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De Mel S, Lee AR, Tan JHI, Tan RZY, Poon LM, Chan E, Lee J, Chee YL, Lakshminarasappa SR, Jaynes PW, Jeyasekharan AD. Targeting the DNA damage response in hematological malignancies. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1307839. [PMID: 38347838 PMCID: PMC10859481 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1307839] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Deregulation of the DNA damage response (DDR) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis and progression of many cancers. The dependency of certain cancers on DDR pathways has enabled exploitation of such through synthetically lethal relationships e.g., Poly ADP-Ribose Polymerase (PARP) inhibitors for BRCA deficient ovarian cancers. Though lagging behind that of solid cancers, DDR inhibitors (DDRi) are being clinically developed for haematological cancers. Furthermore, a high proliferative index characterize many such cancers, suggesting a rationale for combinatorial strategies targeting DDR and replicative stress. In this review, we summarize pre-clinical and clinical data on DDR inhibition in haematological malignancies and highlight distinct haematological cancer subtypes with activity of DDR agents as single agents or in combination with chemotherapeutics and targeted agents. We aim to provide a framework to guide the design of future clinical trials involving haematological cancers for this important class of drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay De Mel
- Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ainsley Ryan Lee
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Joelle Hwee Inn Tan
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Rachel Zi Yi Tan
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Li Mei Poon
- Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Esther Chan
- Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Joanne Lee
- Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yen Lin Chee
- Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Satish R. Lakshminarasappa
- Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Patrick William Jaynes
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Anand D. Jeyasekharan
- Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- NUS Center for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Wang Z, Li W, Li F, Xiao R. An update of predictive biomarkers related to WEE1 inhibition in cancer therapy. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2024; 150:13. [PMID: 38231277 PMCID: PMC10794259 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-05527-y] [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: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE WEE1 is a crucial kinase involved in the regulation of G2/M checkpoint within the cell cycle. This article aims to comprehensively review the existing knowledge on the implication of WEE1 as a therapeutic target in tumor progression and drug resistance. Furthermore, we summarize the current predictive biomarkers employed to treat cancer with WEE1 inhibitors. METHODS A systematic review of the literature was conducted to analyze the association between WEE1 inhibition and cancer progression, including tumor advancement and drug resistance. Special attention was paid to the identification and utilization of predictive biomarkers related to therapeutic response to WEE1 inhibitors. RESULTS The review highlights the intricate involvement of WEE1 in tumor progression and drug resistance. It synthesizes the current knowledge on predictive biomarkers employed in WEE1 inhibitor treatments, offering insights into their prognostic significance. Notably, the article elucidates the potential for precision medicine by understanding these biomarkers in the context of tumor treatment outcomes. CONCLUSION WEE1 plays a pivotal role in tumor progression and is a promising therapeutic target. Distinguishing patients that would benefit from WEE1 inhibition will be a major direction of future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zizhuo Wang
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenting Li
- Department of Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832000, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Fuxia Li
- Department of Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832000, Xinjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Rourou Xiao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
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Rodríguez-Vázquez GO, Diaz-Quiñones AO, Chorna N, Salgado-Villanueva IK, Tang J, Ortiz WIS, Maldonado HM. Synergistic interactions of cytarabine-adavosertib in leukemic cell lines proliferation and metabolomic endpoints. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 166:115352. [PMID: 37633054 PMCID: PMC10530627 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug synergy allows reduced dosing, side effects and tolerance. Optimization of drug synergy chemotherapy is fundamental in acute lymphocytic leukemia and other cancers. This study aimed to analyze the pharmacodynamic synergy between the anti-metabolite cytarabine and WEE1 inhibitor adavosertib on acute leukemia cell lines CCRF-CEM and Jurkat. In both cell lines analysis of concentration-inhibition curves of adavosertib-cytarabine combinations and synergy matrixes supported mutually synergistic drug interactions. Overall mean ( ± SD) synergy scores were higher in Jurkat than CCRF-CEM: Jurkat, ZIP 22.51 ± 1.1, Bliss 22.49 ± 1.1, HSA 23.44 ± 1.0, Loewe 14.16 ± 1.2; and, CCRF-CEM, ZIP 9.17 ± 1.9, Bliss 8.13 ± 2.1, HSA 11.48 ± 1.9 and Loewe 4.99 ± 1.8. Jurkat also surpassed CCRF-CEM in high-degree synergistic adavosertib-cytarabine interactions with mean across-models synergy values of ∼89.1% ± 2.9 for 63 nM cytarabine-97 nM adavosertib (91.4% inhibition synergy barometer). Combination sensitivity scores scatter plots confirmed combination's synergy efficacy. This combined approach permitted identification and prioritization of 63 nM cytarabine-97 nM adavosertib for multiple endpoints analysis. This combination did not affect PBMC viability, while exhibiting Jurkat selective synergy. Immunoblots also revealed Jurkat selective synergistically increased γH2AX phosphorylation, while CDC2 phosphorylation effects were attributed to adavosertib's WEE1 inhibition. In conclusion, the high synergistic efficacy combination of cytarabine (63 nM) and adavosertib (97 nM) was associated with remarkable alterations in metabolites related to the Krebs cycle in Jurkat. The metabolic pathways and processes are related to gluconeogenesis, amino acids, nucleotides, glutathione, electron transport and Warburg effect. All above relate to cell survival, apoptosis, and cancer progression. Our findings could pave the way for novel biomarkers in treatment, diagnosis, and prognosis of leukemia and other cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel O Rodríguez-Vázquez
- Pharmacology Department, Universidad Central del Caribe, School of Medicine, PO Box 60327, Bayamón, PR 00960-6032, USA
| | - Adriana O Diaz-Quiñones
- Pharmacology Department, Universidad Central del Caribe, School of Medicine, PO Box 60327, Bayamón, PR 00960-6032, USA
| | - Nataliya Chorna
- Biochemistry Department, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, PO Box 365067, San Juan, PR 00936-5067, USA
| | - Iris K Salgado-Villanueva
- Pharmacology Department, Universidad Central del Caribe, School of Medicine, PO Box 60327, Bayamón, PR 00960-6032, USA
| | - Jing Tang
- Department of Biochemistry and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, Helsinki 00290, Finland; Research Program in Systems Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, Helsinki 00290, Finland
| | - Walter I Silva Ortiz
- Physiology Department, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, PO Box 365067, San Juan, PR 00936-5067, USA.
