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Shersher E, Alvarez-Trotta A, Lahiry M, Diluvio G, Shiekhattar R, Capobianco AJ. Abstract 2436: The multi-faceted Integrator complex in Notch-driven esophageal cancer. Cancer Res 2023. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2023-2436] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is an aggressive type of cancer with a 5-year survival rate of less than 20%, which underscores the urgent need for new and effective targeted therapies. Treatment failures are often associated with activated Notch signaling and more than 70% of EAC cases possess aberrantly activated Notch. Recently, we identified the Integrator complex (INT), a multi-subunit assembly, as a new co-activator of Notch. In general transcription, INT is known to regulate RNAPII activity. Our previous study showed that INT is important in EAC. The INT complex initiates Notch-mediated transcription via RNAPII activation, and it is required for cell growth and proliferation in EAC. INT is also involved in cell cycle regulation and apoptosis. However, the functions of various INT subunits in EAC and their importance in Notch signaling remain unknown. Here, we investigate the importance of distinct INT subunits in Notch-mediated transcription as well as EAC tumor cell viability, growth and proliferation. Furthermore, we examine whether INT knockdown sensitizes EAC to the treatments with anti-cancer compounds.
We evaluated the depletion effects of several INT subunits in EAC using RNA interference and various assays. All gene knockdowns were confirmed by western blotting and/or RT-qPCR. When we examined the depletion effects of INT in Notch-driven EAC, we observed that the knockdown of some but not all of the INT subunits decreased the expression of Notch target genes as determined by RT-qPCR. This indicates the importance of these specific INT subunits in Notch signaling. We further evaluated the knockdown effects on cell viability, growth and proliferation utilizing a combination of flow cytometry, western blotting, CCK8 and colony formation assays. We observed a decrease in cell viability and inhibition of cell growth and proliferation in EAC cells with the knockdown of specific but not all INT complex subunits. These results indicate that only specific INT subunits are important in Notch-dependent EAC, and these INT subunits may provide a potential therapeutic axis. Furthermore, we determined that the knockdown of INT sensitized EAC cells to other drug treatments exhibiting synergistic effects.
In conclusion, EAC is an aggressive type of cancer with overactivated Notch and poor clinical outcomes. Here, we determined that several subunits of the INT complex may present a therapeutic opportunity in Notch-driven EAC as these subunits are important in Notch-mediated gene expression, EAC cell viability, and cell growth and proliferation.
Citation Format: Elena Shersher, Annamil Alvarez-Trotta, Mohini Lahiry, Giulia Diluvio, Ramin Shiekhattar, Anthony J. Capobianco. The multi-faceted Integrator complex in Notch-driven esophageal cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 2436.
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Diluvio G, Kelley TT, Lahiry M, Alvarez-Trotta A, Kolb EM, Shersher E, Astudillo L, Kovall RA, Schürer SC, Capobianco AJ. A novel chemical attack on Notch-mediated transcription by targeting the NACK ATPase. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2023; 28:307-320. [PMID: 36938545 PMCID: PMC10015116 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2023.02.008] [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: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Notch activation complex kinase (NACK) is a component of the Notch transcriptional machinery critical for the Notch-mediated tumorigenesis. However, the mechanism through which NACK regulates Notch-mediated transcription is not well understood. Here, we demonstrate that NACK binds and hydrolyzes ATP and that only ATP-bound NACK can bind to the Notch ternary complex (NTC). Considering this, we sought to identify inhibitors of this ATP-dependent function and, using computational pipelines, discovered the first small-molecule inhibitor of NACK, Z271-0326, that directly blocks the activity of Notch-mediated transcription and shows potent antineoplastic activity in PDX mouse models. In conclusion, we have discovered the first inhibitor that holds promise for the efficacious treatment of Notch-driven cancers by blocking the Notch activity downstream of the NTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Diluvio
- Molecular Oncology Program, The DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Tanya T. Kelley
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Mohini Lahiry
- Molecular Oncology Program, The DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Annamil Alvarez-Trotta
- Molecular Oncology Program, The DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Ellen M. Kolb
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Elena Shersher
- Molecular Oncology Program, The DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Cancer Epigenetics Program, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Luisana Astudillo
- Molecular Oncology Program, The DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Rhett A. Kovall
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Stephan C. Schürer
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Corresponding author: Stephan C. Schürer, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1600 North West 10th Avenue, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
| | - Anthony J. Capobianco
- Molecular Oncology Program, The DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
