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Law V, Smalley I, Evernden BR, Baldwin M, Smalley KSM, Forsyth PA. Ex Vivo Culture of Circulating Tumor Cells in the Cerebral Spinal Fluid from Melanoma Patients to Study Melanoma-Associated Leptomeningeal Disease. J Vis Exp 2024. [PMID: 38619274 DOI: 10.3791/66071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Melanoma-associated leptomeningeal disease (M-LMD) occurs when circulating tumor cells (CTCs) enter into the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and colonize the meninges, the membrane layers that protect the brain and the spinal cord. Once established, the prognosis for M-LMD patients is dismal, with overall survival ranging from weeks to months. This is primarily due to a paucity in our understanding of the disease and, as a consequence, the availability of effective treatment options. Defining the underlying biology of M-LMD will significantly improve the ability to adapt available therapies for M-LMD treatment or design novel inhibitors for this universally fatal disease. A major barrier, however, lies in obtaining sufficient quantities of CTCs from the patient-derived CSF (CSF-CTCs) to conduct preclinical experiments, such as molecular characterization, functional analysis, and in vivo efficacy studies. Culturing CSF-CTCs ex vivo has also proven to be challenging. To address this, a novel protocol for the culture of patient-derived M-LMD CSF-CTCs ex vivo and in vivo is developed. The incorporation of conditioned media produced by human meningeal cells (HMCs) is found to be critical to the procedure. Cytokine array analysis reveals that factors produced by HMCs, such as insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins (IGFBPs) and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), are important in supporting CSF-CTC survival ex vivo. Here, the usefulness of the isolated patient-derived CSF-CTC lines is demonstrated in determining the efficacy of inhibitors that target the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. In addition, the ability to intrathecally inoculate these cells in vivo to establish murine models of M-LMD that can be employed for preclinical testing of approved or novel therapies is shown. These tools can help unravel the underlying biology driving CSF-CTC establishment in the meninges and identify novel therapies to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with M-LMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Law
- Department of Tumor Biology, University of South Florida, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute; Department of Neuro-Oncology, University of South Florida, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute;
| | - Inna Smalley
- Department of Cancer Physiology, University of South Florida, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
| | - Brittany R Evernden
- Department of Neuro-Oncology, University of South Florida, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
| | - Margaret Baldwin
- Department of Comparative Medicine, University of South Florida, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- Department of Tumor Biology, University of South Florida, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
| | - Peter A Forsyth
- Department of Tumor Biology, University of South Florida, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute; Department of Neuro-Oncology, University of South Florida, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
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Smalley I, Boire A, Brastianos P, Kluger HM, Hernando-Monge E, Forsyth PA, Ahmed KA, Smalley KSM, Ferguson S, Davies MA, Glitza Oliva IC. Leptomeningeal disease in melanoma: An update on the developments in pathophysiology and clinical care. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2024; 37:51-67. [PMID: 37622466 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.13116] [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: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Leptomeningeal disease (LMD) remains a major challenge in the clinical management of metastatic melanoma patients. Outcomes for patient remain poor, and patients with LMD continue to be excluded from almost all clinical trials. However, recent trials have demonstrated the feasibility of conducting prospective clinical trials in these patients. Further, new insights into the pathophysiology of LMD are identifying rational new therapeutic strategies. Here we present recent advances in the understanding of, and treatment options for, LMD from metastatic melanoma. We also annotate key areas of future focus to accelerate progress for this challenging but emerging field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inna Smalley
- Department of Metabolism and Physiology, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Adrienne Boire
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Priscilla Brastianos
- Department of Medicine, MGH Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Harriet M Kluger
- Department of Medicine (Medical Oncology), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Eva Hernando-Monge
- Department of Pathology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group, Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Peter A Forsyth
- Department of Neuro-Oncology and Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Kamran A Ahmed
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Immunology, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- Department of Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Sherise Ferguson
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Michael A Davies
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Isabella C Glitza Oliva
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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Eroglu Z, Chen YA, Smalley I, Li J, Markowitz JK, Brohl AS, Tetteh L, Taylor H, Sondak VK, Khushalani NI, Smalley KSM. Combined BRAF, MEK, and heat-shock protein 90 inhibition in advanced BRAF V600-mutant melanoma. Cancer 2024; 130:232-243. [PMID: 37776537 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.35029] [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: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Resistance to BRAF and MEK inhibitors in BRAF V600-mutant melanoma is common. Multiple resistance mechanisms involve heat-shock protein 90 (HSP90) clients, and a phase 1 study of vemurafenib with the HSP90 inhibitor XL888 in patients with advanced melanoma showed activity equivalent to that of BRAF and MEK inhibitors. METHODS Vemurafenib (960 mg orally twice daily) and cobimetinib (60 mg orally once daily for 21 of 28 days) with escalating dose cohorts of XL888 (30, 45, 60, or 90 mg orally twice weekly) was investigated in a phase 1 trial of advanced melanoma, with a modified Ji dose-escalation design. RESULTS Twenty-five patients were enrolled. After two dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) (rash and acute kidney injury) in the first cohort, lower doses of vemurafenib (720 mg) and cobimetinib (40 mg) were investigated with the same XL888 doses. Three DLTs (rash) were observed in 12 patients in the XL888 60-mg cohort, and this was determined as the maximum tolerated dose. Objective responses were observed in 19 patients (76%), and the median progression-free survival was 7.6 months, with a 5-year progression-free survival rate of 20%. The median overall survival was 41.7 months, with a 5-year overall survival rate of 37%. Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on baseline and on-treatment biopsies; treatment was associated with increased immune cell influx (CD4-positive and CD8-positive T cells) and decreased melanoma cells. CONCLUSIONS Combined vemurafenib and cobimetinib plus XL888 had significant toxicity, requiring frequent dose reductions, which may have contributed to the relatively low progression-free survival despite a high tumor response rate. Given overlapping toxicities, caution must be used when combining HSP90 inhibitors with BRAF and MEK inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeynep Eroglu
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Y Ann Chen
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Inna Smalley
- Department of Cancer Physiology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Jiannong Li
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Joseph K Markowitz
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Andrew S Brohl
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Leticia Tetteh
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Hayley Taylor
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Vernon K Sondak
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Nikhil I Khushalani
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
- Department of Oncologic Sciences, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
- Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
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Phadke MS, Li J, Chen Z, Rodriguez PC, Mandula JK, Karapetyan L, Forsyth PA, Chen YA, Smalley KSM. Differential requirements for CD4+ T cells in the efficacy of the anti-PD-1+LAG-3 and anti-PD-1+CTLA-4 combinations in melanoma flank and brain metastasis models. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:e007239. [PMID: 38056899 PMCID: PMC10711842 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-007239] [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] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although the anti-PD-1+LAG-3 and the anti-PD-1+CTLA-4 combinations are effective in advanced melanoma, it remains unclear whether their mechanisms of action overlap. METHODS We used single cell (sc) RNA-seq, flow cytometry and IHC analysis of responding SM1, D4M-UV2 and B16 melanoma flank tumors and SM1 brain metastases to explore the mechanism of action of the anti-PD-1+LAG-3 and the anti-PD-1+CTLA-4 combination. CD4+ and CD8+ T cell depletion, tetramer binding assays and ELISPOT assays were used to demonstrate the unique role of CD4+T cell help in the antitumor effects of the anti-PD-1+LAG-3 combination. RESULTS The anti-PD-1+CTLA-4 combination was associated with the infiltration of FOXP3+regulatory CD4+ cells (Tregs), fewer activated CD4+T cells and the accumulation of a subset of IFNγ secreting cytotoxic CD8+T cells, whereas the anti-PD-1+LAG-3 combination led to the accumulation of CD4+T helper cells that expressed CXCR4, TNFSF8, IL21R and a subset of CD8+T cells with reduced expression of cytotoxic markers. T cell depletion studies showed a requirement for CD4+T cells for the anti-PD-1+LAG-3 combination, but not the PD-1-CTLA-4 combination at both flank and brain tumor sites. In anti-PD-1+LAG-3 treated tumors, CD4+T cell depletion was associated with fewer activated (CD69+) CD8+T cells and impaired IFNγ release but, conversely, increased numbers of activated CD8+T cells and IFNγ release in anti-PD-1+CTLA-4 treated tumors. CONCLUSIONS Together these studies suggest that these two clinically relevant immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) combinations have differential effects on CD4+T cell polarization, which in turn, impacted cytotoxic CD8+T cell function. Further insights into the mechanisms of action/resistance of these clinically-relevant ICI combinations will allow therapy to be further personalized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manali S Phadke
- Department of Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Jiannong Li
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Moffitt Cancer Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Zhihua Chen
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Moffitt Cancer Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Paulo C Rodriguez
- Department of Immunology, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Jessica K Mandula
- Department of Immunology, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Lilit Karapetyan
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Peter A Forsyth
- Department of Neurooncology, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Y Ann Chen
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Moffitt Cancer Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- Department of Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
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Carvalho LAD, Aguiar FC, Smalley KSM, Possik PA. Acral melanoma: new insights into the immune and genomic landscape. Neoplasia 2023; 46:100947. [PMID: 37913653 PMCID: PMC10637990 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2023.100947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Acral melanoma is a rare subtype of melanoma that arises on the non-hair bearing skin of the nail bed, palms of the hand and soles of the feet. It is unique among melanomas in not being linked to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure from the sun, and, as such, its incidence is similar across populations who are of Asian, Hispanic, African and European origin. Although research into acral melanoma has lagged behind that of sun-exposed cutaneous melanoma, recent studies have begun to address the unique genetics and immune features of acral melanoma. In this review we will discuss the latest progress in understanding the biology of acral melanoma across different ethnic populations and will outline how these new discoveries can help to guide the therapeutic management of this rare tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Flavia C Aguiar
- Division of Basic and Experimental Research, Brazilian National Cancer Institute, Rua Andre Cavalcanti 37, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20231-050, Brazil
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- Department of Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, 33612 USA.