| | - Héctor M Maldonado
- Pharmacology Department, Universidad Central del Caribe, School of Medicine, PO Box 60327, Bayamón, PR 00960-6032, USA
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Din RU, Jiao A, Qiu Y, Mohan AAM, Yuen KC, Wong HT, Wan TMH, Wong POY, Sin CF. Bortezomib Is Effective in the Treatment of T Lymphoblastic Leukaemia by Inducing DNA Damage, WEE1 Downregulation, and Mitotic Catastrophe. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14646. [PMID: 37834095 PMCID: PMC10572992 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914646] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
T lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive haematolymphoid malignancy comprising 15% of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Although its prognosis has improved with intensive chemotherapy, the relapse/refractory disease still carries a dismal prognosis. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop novel therapy for T-ALL. Bortezomib, a 26S proteasome inhibitor, is licensed to treat plasma cell myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma. Due to its favorable side effect profile, it is a novel agent of research interest in the treatment of ALL. Despite an increasing number of clinical trials of bortezomib in T-ALL, its detailed mechanistic study in terms of DNA damage, cell cycle, and mitotic catastrophe remains elusive. Moreover, WEE1, a protein kinase overexpressed in ALL and involved in cell-cycle regulation, has been known to be a novel therapeutic target in many cancers. But the role of bortezomib in modulating WEE1 expression in ALL still remains elusive. In this study, we demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of bortezomib on T-ALL primary samples and cell lines. Our findings reveal that bortezomib treatment induces DNA damage and downregulates WEE1, leading to G2-M cell-cycle progression with damaged DNA. This abnormal mitotic entry induced by bortezomib leads to mitotic catastrophe in T-ALL. In conclusion, our findings dissect the mechanism of action of bortezomib and provide further insights into the use of bortezomib to treat T-ALL. Our findings suggest the possibility of novel combination therapy using proteasome inhibitors together with DNA-damaging agents in the future, which may fill the research gaps and unmet clinical needs in treating ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Chun-Fung Sin
- Department of Pathology, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
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Bell HL, Blair HJ, Singh M, Moorman AV, Heidenreich O, van Delft FW, Lunec J, Irving JAE. Targeting WEE1 kinase as a p53-independent therapeutic strategy in high-risk and relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Cancer Cell Int 2023; 23:202. [PMID: 37715172 PMCID: PMC10502974 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-03057-8] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Outcomes for patients with relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are poor and there is a need for novel therapies to improve outcomes. Targeted inhibition of WEE1 with small-molecule inhibitor adavosertib (AZD1775) has emerged as a therapeutic strategy to sensitize cancer cells to DNA-damaging chemotherapeutics, particularly in the context of TP53-mutated tumors. However, WEE1 inhibition as a potential therapeutic strategy for patients with high-risk and relapsed ALL, including those with TP53 mutations, has not been definitively evaluated. METHODS Anti-leukemic effects of adavosertib were investigated using a relapsed TP53 isogenic cell model system, primary patient, and patient-derived ALL samples (n = 27) in an ex vivo co-culture model system with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Combination effects with drugs currently used for relapsed ALL were quantified by Excess over Bliss analyses. Investigations for alterations of cell cycle and apoptosis as well as related proteins were examined by flow cytometry and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS Our study demonstrates the potent anti-leukemic activity of the clinically advanced WEE1 inhibitor adavosertib in a large majority (n = 18/27) of high-risk and relapsed ALL specimens at lower than clinically attainable concentrations, independent of TP53 mutation status. We show that treatment with adavosertib results in S-phase disruption even in the absence of DNA-damaging agents and that premature mitotic entry is not a prerequisite for its anti-leukemic effects. We further demonstrate that WEE1 inhibition additively and synergistically enhances the anti-leukemic effects of multiple conventional chemotherapeutics used in the relapsed ALL treatment setting. Particularly, we demonstrate the highly synergistic and cytotoxic combination of adavosertib with the nucleoside analog cytarabine and provide mechanistic insights into the combinational activity, showing preferential engagement of apoptotic cell death over cell cycle arrest. Our findings strongly support in vivo interrogation of adavosertib with cytarabine in xenograft models of relapsed and high-risk ALL. CONCLUSIONS Together, our data emphasize the functional importance of WEE1 in relapsed ALL cells and show WEE1 as a promising p53-independent therapeutic target for the improved treatment of high-risk and relapsed ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayden L Bell
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translation and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer,, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Helen J Blair
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translation and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer,, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Mankaran Singh
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translation and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer,, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Anthony V Moorman
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translation and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer,, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Olaf Heidenreich
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translation and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer,, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Frederik W van Delft
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translation and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer,, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - John Lunec
- Bioscience Institute, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Julie A E Irving
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translation and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer,, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
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Ghelli Luserna Di Rorà A, Ghetti M, Ledda L, Ferrari A, Bocconcelli M, Padella A, Napolitano R, Fontana MC, Liverani C, Imbrogno E, Bochicchio MT, Paganelli M, Robustelli V, Sanogo S, Cerchione C, Fumagalli M, Rondoni M, Imovilli A, Musuraca G, Martinelli G, Simonetti G. Exploring the ATR-CHK1 pathway in the response of doxorubicin-induced DNA damages in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells. Cell Biol Toxicol 2023; 39:795-811. [PMID: 34519926 PMCID: PMC10406704 DOI: 10.1007/s10565-021-09640-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Doxorubicin (Dox) is one of the most commonly used anthracyclines for the treatment of solid and hematological tumors such as B-/T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Dox compromises topoisomerase II enzyme functionality, thus inducing structural damages during DNA replication and causes direct damages intercalating into DNA double helix. Eukaryotic cells respond to DNA damages by activating the ATM-CHK2 and/or ATR-CHK1 pathway, whose function is to regulate cell cycle progression, to promote damage repair, and to control apoptosis. We evaluated the efficacy of a new drug schedule combining Dox and specific ATR (VE-821) or CHK1 (prexasertib, PX) inhibitors in the treatment of human B-/T cell precursor ALL cell lines and primary ALL leukemic cells. We found that ALL cell lines respond to Dox activating the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint. Exposure of Dox-pretreated ALL cell lines to VE-821 or PX enhanced Dox cytotoxic effect. This phenomenon was associated with the abrogation of the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint with changes in the expression pCDK1 and cyclin B1, and cell entry in mitosis, followed by the induction of apoptosis. Indeed, the inhibition of the G2/M checkpoint led to a significant increment of normal and aberrant mitotic cells, including those showing tripolar spindles, metaphases with lagging chromosomes, and massive chromosomes fragmentation. In conclusion, we found that the ATR-CHK1 pathway is involved in the response to Dox-induced DNA damages and we demonstrated that our new in vitro drug schedule that combines Dox followed by ATR/CHK1 inhibitors can increase Dox cytotoxicity against ALL cells, while using lower drug doses. • Doxorubicin activates the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells. • ALL cells respond to doxorubicin-induced DNA damages by activating the ATR-CHK1 pathway. • The inhibition of the ATR-CHK1 pathway synergizes with doxorubicin in the induction of cytotoxicity in ALL cells. • The inhibition of ATR-CHK1 pathway induces aberrant chromosome segregation and mitotic spindle defects in doxorubicin-pretreated ALL cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ghelli Luserna Di Rorà
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Via Piero Maroncelli, 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy.