- Corresponding author: Anthony J. Capobianco, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1600 North West 10th Avenue, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
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Shersher E, Lahiry M, Alvarez-Trotta A, Diluvio G, Robbins DJ, Shiekhattar R, Capobianco AJ. NACK and INTEGRATOR act coordinately to activate Notch-mediated transcription in tumorigenesis. Cell Commun Signal 2021; 19:96. [PMID: 34551776 PMCID: PMC8456597 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-021-00776-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Notch signaling drives many aspects of neoplastic phenotype. Here, we report that the Integrator complex (INT) is a new component of the Notch transcriptional supercomplex. Together with Notch Activation Complex Kinase (NACK), INT activates Notch1 target genes by driving RNA polymerase II (RNAPII)-dependent transcription, leading to tumorigenesis. METHODS Size exclusion chromatography and CBF-1/RBPJ/Suppressor of Hairless/Lag-1 (CSL)-DNA affinity fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) was used to purify Notch/CSL-dependent complexes for liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were performed to investigate transcriptional regulation of Notch target genes. Transfection of Notch Ternary Complex components into HEK293T cells was used as a recapitulation assay to study Notch-mediated transcriptional mechanisms. Gene knockdown was achieved via RNA interference and the effects of protein depletion on esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) proliferation were determined via a colony formation assay and murine xenografts. Western blotting was used to examine expression of INT subunits in EAC cells and evaluate apoptotic proteins upon INT subunit 11 knockdown (INTS11 KD). Gene KD effects were further explored via flow cytometry. RESULTS We identified the INT complex as part of the Notch transcriptional supercomplex. INT, together with NACK, activates Notch-mediated transcription. While NACK is required for the recruitment of RNAPII to a Notch-dependent promoter, the INT complex is essential for RNAPII phosphorylated at serine 5 (RNAPII-S5P), leading to transcriptional activation. Furthermore, INT subunits are overexpressed in EAC cells and INTS11 KD results in G2/M cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and cell growth arrest in EAC. CONCLUSIONS This study identifies the INT complex as a novel co-factor in Notch-mediated transcription that together with NACK activates Notch target genes and leads to cancer cell proliferation. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Shersher
- Molecular Oncology Program, Division of Surgical Oncology, Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, 1600 NW 10th Ave, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.,Cancer Epigenetics Program, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Mohini Lahiry
- Molecular Oncology Program, Division of Surgical Oncology, Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, 1600 NW 10th Ave, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Annamil Alvarez-Trotta
- Molecular Oncology Program, Division of Surgical Oncology, Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, 1600 NW 10th Ave, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Giulia Diluvio
- Molecular Oncology Program, Division of Surgical Oncology, Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, 1600 NW 10th Ave, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - David J Robbins
- Molecular Oncology Program, Division of Surgical Oncology, Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, 1600 NW 10th Ave, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.,Division of Surgical Oncology, Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Ramin Shiekhattar
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.,Cancer Epigenetics Program, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.,Department of Human Genetics, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Anthony J Capobianco
- Molecular Oncology Program, Division of Surgical Oncology, Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, 1600 NW 10th Ave, Miami, FL, 33136, USA. .,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA. .,Division of Surgical Oncology, Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
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Alvarez-Trotta A, Guerrant W, Astudillo L, Lahiry M, Diluvio G, Shersher E, Kaneku H, Robbins DJ, Orton D, Capobianco AJ. Pharmacological Disruption of the Notch1 Transcriptional Complex Inhibits Tumor Growth by Selectively Targeting Cancer Stem Cells. Cancer Res 2021; 81:3347-3357. [PMID: 33820800 PMCID: PMC8655881 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-3611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In many human cancers, deregulation of the Notch pathway has been shown to play a role in the initiation and maintenance of the neoplastic phenotype. Aberrant Notch activity also plays a central role in the maintenance and survival of cancer stem cells (CSC), which underlie metastasis and resistance to therapy. For these reasons, inhibition of Notch signaling has become an exceedingly attractive target for cancer therapeutic development. However, attempts to develop Notch pathway-specific drugs have largely failed in the clinic, in part due to intestinal toxicity. Here, we report the discovery of NADI-351, the first specific small-molecule inhibitor of Notch1 transcriptional complexes. NADI-351 selectively disrupted Notch1 transcription complexes and reduced Notch1 recruitment to target genes. NADI-351 demonstrated robust antitumor activity without inducing intestinal toxicity in mouse models, and CSCs were ablated by NADI-351 treatment. Our study demonstrates that NADI-351 is an orally available and potent inhibitor of Notch1-mediated transcription that inhibits tumor growth with low toxicity, providing a potential therapeutic approach for improved cancer treatment. SIGNIFICANCE: This study showcases the first Notch1-selective inhibitor that suppresses tumor growth with limited toxicity by selectively ablating cancer stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annamil Alvarez-Trotta
