have been identified as potent but independent oncogenic signals that support the embryonal variant of RMS (eRMS). Here, the cross-talk between these pathways and the impact on eRMS tumorigenesis is reported. Using human eRMS cells grown as three-dimensional (3D) rhabdospheres, which enriches in stem cells, it was found that Notch signaling transcriptionally upregulates YAP1 gene expression and YAP activity. Reciprocally, YAP transcriptionally upregulates the Notch ligand genes JAG1 and DLL1 and the core Notch transcription factor RBPJ This bidirectional circuit boosts expression of key stem cell genes, including SOX2, which is functionally required for eRMS spheres. Silencing this circuit for therapeutic purposes may be challenging, because the inhibition of one node (e.g., pharmacologic Notch blockade) can be rescued by upregulation of another (constitutive YAP expression). Instead, dual inhibition of Notch and YAP is necessary. Finally, supporting the existence of this circuit beyond a model system, nuclear Notch and YAP protein expression are correlated in human eRMS tumors, and YAP suppression in vivo decreases Notch signaling and SOX2 expression.Implications: This study identifies a novel oncogenic signaling circuit driving eRMS stemness and tumorigenesis, and provides evidence and rationale for combination therapies co-targeting Notch and YAP. Mol Cancer Res; 15(12); 1777-91. ©2017 AACR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine K Slemmons
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Lisa E S Crose
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Stefan Riedel
- Duke Summer Research Opportunity Program, Duke University Graduate School, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Manuela Sushnitha
- Summer Undergraduate Research in Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Brian Belyea
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Corinne M Linardic
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| |
Collapse
|