| | - Martina Ghetti
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Via Piero Maroncelli, 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Ledda
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Via Piero Maroncelli, 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Anna Ferrari
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Via Piero Maroncelli, 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Matteo Bocconcelli
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Institute of Hematology "L. e A. Seràgnoli", University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Antonella Padella
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Via Piero Maroncelli, 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Roberta Napolitano
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Via Piero Maroncelli, 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Fontana
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Via Piero Maroncelli, 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Chiara Liverani
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Via Piero Maroncelli, 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Enrica Imbrogno
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Via Piero Maroncelli, 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Bochicchio
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Via Piero Maroncelli, 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Matteo Paganelli
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Via Piero Maroncelli, 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Valentina Robustelli
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Institute of Hematology "L. e A. Seràgnoli", University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Seydou Sanogo
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Via Piero Maroncelli, 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Claudio Cerchione
- Hematology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Monica Fumagalli
- Hematology Division and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy
| | - Michela Rondoni
- Hematology Unit, Ospedale Santa Maria delle Croci, Ravenna, Italy
| | | | - Gerardo Musuraca
- Hematology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Giovanni Martinelli
- Scientific Directorate, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Giorgia Simonetti
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", Via Piero Maroncelli, 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy
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Matias-Barrios VM, Dong X. The Implication of Topoisomerase II Inhibitors in Synthetic Lethality for Cancer Therapy. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16010094. [PMID: 36678591 PMCID: PMC9866718 DOI: 10.3390/ph16010094] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA topoisomerase II (Top2) is essential for all eukaryotic cells in the regulation of DNA topology through the generation of temporary double-strand breaks. Cancer cells acquire enhanced Top2 functions to cope with the stress generated by transcription and DNA replication during rapid cell division since cancer driver genes such as Myc and EZH2 hijack Top2 in order to realize their oncogenic transcriptomes for cell growth and tumor progression. Inhibitors of Top2 are therefore designed to target Top2 to trap it on DNA, subsequently causing protein-linked DNA breaks, a halt to the cell cycle, and ultimately cell death. Despite the effectiveness of these inhibitors, cancer cells can develop resistance to them, thereby limiting their therapeutic utility. To maximize the therapeutic potential of Top2 inhibitors, combination therapies to co-target Top2 with DNA damage repair (DDR) machinery and oncogenic pathways have been proposed to induce synthetic lethality for more thorough tumor suppression. In this review, we will discuss the mode of action of Top2 inhibitors and their potential applications in cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor M. Matias-Barrios
- The Vancouver Prostate Centre, Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Z6, Canada
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Avenida Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey 64849, Mexico
- Correspondence:
| | - Xuesen Dong
- The Vancouver Prostate Centre, Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2660 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3Z6, Canada
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Patra D, Bhavya K, Ramprasad P, Kalia M, Pal D. Anti-cancer drug molecules targeting cancer cell cycle and proliferation. Advances in Protein Chemistry and Structural Biology 2023; 135:343-395. [PMID: 37061337 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2022.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Cancer, a vicious clinical burden that potentiates maximum fatality for humankind, arises due to unregulated excessive cell division and proliferation through an eccentric expression of cell cycle regulator proteins. A set of evolutionarily conserved machinery controls the cell cycle in an extremely precise manner so that a cell that went through the cycle can produce a genetically identical copy. To achieve perfection, several checkpoints were placed in the cycle for surveillance; so, errors during the division were rectified by the repair strategies. However, irreparable damage leads to exit from the cell cycle and induces programmed cell death. In comparison to a normal cell, cancer cells facilitate the constitutive activation of many dormant proteins and impede negative regulators of the checkpoint. Extensive studies in the last few decades on cell division and proliferation of cancer cells elucidate the molecular mechanism of the cell-cycle regulators that are often targeted for the development of anti-cancer therapy. Each phase of the cell cycle has been regulated by a unique set of proteins including master regulators Cyclins, and CDKs, along with the accessory proteins such as CKI, Cdc25, error-responsive proteins, and various kinase proteins mainly WEE1 kinases, Polo-like kinases, and Aurora kinases that control cell division. Here in this chapter, we have analytically discussed the role of cell cycle regulators and proliferation factors in cancer progression and the rationale of using various cell cycle-targeting drug molecules as anti-cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debarun Patra
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Rupnagar, Punjab, India
| | - Kumari Bhavya
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Rupnagar, Punjab, India
| | - Palla Ramprasad
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Rupnagar, Punjab, India
| | - Moyna Kalia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Rupnagar, Punjab, India
| | - Durba Pal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, Rupnagar, Punjab, India.
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Mancini M, De Santis S, Monaldi C, Castagnetti F, Lonetti A, Bruno S, Dan E, Sinigaglia B, Rosti G, Cavo M, Gugliotta G, Soverini S. Polo-like kinase-1, Aurora kinase A and WEE1 kinase are promising druggable targets in CML cells displaying BCR::ABL1-independent resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Front Oncol 2022; 12:901132. [PMID: 35992847 PMCID: PMC9391055 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.901132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 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: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), Aurora kinase A and Polo like kinase 1 (PLK1), two serine-threonine kinases involved in the maintenance of genomic stability by preserving a functional G2/M checkpoint, have been implicated in BCR::ABL1-independent resistance to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) imatinib mesylate and in leukemic stem cell (LSC) persistence. It can be speculated that the observed deregulated activity of Aurora A and Plk1 enhances DNA damage, promoting the occurrence of additional genomic alterations contributing to TKI resistance and ultimately driving progression from chronic phase to blast crisis (BC). In this study, we propose a new therapeutic strategy based on the combination of Aurora kinase A or PLK1 inhibition with danusertib or volasertib, respectively, and WEE1 inhibition with AZD1775. Danusertib and volasertib used as single drugs induced apoptosis and G2/M-phase arrest, associated with accumulation of phospho-WEE1. Subsequent addition of the WEE1 inhibitor AZD1775 in combination significantly enhanced the induction of apoptotic cell death in TKI-sensitive and -resistant cell lines as compared to both danusertib and volasertib alone and to the simultaneous combination. This schedule indeed induced a significant increase of the DNA double-strand break marker γH2AX, forcing the cells through successive replication cycles ultimately resulting in apoptosis. Finally, combination of danusertib or volasertib+AZD1775 significantly reduced the clonogenic potential of CD34+ CML progenitors from BC patients. Our results may have implications for the development of innovative therapeutic approaches aimed to improve the outcomes of patients with multi-TKI-resistant or BC CML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Mancini
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Istituto di Ematologia “Seràgnoli”, Bologna, Italy
- *Correspondence: Manuela Mancini,
| | - Sara De Santis
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Cecilia Monaldi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fausto Castagnetti
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Istituto di Ematologia “Seràgnoli”, Bologna, Italy
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Annalisa Lonetti
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Samantha Bruno
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elisa Dan
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Istituto di Ematologia “Seràgnoli”, Bologna, Italy
| | - Barbara Sinigaglia
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Istituto di Ematologia “Seràgnoli”, Bologna, Italy
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Gianantonio Rosti
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Istituto di Ematologia “Seràgnoli”, Bologna, Italy
| | - Michele Cavo
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Istituto di Ematologia “Seràgnoli”, Bologna, Italy
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Gabriele Gugliotta
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Istituto di Ematologia “Seràgnoli”, Bologna, Italy
| | - Simona Soverini
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Li B, An W, Wang H, Baslan T, Mowla S, Krishnan A, Xiao W, Koche RP, Liu Y, Cai SF, Xiao Z, Derkach A, Iacobucci I, Mullighan CG, Helin K, Lowe SW, Levine RL, Rampal RK. BMP2/SMAD pathway activation in JAK2/p53-mutant megakaryocyte/erythroid progenitors promotes leukemic transformation. Blood 2022; 139:3630-46. [PMID: 35421216 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2021014465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Leukemic transformation (LT) of myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) has a dismal prognosis and is largely fatal. Mutational inactivation of TP53 is the most common somatic event in LT; however, the mechanisms by which TP53 mutations promote LT remain unresolved. Using an allelic series of mouse models of Jak2/Trp53 mutant MPN, we identify that only biallelic inactivation of Trp53 results in LT (to a pure erythroleukemia [PEL]). This PEL arises from the megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitor population. Importantly, the bone morphogenetic protein 2/SMAD pathway is aberrantly activated during LT and results in abnormal self-renewal of megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitors. Finally, we identify that Jak2/Trp53 mutant PEL is characterized by recurrent copy number alterations and DNA damage. Using a synthetic lethality strategy, by targeting active DNA repair pathways, we show that this PEL is highly sensitive to combination WEE1 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibition. These observations yield new mechanistic insights into the process of p53 mutant LT and offer new, clinically translatable therapeutic approaches.