- The DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Molecular Oncology Program, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
- Sylvester Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | | | - Luisana Astudillo
- The DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Molecular Oncology Program, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
- Sylvester Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Mohini Lahiry
- The DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Molecular Oncology Program, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
- Sylvester Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Giulia Diluvio
- The DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Molecular Oncology Program, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
- Sylvester Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Elena Shersher
- The DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Molecular Oncology Program, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
- Sylvester Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | - Hugo Kaneku
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - David J Robbins
- The DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Molecular Oncology Program, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
- Sylvester Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
| | | | - Anthony J Capobianco
- The DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Molecular Oncology Program, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida.
- Sylvester Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
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Alvarez-Trotta A, Wang Z, Shersher E, Li B, Long J, Lohse I, Wahlestedt C, El-Rifai W, Robbins DJ, Capobianco AJ. The bromodomain inhibitor IBET-151 attenuates vismodegib-resistant esophageal adenocarcinoma growth through reduction of GLI signaling. Oncotarget 2020; 11:3174-3187. [PMID: 32913560 PMCID: PMC7443367 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Hedgehog/GLI (HH/GLI) signaling pathway plays a critical role in human oncogenesis. Unfortunately, the clinical use of HH inhibitor(s) has been associated with serious adverse effects and mutation-related drug resistance. Since the efficacy of SMO (Smoothened) and GLI inhibitors is limited in clinical trials, there remains a critical need for the HH/GLI pathway inhibitors with different mechanisms of action. Here, we show that esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) cell lines are insensitive to vismodegib (SMO inhibitor) but respond to GANT61 (GLI1 inhibitor). Furthermore, we examine the role of GLI1 in tumorigenicity of EAC and how a selective bromodomain inhibitor IBET-151 downregulates transcriptional activity of the GLI1 transcription factor in EAC. Our study demonstrates that GLI1 plays an important role in tumorigenicity of EAC and that elevated GLI1 expression in patients’ ultrasound-assisted endoscopic biopsy may predict the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) FOLFOX. Importantly, IBET-151 abrogates the growth of vismodegib-resistant EAC cells and downregulates HH/GLI by reducing the occupancy of BRD4 at the GLI1 locus. IBET-151 also attenuates tumor growth of EAC-PDXs and does so in an on-target manner as it reduces the expression of GLI1. We identify HH/GLI signaling as a novel druggable pathway in EAC as well as validate an ability of clinically relevant GLI inhibitor to attenuate the viability of vismodegib-resistant EAC cells. Therefore, we propose that selective bromodomain inhibitors, such as IBET-151, could be used as novel therapeutic agents for EAC patients harboring GLI-dependent tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annamil Alvarez-Trotta
- Molecular Oncology Program, Division of Surgical Oncology, Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- Molecular Oncology Program, Division of Surgical Oncology, Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Division of Surgical Oncology, DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Elena Shersher
- Molecular Oncology Program, Division of Surgical Oncology, Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Bin Li
- Molecular Oncology Program, Division of Surgical Oncology, Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Jun Long
- Molecular Oncology Program, Division of Surgical Oncology, Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Ines Lohse
- Center for Therapeutic Innovation, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Molecular Therapeutics Shared Resource, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Claes Wahlestedt
- Center for Therapeutic Innovation, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Division of Surgical Oncology, DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - David J Robbins
- Molecular Oncology Program, Division of Surgical Oncology, Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Division of Surgical Oncology, DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Co-senior authors
| | - Anthony J Capobianco
- Molecular Oncology Program, Division of Surgical Oncology, Dewitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Division of Surgical Oncology, DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.,Co-senior authors
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