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11
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Elias MH, Syed Mohamad SF, Abdul Hamid N. A Systematic Review of Candidate miRNAs, Its Targeted Genes and Pathways in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia-An Integrated Bioinformatical Analysis. Front Oncol 2022; 12:848199. [PMID: 35330714 PMCID: PMC8940286 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.848199] [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] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic myeloid leukaemia is blood cancer due to a reciprocal translocation, resulting in a BCR-ABL1 oncogene. Although tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been successfully used to treat CML, there are still cases of resistance. The resistance occurred mainly due to the mutation in the tyrosine kinase domain of the BCR-ABL1 gene. However, there are still many cases with unknown causes of resistance as the etiopathology of CML are not fully understood. Thus, it is crucial to figure out the complete pathogenesis of CML, and miRNA can be one of the essential pathogeneses. The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature on miRNAs that were differentially expressed in CML cases. Their target genes and downstream genes were also explored. An electronic search was performed via PubMed, Scopus, EBSCOhost MEDLINE, and Science Direct. The following MeSH (Medical Subject Heading) terms were used: chronic myeloid leukaemia, genes and microRNAs in the title or abstract. From 806 studies retrieved from the search, only clinical studies with in-vitro experimental evidence on the target genes of the studied miRNAs in CML cells were included. Two independent reviewers independently scrutinised the titles and abstracts before examining the eligibility of studies that met the inclusion criteria. Study design, sample size, sampling type, and the molecular method used were identified for each study. The pooled miRNAs were analysed using DIANA tools, and target genes were analysed with DAVID, STRING and Cytoscape MCODE. Fourteen original research articles on miRNAs in CML were included, 26 validated downstream genes and 187 predicted target genes were analysed and clustered into 7 clusters. Through GO analysis, miRNAs’ target genes were localised throughout the cells, including the extracellular region, cytosol, and nucleus. Those genes are involved in various pathways that regulate genomic instability, proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, differentiation, and migration of CML cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjanu Hikmah Elias
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai, Malaysia
| | - Syarifah Faezah Syed Mohamad
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai, Malaysia.,Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Pahang, Jengka, Malaysia
| | - Nazefah Abdul Hamid
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai, Malaysia
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12
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Abstract
Upon DNA damage, complex transduction cascades are unleashed to locate, recognise and repair affected lesions. The process triggers a pause in the cell cycle until the damage is resolved. Even under physiologic conditions, this deliberate interruption of cell division is essential to ensure orderly DNA replication and chromosomal segregation. WEE1 is an established regulatory protein in this vast fidelity-monitoring machinery. Its involvement in the DNA damage response and cell cycle has been a subject of study for decades. Emerging studies have also implicated WEE1 directly and indirectly in other cellular functions, including chromatin remodelling and immune response. The expanding role of WEE1 in pathophysiology is matched by the keen surge of interest in developing WEE1-targeted therapeutic agents. This review summarises WEE1 involvement in the cell cycle checkpoints, epigenetic modification and immune signalling, as well as the current state of WEE1 inhibitors in cancer therapeutics.
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13
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Junco JJ, Zorman B, Gant VU, Muñoz J, Lacorazza HD, Sumazin P, Rabin KR. CRLF2 overexpression results in reduced B cell differentiation and upregulated E2F signaling in the Dp16 mouse model of Down syndrome. Exp Hematol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2022.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Vakili-Samiani S, Turki Jalil A, Abdelbasset WK, Yumashev AV, Karpisheh V, Jalali P, Adibfar S, Ahmadi M, Hosseinpour Feizi AA, Jadidi-Niaragh F. Targeting Wee1 kinase as a therapeutic approach in Hematological Malignancies. DNA Repair (Amst) 2021; 107:103203. [PMID: 34390915 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2021.103203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Hematologic malignancies include various diseases that develop from hematopoietic stem cells of bone marrow or lymphatic organs. Currently, conventional DNA-damage-based chemotherapy drugs are approved as standard therapeutic regimens for these malignancies. Although many improvements have been made, patients with relapsed or refractory hematological malignancies have a poor prognosis. Therefore, novel and practical therapeutic approaches are required for the treatment of these diseases. Interestingly several studies have shown that targeting Wee1 kinase in the Hematological malignancies, including AML, ALL, CML, CLL, DLBCL, BL, MCL, etc., can be an effective therapeutic strategy. It plays an essential role in regulating the cell cycle process by abrogating the G2-M cell-cycle checkpoint, which provides time for DNA damage repair before mitotic entry. Consistently, Wee1 overexpression is observed in various Hematological malignancies. Also, in healthy normal cells, repairing DNA damages occurs due to G1-S checkpoint function; however, in the cancer cells, which have an impaired G1-S checkpoint, the damaged DNA repair process depends on the G2-M checkpoint function. Thus, Wee1 inhibition could be a promising target in the presence of DNA damage in order to potentiate multiple therapeutic drugs. This review summarized the potentials and challenges of Wee1 inhibition combined with other therapies as a novel effective therapeutic strategy in Hematological malignancies.
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Hu J, Wang T, Xu J, Wu S, Wang L, Su H, Jiang J, Yue M, Wang J, Wang D, Li P, Zhou F, Liu Y, Qing G, Liu H. WEE1 inhibition induces glutamine addiction in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Haematologica 2021; 106:1816-1827. [PMID: 31919076 PMCID: PMC8252940 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2019.231126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tcell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (T-ALL) are aggressive and heterogeneous hematologic tumors resulting from the malignant transformation of T-cell progenitors. The major challenges in the treatment of T-ALL are dose-limiting toxicities of chemotherapeutics and drug resistance. Despite important progress in deciphering the genomic landscape of T-ALL, translation of these findings into effective targeted therapies remains largely unsuccessful. New targeted agents with significant antileukemic efficacy and less toxicity are urgently needed. Here we report that the expression of WEE1, a nuclear tyrosine kinase involved in cell cycle G2-M checkpoint signaling, is significantly elevated in T-ALL. Mechanistically, oncogenic MYC directly binds to the WEE1 promoter and activates its transcription. T-ALL cells particularly rely on the elevated WEE1 for cell viability. Pharmacological inhibition of WEE1 elicits global metabolic reprogramming which results in a marked suppression of aerobic glycolysis in T-ALL cells, leading to an increased dependency on glutaminolysis for cell survival. As such, dual targeting of WEE1 and glutaminase (GLS1) induces synergistic lethality in multiple TALL cell lines and shows great efficacy in T-ALL patient-derived xenografts. These findings provide mechanistic insights into the regulation of WEE1 kinase in T-ALL and suggest an additional vulnerability during WEE1 inhibitor treatments. We also highlight a promising combination strategy of dual inhibition of cell cycle kinase and metabolic enzymes for T-ALL therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juncheng Hu
- Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Tianci Wang
- Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jin Xu
- Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Sanyun Wu
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Liyuan Wang
- Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hexiu Su
- Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jue Jiang
- Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ming Yue
- Department of Pharmacy, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Wuhan, China
| | - Jingchao Wang
- Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Donghai Wang
- Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Peng Li
- Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fuling Zhou
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Shanghai Children Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, China
| | - Guoliang Qing
- Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hudan Liu
- Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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16
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Katoueezadeh M, Pilehvari N, Fatemi A, Hassanshahi G, Torabizadeh SA. Inhibition of DNA damage response pathway using combination of DDR pathway inhibitors and radiation in treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells. Future Oncol 2021; 17:2803-2816. [PMID: 33960207 DOI: 10.2217/fon-2020-1072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
An alarming increase in acute lymphoblastic leukemia cases among children and adults has attracted the attention of researchers to discover new therapeutic strategies with a better prognosis. In cancer cells, the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway elements have been recognized to protect tumor cells from various stresses and cause tumor progression; targeting these DDR members is an attractive strategy for treatment of cancers. The inhibition of the DDR pathway in cancer cells for the treatment of cancers has recently been introduced. Hence, effective treatment strategies are needed for this purpose. Chemotherapy in combination with radiotherapy is considered a potential therapeutic strategy for acute leukemia. This review aims to assess the synergistic effects of these inhibitors with irradiation for the treatment of leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Katoueezadeh
- Department of Hematology & Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, 7616911333, Iran
| | - Niloofar Pilehvari
- Department of Hematology & Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, 7616911333, Iran
| | - Ahmad Fatemi
- Department of Hematology & Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, 7616911333, Iran
| | - Gholamhossein Hassanshahi
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, 7718796755, Iran
| | - Seyedeh Atekeh Torabizadeh
- Pharmaceutics Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, 7616911319, Iran
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Chen J, Jia X, Li Z, Song W, Jin C, Zhou M, Xie H, Zheng S, Song P. Targeting WEE1 by adavosertib inhibits the malignant phenotypes of hepatocellular carcinoma. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 188:114494. [PMID: 33684390 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114494] [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: 01/09/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Targeting the cell cycle checkpoints and DNA damage response are promising therapeutic strategies for cancer. Adavosertib is a potent inhibitor of WEE1 kinase, which plays a critical role in regulating cell cycle checkpoints. However, the effect of adavosertib on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment, including sorafenib-resistant HCC, has not been thoroughly studied. In this study, we comprehensively investigated the efficacy and pharmacology of adavosertib in HCC therapy. Adavosertib effectively inhibited the proliferation of HCC cells in vitro and suppressed tumor growth in HCC xenografts and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models in vivo. Additionally, adavosertib treatment effectively inhibited the motility of HCC cells by impairing pseudopodia formation. Further, we revealed that adavosertib induced DNA damage and premature mitosis entrance by disturbing the cell cycle. Thus, HCC cells accumulating DNA damage underwent mitosis without G2/M checkpoint arrest, thereby leading to mitotic catastrophe and apoptosis under adavosertib administration. Given that sorafenib resistance is common in HCC in clinical practice, we also explored the efficacy of adavosertib in sorafenib-resistant HCC. Notably, adavosertib still showed a desirable inhibitory effect on the growth of sorafenib-resistant HCC cells. Adavosertib markedly induced G2/M checkpoint arrest and cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, confirming the similar efficacy of adavosertib in sorafenib-resistant HCC. Collectively, our results highlight the treatment efficacy of adavosertib in HCC regardless of sorafenib resistance, providing insights into exploring novel strategies for HCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Chen
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment For Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Xing Jia
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment For Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Zequn Li
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment For Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Wenfeng Song
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment For Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Cheng Jin
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment For Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Mengqiao Zhou
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment For Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Haiyang Xie
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment For Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Shusen Zheng
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment For Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China.
| | - Penghong Song
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment For Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China.
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18
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Leroux C, Konstantinidou G. Targeted Therapies for Pancreatic Cancer: Overview of Current Treatments and New Opportunities for Personalized Oncology. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:799. [PMID: 33672917 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [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: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytotoxic chemotherapy remains the only treatment option for most pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients. Currently, the median overall survival of patients with advanced disease rarely exceeds 1 year. The complex network of pancreatic cancer composed of immune cells, endothelial cells, and cancer-associated fibroblasts confers intratumoral and intertumoral heterogeneity with distinct proliferative and metastatic propensity. This heterogeneity can explain why tumors do not behave uniformly and are able to escape therapy. The advance in technology of whole-genome sequencing has now provided the possibility of identifying every somatic mutation, copy-number change, and structural variant in a given cancer, giving rise to personalized targeted therapies. In this review, we provide an overview of the current and emerging treatment strategies in pancreatic cancer. By highlighting new paradigms in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma treatment, we hope to stimulate new thoughts for clinical trials aimed at improving patient outcomes.
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Hopff SM, Onambele LA, Brandenburg M, Berkessel A, Prokop A. Sensitizing multidrug-resistant leukemia cells to common cytostatics by an aluminium-salen complex that has high-apoptotic effects in leukemia, lymphoma and mamma carcinoma cells. Biometals 2021; 34:211-220. [PMID: 33560473 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-020-00273-x] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the aluminium-salen complex MBR-8 as a potential anti-cancer agent. To see apoptotic effects induced by MBR-8, alone and in combination with common cytostatic drugs, DNA-fragmentations were studied using the flow cytometric analysis. Western blot analysis and measurement of the mitochondrial membrane potential with a JC-1 dye were employed to identify the pathway of apoptosis. An impressive overcoming of multidrug-resistance in leukemia (Nalm6) cells was observed. Additionally, solid tumor cells including Burkitt-like lymphoma (BJAB) and mamma carcinoma cells (MCF-7) are affected by MBR-8 in the same way. Western blot analysis revealed activation of caspase-3. MBR-8 showed very pronounced selectivity with regard to tumor cells and high synergistic effects in Nalm6 and daunorubicin-resistant Nalm6 cells when administered in combination with vincristine, daunorubicin and doxorubicin. The aluminium-salen complex MBR-8 showed very promising anti-cancer properties which warrant further development towards a cytostatic agent for future chemotherapy. Studies on aluminium compounds for cancer therapy are rare, and our report adds to this important body of knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina M Hopff
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital Cologne, Amsterdamer Straße 59, 50735, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Liliane A Onambele
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital Cologne, Amsterdamer Straße 59, 50735, Cologne, Germany
| | - Marc Brandenburg
- Department of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, University of Cologne, Greinstraße 4, 50939, Cologne, Germany
| | - Albrecht Berkessel
- Department of Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, University of Cologne, Greinstraße 4, 50939, Cologne, Germany
| | - Aram Prokop
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital Cologne, Amsterdamer Straße 59, 50735, Cologne, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Helios Clinic Schwerin, Wismarsche Straße 393-397, 19055, Schwerin, Germany
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20
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Abstract
While Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and technological advances have been useful in identifying genetic profiles of tumorigenesis, novel target proteins and various clinical biomarkers, cancer continues to be a major global health threat. DNA replication, DNA damage response (DDR) and repair, and cell cycle regulation continue to be essential systems in targeted cancer therapies. Although many genes involved in DDR are known to be tumor suppressor genes, cancer cells are often dependent and addicted to these genes, making them excellent therapeutic targets. In this review, genes implicated in DNA replication, DDR, DNA repair, cell cycle regulation are discussed with reference to peptide or small molecule inhibitors which may prove therapeutic in cancer patients. Additionally, the potential of utilizing novel synthetic lethal genes in these pathways is examined, providing possible new targets for future therapeutics. Specifically, we evaluate the potential of TONSL as a novel gene for targeted therapy. Although it is a scaffold protein with no known enzymatic activity, the strategy used for developing PCNA inhibitors can also be utilized to target TONSL. This review summarizes current knowledge on non-oncogene addiction, and the utilization of synthetic lethality for developing novel inhibitors targeting non-oncogenic addiction for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hae Ryung Chang
- Department of Biological Sciences and Research Institute of Women’s Health, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul 04310, Korea; (E.J.); (S.C.)
| | - Eunyoung Jung
- Department of Biological Sciences and Research Institute of Women’s Health, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul 04310, Korea; (E.J.); (S.C.)
| | - Soobin Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences and Research Institute of Women’s Health, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul 04310, Korea; (E.J.); (S.C.)
| | - Young-Jun Jeon
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Korea;
| | - Yonghwan Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences and Research Institute of Women’s Health, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul 04310, Korea; (E.J.); (S.C.)
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21
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Giudice V, Ghelli Luserna di Rorà A, Serio B, Guariglia R, Giannini MB, Ferrari A, Simonetti G, Selleri C, Martinelli G. Axitinib in Ponatinib-Resistant B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Harboring a T315L Mutation. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E9724. [PMID: 33419251 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with BCR-ABL1 rearrangement (Philadelphia chromosome, Ph) is a hematological aggressive disease with a fatal outcome in more than 50% of cases. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting the activity of BCR-ABL1 protein have improved the prognosis; however, relapses are frequent because of acquired somatic mutations in the BCR-ABL1 kinase domain causing resistance to first, second and third generation TKIs. Axitinib has shown in vitro and ex vivo activity in blocking ABL1; however, clinical trials exploring its efficacy in ALL are missing. Here, we presented a 77-year-old male with a diagnosis of Ph positive ALL resistant to ponatinib and carrying a rare threonine to leucine (T315L) mutation on BCR-ABL1 gene. The patient was treated with axitinib at 5 mg/twice daily as salvage therapy showing an immediate although transient benefit with an overall survival of 9.3 months. Further dose-finding and randomized clinical trials are required to assess the real efficacy of axitinib for adult Ph positive ALL resistant to third generation TKIs.
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22
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Carter JL, Hege K, Yang J, Kalpage HA, Su Y, Edwards H, Hüttemann M, Taub JW, Ge Y. Targeting multiple signaling pathways: the new approach to acute myeloid leukemia therapy. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2020; 5:288. [PMID: 33335095 PMCID: PMC7746731 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-020-00361-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [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: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common form of acute leukemia in adults and the second most common form of acute leukemia in children. Despite this, very little improvement in survival rates has been achieved over the past few decades. This is partially due to the heterogeneity of AML and the need for more targeted therapeutics than the traditional cytotoxic chemotherapies that have been a mainstay in therapy for the past 50 years. In the past 20 years, research has been diversifying the approach to treating AML by investigating molecular pathways uniquely relevant to AML cell proliferation and survival. Here we review the development of novel therapeutics in targeting apoptosis, receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling, hedgehog (HH) pathway, mitochondrial function, DNA repair, and c-Myc signaling. There has been an impressive effort into better understanding the diversity of AML cell characteristics and here we highlight important preclinical studies that have supported therapeutic development and continue to promote new ways to target AML cells. In addition, we describe clinical investigations that have led to FDA approval of new targeted AML therapies and ongoing clinical trials of novel therapies targeting AML survival pathways. We also describe the complexity of targeting leukemia stem cells (LSCs) as an approach to addressing relapse and remission in AML and targetable pathways that are unique to LSC survival. This comprehensive review details what we currently understand about the signaling pathways that support AML cell survival and the exceptional ways in which we disrupt them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna L Carter
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.,MD/PhD Program, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Katie Hege
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Jay Yang
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.,Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Hasini A Kalpage
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Yongwei Su
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.,Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.,National Engineering Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine, Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, The Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Holly Edwards
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.,Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Maik Hüttemann
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Jeffrey W Taub
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA. .,Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA. .,Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
| | - Yubin Ge
- Cancer Biology Graduate Program, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA. .,Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA. .,Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
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23
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Iannuzzi CA, Indovina P, Forte IM, Di Somma S, Malfitano AM, Bruno M, Portella G, Pentimalli F, Giordano A. Pharmacological Inhibition of WEE1 Potentiates the Antitumoral Effect of the dl922-947 Oncolytic Virus in Malignant Mesothelioma Cell Lines. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7333. [PMID: 33020398 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a very aggressive asbestos-related cancer, for which no therapy proves to be effective. We have recently shown that the oncolytic adenovirus dl922-947 had antitumor effects in MM cell lines and murine xenografts. Previous studies demonstrated that dl922-947-induced host cell cycle checkpoint deregulation and consequent DNA lesions associated with the virus efficacy. However, the cellular DNA damage response (DDR) can counteract this virus action. Therefore, we assessed whether AZD1775, an inhibitor of the G2/M DNA damage checkpoint kinase WEE1, could enhance MM cell sensitivity to dl922-947. Through cell viability assays, we found that AZD1775 synergized with dl922-947 selectively in MM cell lines and increased dl922-947-induced cell death, which showed hallmarks of apoptosis (annexinV-positivity, caspase-dependency, BCL-XL decrease, chromatin condensation). Predictably, dl922-947 and/or AZD1775 activated the DDR, as indicated by increased levels of three main DDR players: phosphorylated histone H2AX (γ-H2AX), phospho-replication protein A (RPA)32, phospho-checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1). Dl922-947 also increased inactive Tyr-15-phosphorylated cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1), a key WEE1 substrate, which is indicative of G2/M checkpoint activation. This increase in phospho-CDK1 was effectively suppressed by AZD1775, thus suggesting that this compound could, indeed, abrogate the dl922-947-induced DNA damage checkpoint in MM cells. Overall, our data suggest that the dl922-947-AZD1775 combination could be a feasible strategy against MM.
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24
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Ghelli Luserna di Rorà A, Cerchione C, Martinelli G, Simonetti G. A WEE1 family business: regulation of mitosis, cancer progression, and therapeutic target. J Hematol Oncol 2020; 13:126. [PMID: 32958072 PMCID: PMC7507691 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-020-00959-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.8] [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: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The inhibition of the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway in the treatment of cancer has recently gained interest, and different DDR inhibitors have been developed. Among them, the most promising ones target the WEE1 kinase family, which has a crucial role in cell cycle regulation and DNA damage identification and repair in both nonmalignant and cancer cells. This review recapitulates and discusses the most recent findings on the biological function of WEE1/PKMYT1 during the cell cycle and in the DNA damage repair, with a focus on their dual role as tumor suppressors in nonmalignant cells and pseudo-oncogenes in cancer cells. We here report the available data on the molecular and functional alterations of WEE1/PKMYT1 kinases in both hematological and solid tumors. Moreover, we summarize the preclinical information on 36 chemo/radiotherapy agents, and in particular their effect on cell cycle checkpoints and on the cellular WEE1/PKMYT1-dependent response. Finally, this review outlines the most important pre-clinical and clinical data available on the efficacy of WEE1/PKMYT1 inhibitors in monotherapy and in combination with chemo/radiotherapy agents or with other selective inhibitors currently used or under evaluation for the treatment of cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ghelli Luserna di Rorà
- Biosciences Laboratory (Onco-hematology Unit), Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Via P. Maroncelli 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Claudio Cerchione
- Biosciences Laboratory (Onco-hematology Unit), Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Via P. Maroncelli 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Giovanni Martinelli
- Biosciences Laboratory (Onco-hematology Unit), Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Via P. Maroncelli 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Giorgia Simonetti
- Biosciences Laboratory (Onco-hematology Unit), Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Via P. Maroncelli 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy.
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25
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Wei J, Yin Y, Zhou J, Chen H, Peng J, Yang J, Tang Y. METTL3 potentiates resistance to cisplatin through m 6 A modification of TFAP2C in seminoma. J Cell Mol Med 2020; 24:11366-11380. [PMID: 32857912 PMCID: PMC7576266 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.15738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs) rank as the most common malignancy in men aged 20‐34 years, and seminomas are the most type of TGCTs. As a crucial anti‐tumour agent with explicit toxicity, cisplatin may render resistance through intertwined mechanisms, even in disease entities with high curative ratio, such as seminoma. Previously, we established cisplatin‐resistant seminoma TCam‐2 (TCam‐2/CDDP) cells and showed that epigenetic regulations, such as non‐coding RNA (ncRNA) interactions, might orchestrate cell fate decisions in the cisplatin treatment context in seminoma. N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent internal modification in mRNA. In the present study, we assessed cisplatin resistance in seminoma from the perspective of m6A, another manner of epigenetic modification. The global m6A enrichment of TCam‐2 and TCam‐2/CDDP was depicted. Then, we elucidated whether transcription factor‐activating enhancer‐binding protein 2C (TFAP2C) was functionally m6A‐modified by methyltransferase‐like protein 3 (METTL3), which acted as an m6A ‘writer’, and insulin‐like growth factor 2 mRNA‐binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1), which acted as an m6A ‘reader’. Enhanced stability of TFAP2C mRNA promoted seminoma cell survival under cisplatin treatment burden probably through up‐regulation of DNA repair‐related genes. Hopefully, this study will help improve our understanding of the subtleties of the tumour cellular coping strategy in response to chemotherapy. Targeting factors that are involved in m6A methylation may be an effective strategy for circumventing cisplatin resistance in seminoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingchao Wei
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yinghao Yin
- Department of Urology, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jun Zhou
- Department of Urology, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hanfei Chen
- Department of Urology, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jingxuan Peng
- Department of Urology, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jianfu Yang
- Department of Urology, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuxin Tang
- Department of Urology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
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26
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Ghelli Luserna di Rorà A, Martinelli G, Simonetti G. The balance between mitotic death and mitotic slippage in acute leukemia: a new therapeutic window? J Hematol Oncol 2019; 12:123. [PMID: 31771633 PMCID: PMC6880427 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-019-0808-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [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: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitosis is the process whereby an eukaryotic cell divides into two identical copies. Different multiprotein complexes are involved in the fine regulation of cell division, including the mitotic promoting factor and the anaphase promoting complex. Prolonged mitosis can result in cellular division, cell death, or mitotic slippage, the latter leading to a new interphase without cellular division. Mitotic slippage is one of the causes of genomic instability and has an important therapeutic and clinical impact. It has been widely studied in solid tumors but not in hematological malignancies, in particular, in acute leukemia. We review the literature data available on mitotic regulation, alterations in mitotic proteins occurring in acute leukemia, induction of prolonged mitosis and its consequences, focusing in particular on the balance between cell death and mitotic slippage and on its therapeutic potentials. We also present the most recent preclinical and clinical data on the efficacy of second-generation mitotic drugs (CDK1-Cyclin B1, APC/CCDC20, PLK, Aurora kinase inhibitors). Despite the poor clinical activity showed by these drugs as single agents, they offer a potential therapeutic window for synthetic lethal combinations aimed to selectively target leukemic cells at the right time, thus decreasing the risk of mitotic slippage events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ghelli Luserna di Rorà
- Biosciences Laboratory, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Via P. Maroncelli 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Martinelli
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Via P. Maroncelli 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy
| | - Giorgia Simonetti
- Biosciences Laboratory, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Via P. Maroncelli 40, 47014, Meldola, FC, Italy
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27
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Li Z, Pinch BJ, Olson CM, Donovan KA, Nowak RP, Mills CE, Scott DA, Doctor ZM, Eleuteri NA, Chung M, Sorger PK, Fischer ES, Gray NS. Development and Characterization of a Wee1 Kinase Degrader. Cell Chem Biol 2019; 27:57-65.e9. [PMID: 31735695 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2019.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [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: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The G1/S cell cycle checkpoint is frequently dysregulated in cancer, leaving cancer cells reliant on a functional G2/M checkpoint to prevent excessive DNA damage. Wee1 regulates the G2/M checkpoint by phosphorylating CDK1 at Tyr15 to prevent mitotic entry. Previous drug development efforts targeting Wee1 resulted in the clinical-grade inhibitor, AZD1775. However, AZD1775 is burdened by dose-limiting adverse events, and has off-target PLK1 activity. In an attempt to overcome these limitations, we developed Wee1 degraders by conjugating AZD1775 to the cereblon (CRBN)-binding ligand, pomalidomide. The resulting lead compound, ZNL-02-096, degrades Wee1 while sparing PLK1, induces G2/M accumulation at 10-fold lower doses than AZD1775, and synergizes with Olaparib in ovarian cancer cells. We demonstrate that ZNL-02-096 has CRBN-dependent pharmacology that is distinct from AZD1775, which justifies further evaluation of selective Wee1 degraders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengnian Li
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Benika J Pinch
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Calla M Olson
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Katherine A Donovan
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Radosław P Nowak
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Caitlin E Mills
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David A Scott
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zainab M Doctor
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicholas A Eleuteri
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mirra Chung
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Peter K Sorger
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eric S Fischer
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nathanael S Gray
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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28
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de Jong MRW, Langendonk M, Reitsma B, Herbers P, Nijland M, Huls G, van den Berg A, Ammatuna E, Visser L, van Meerten T. WEE1 Inhibition Enhances Anti-Apoptotic Dependency as a Result of Premature Mitotic Entry and DNA Damage. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11111743. [PMID: 31703356 PMCID: PMC6895818 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11111743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [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: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Genomically unstable cancers are dependent on specific cell cycle checkpoints to maintain viability and prevent apoptosis. The cell cycle checkpoint protein WEE1 is highly expressed in genomically unstable cancers, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Although WEE1 inhibition effectively induces apoptosis in cancer cells, the effect of WEE1 inhibition on anti-apoptotic dependency is not well understood. We show that inhibition of WEE1 by AZD1775 induces DNA damage and pre-mitotic entry in DLBCL, thereby enhancing dependency on BCL-2 and/or MCL-1. Combining AZD1775 with anti-apoptotic inhibitors such as venetoclax (BCL-2i) or S63845 (MCL-1i) enhanced sensitivity in a cell-specific manner. In addition, we demonstrate that both G2/M cell cycle arrest and DNA damage induction put a similar stress on DLBCL cells, thereby enhancing anti-apoptotic dependency. Therefore, genotoxic or cell cycle disrupting agents combined with specific anti-apoptotic inhibitors may be very effective in genomic unstable cancers such as DLBCL and therefore warrants further clinical evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Rikje Willemijn de Jong
- Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, the Netherlands (M.L.); (B.R.); (P.H.); (M.N.); (G.H.); (E.A.)
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, the Netherlands; (A.v.d.B.); (L.V.)
| | - Myra Langendonk
- Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, the Netherlands (M.L.); (B.R.); (P.H.); (M.N.); (G.H.); (E.A.)
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, the Netherlands; (A.v.d.B.); (L.V.)
| | - Bart Reitsma
- Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, the Netherlands (M.L.); (B.R.); (P.H.); (M.N.); (G.H.); (E.A.)
| | - Pien Herbers
- Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, the Netherlands (M.L.); (B.R.); (P.H.); (M.N.); (G.H.); (E.A.)
| | - Marcel Nijland
- Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, the Netherlands (M.L.); (B.R.); (P.H.); (M.N.); (G.H.); (E.A.)
| | - Gerwin Huls
- Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, the Netherlands (M.L.); (B.R.); (P.H.); (M.N.); (G.H.); (E.A.)
| | - Anke van den Berg
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, the Netherlands; (A.v.d.B.); (L.V.)
| | - Emanuele Ammatuna
- Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, the Netherlands (M.L.); (B.R.); (P.H.); (M.N.); (G.H.); (E.A.)
| | - Lydia Visser
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, the Netherlands; (A.v.d.B.); (L.V.)
| | - Tom van Meerten
- Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, the Netherlands (M.L.); (B.R.); (P.H.); (M.N.); (G.H.); (E.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +31-503-611-761
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29
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Ghelli Luserna Di Rorà A, Bocconcelli M, Ferrari A, Terragna C, Bruno S, Imbrogno E, Beeharry N, Robustelli V, Ghetti M, Napolitano R, Chirumbolo G, Marconi G, Papayannidis C, Paolini S, Sartor C, Simonetti G, Yen TJ, Martinelli G. Synergism Through WEE1 and CHK1 Inhibition in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11111654. [PMID: 31717700 PMCID: PMC6895917 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11111654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [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: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Screening for synthetic lethality markers has demonstrated that the inhibition of the cell cycle checkpoint kinases WEE1 together with CHK1 drastically affects stability of the cell cycle and induces cell death in rapidly proliferating cells. Exploiting this finding for a possible therapeutic approach has showed efficacy in various solid and hematologic tumors, though not specifically tested in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Methods: The efficacy of the combination between WEE1 and CHK1 inhibitors in B and T cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B/T-ALL) was evaluated in vitro and ex vivo studies. The efficacy of the therapeutic strategy was tested in terms of cytotoxicity, induction of apoptosis, and changes in cell cycle profile and protein expression using B/T-ALL cell lines. In addition, the efficacy of the drug combination was studied in primary B-ALL blasts using clonogenic assays. Results: This study reports, for the first time, the efficacy of the concomitant inhibition of CHK1/CHK2 and WEE1 in ALL cell lines and primary leukemic B-ALL cells using two selective inhibitors: PF-0047736 (CHK1/CHK2 inhibitor) and AZD-1775 (WEE1 inhibitor). We showed strong synergism in the reduction of cell viability, proliferation and induction of apoptosis. The efficacy of the combination was related to the induction of early S-phase arrest and to the induction of DNA damage, ultimately triggering cell death. We reported evidence that the efficacy of the combination treatment is independent from the activation of the p53-p21 pathway. Moreover, gene expression analysis on B-ALL primary samples showed that Chek1 and Wee1 are significantly co-expressed in samples at diagnosis (Pearson r = 0.5770, p = 0.0001) and relapse (Pearson r= 0.8919; p = 0.0001). Finally, the efficacy of the combination was confirmed by the reduction in clonogenic survival of primary leukemic B-ALL cells. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the combination of CHK1 and WEE1 inhibitors may be a promising therapeutic strategy to be tested in clinical trials for adult ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matteo Bocconcelli
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Institute of Hematology “L. e A. Seràgnoli”, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Anna Ferrari
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (A.G.L.D.R.)
| | - Carolina Terragna
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Institute of Hematology “L. e A. Seràgnoli”, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Samantha Bruno
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Institute of Hematology “L. e A. Seràgnoli”, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Enrica Imbrogno
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (A.G.L.D.R.)
| | | | - Valentina Robustelli
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Institute of Hematology “L. e A. Seràgnoli”, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Martina Ghetti
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (A.G.L.D.R.)
| | - Roberta Napolitano
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (A.G.L.D.R.)
| | - Gabriella Chirumbolo
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Institute of Hematology “L. e A. Seràgnoli”, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giovanni Marconi
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Institute of Hematology “L. e A. Seràgnoli”, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Cristina Papayannidis
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Institute of Hematology “L. e A. Seràgnoli”, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefania Paolini
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Institute of Hematology “L. e A. Seràgnoli”, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Chiara Sartor
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Institute of Hematology “L. e A. Seràgnoli”, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giorgia Simonetti
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (A.G.L.D.R.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Timothy J. Yen
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111-2497, USA
| | - Giovanni Martinelli
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (A.G.L.D.R.)
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Qi W, Xu X, Wang M, Li X, Wang C, Sun L, Zhao D, Sun L. Inhibition of Wee1 sensitizes AML cells to ATR inhibitor VE-822-induced DNA damage and apoptosis. Biochem Pharmacol 2019; 164:273-282. [PMID: 31014753 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2019.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [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: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Resistance to standard induction therapy and relapse remain the primary challenges for improving therapeutic effects in acute myeloid leukemia (AML); thus, novel therapeutic strategies are urgently required. Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein (ATR) is a key regulator of different types of DNA damage, which is crucial for the maintenance of genomic integrity. The ATR-selective inhibitor VE-822 has proper solubility, potency, and pharmacokinetic properties. In this study, we investigated the anti-leukemic effects of VE-822 alone or combined with Wee1-selective inhibitor AZD1775 in AML cells. Our results showed that VE-822 inhibited AML cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. AZD1775 significantly promoted VE-822-induced inhibition of AML cell proliferation and led to a decreased number of cells in the G2/M phase. VE-822 and AZD1775 decreased the protein levels of ribonucleotide reductase M1 (RRM1) and M2 (RRM2) subunits, key enzymes in the synthesis of deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate, which increased DNA replication stress. VE-822 combined with AZD1775 synergistically induced AML cell apoptosis and led to replication stress and DNA damage in AML cell lines. Our study demonstrated that AZD1775 synergistically promotes VE-822-induced anti-leukemic activity in AML cell lines and provides support for clinical research on VE-822 in combination with AZD1775 for the treatment of AML patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxiu Qi
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of BioMacromolecules of Chinese Medicine, Jilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Xiaohao Xu
- Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Manying Wang
- Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Xiangyan Li
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of BioMacromolecules of Chinese Medicine, Jilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Chaonan Wang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of BioMacromolecules of Chinese Medicine, Jilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Liping Sun
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of BioMacromolecules of Chinese Medicine, Jilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Daqing Zhao
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of BioMacromolecules of Chinese Medicine, Jilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, China.
| | - Liwei Sun
- Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, China.
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Simioni C, Martelli AM, Zauli G, Melloni E, Neri LM. Targeting mTOR in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Cells 2019; 8:E190. [PMID: 30795552 DOI: 10.3390/cells8020190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [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: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is an aggressive hematologic disorder and constitutes approximately 25% of cancer diagnoses among children and teenagers. Pediatric patients have a favourable prognosis, with 5-years overall survival rates near 90%, while adult ALL still correlates with poorer survival. However, during the past few decades, the therapeutic outcome of adult ALL was significantly ameliorated, mainly due to intensive pediatric-based protocols of chemotherapy. Mammalian (or mechanistic) target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a conserved serine/threonine kinase belonging to the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-related kinase family (PIKK) and resides in two distinct signalling complexes named mTORC1, involved in mRNA translation and protein synthesis and mTORC2 that controls cell survival and migration. Moreover, both complexes are remarkably involved in metabolism regulation. Growing evidence reports that mTOR dysregulation is related to metastatic potential, cell proliferation and angiogenesis and given that PI3K/Akt/mTOR network activation is often associated with poor prognosis and chemoresistance in ALL, there is a constant need to discover novel inhibitors for ALL treatment. Here, the current knowledge of mTOR signalling and the development of anti-mTOR compounds are documented, reporting the most relevant results from both preclinical and clinical studies in ALL that have contributed significantly into their efficacy or failure.
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