| | - Patricia A Possik
- Division of Basic and Experimental Research, Brazilian National Cancer Institute, Rua Andre Cavalcanti 37, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20231-050, Brazil
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6
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Emmons MF, Bennett RL, Riva A, Gupta K, Carvalho LADC, Zhang C, Macaulay R, Dupéré-Richér D, Fang B, Seto E, Koomen JM, Li J, Chen YA, Forsyth PA, Licht JD, Smalley KSM. HDAC8-mediated inhibition of EP300 drives a transcriptional state that increases melanoma brain metastasis. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7759. [PMID: 38030596 PMCID: PMC10686983 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43519-1] [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: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanomas can adopt multiple transcriptional states. Little is known about the epigenetic drivers of these cell states, limiting our ability to regulate melanoma heterogeneity. Here, we identify stress-induced HDAC8 activity as driving melanoma brain metastasis development. Exposure of melanocytes and melanoma cells to multiple stresses increases HDAC8 activation leading to a neural crest-stem cell transcriptional state and an amoeboid, invasive phenotype that increases seeding to the brain. Using ATAC-Seq and ChIP-Seq we show that increased HDAC8 activity alters chromatin structure by increasing H3K27ac and enhancing accessibility at c-Jun binding sites. Functionally, HDAC8 deacetylates the histone acetyltransferase EP300, causing its enzymatic inactivation. This, in turn, increases binding of EP300 to Jun-transcriptional sites and decreases binding to MITF-transcriptional sites. Inhibition of EP300 increases melanoma cell invasion, resistance to stress and increases melanoma brain metastasis development. HDAC8 is identified as a mediator of transcriptional co-factor inactivation and chromatin accessibility that drives brain metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael F Emmons
- Department of Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Richard L Bennett
- UF Health Cancer Center, 2033 Mowry Road, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Alberto Riva
- Bioinformatics Core, Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, 2033 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Kanchan Gupta
- UF Health Cancer Center, 2033 Mowry Road, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | | | - Chao Zhang
- Department of Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Robert Macaulay
- Department of Neuro-Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Daphne Dupéré-Richér
- UF Health Cancer Center, 2033 Mowry Road, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Bin Fang
- Proteomics & Metabolomics Core, Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Edward Seto
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, George Washington Cancer Center, George Washington University, 2300 Eye Street, Washington, DC, 20037, USA
| | - John M Koomen
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Jiannong Li
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Y Ann Chen
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Peter A Forsyth
- Department of Neuro-Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Jonathan D Licht
- UF Health Cancer Center, 2033 Mowry Road, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- Department of Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
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Velayutham S, Seerattan R, Sultan M, Seal T, Danthurthy S, Chinnappan B, Landi J, Pearl K, Singh A, Smalley KSM, Zaias J, Choi JY, Minond D. Novel Anti-Melanoma Compounds Are Efficacious in A375 Cell Line Xenograft Melanoma Model in Nude Mice. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1276. [PMID: 37759675 PMCID: PMC10526148 DOI: 10.3390/biom13091276] [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: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the successes of immunotherapy, melanoma remains one of the deadliest cancers, therefore, the need for innovation remains high. We previously reported anti-melanoma compounds that work by downregulating spliceosomal proteins hnRNPH1 and H2. In a separate study, we reported that these compounds were non-toxic to Balb/C mice at 50 mg/kg suggesting their utility in in vivo studies. In the present study, we aimed to assess the efficacy of these compounds by testing them in A375 cell-line xenograft in nude athymic mice. Animals were randomized into four groups (n = 12/group): 10 mg/kg vemurafenib, and 25 mg/kg 2155-14 and 2155-18 thrice a week for 15 days along with a control group. The results revealed that both 2155-14 and 2155-18 significantly decreased the growth of A375 tumors, which was comparable to vemurafenib. These results were confirmed by tumor volume, weight, and histopathological examination. In conclusion, these results demonstrate the therapeutic potential of targeting spliceosomal proteins hnRNPH1 and H2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadeeshkumar Velayutham
- College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, 3321 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
- Rumbaugh-Goodwin Institute for Cancer Research, Nova Southeastern University, 3321 College Avenue, CCR r.605, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA;
| | - Ryan Seerattan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11367, USA
| | - Maab Sultan
- Rumbaugh-Goodwin Institute for Cancer Research, Nova Southeastern University, 3321 College Avenue, CCR r.605, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA;
| | - Trisha Seal
- Halmos College of Arts and Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, 3301 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
| | - Samaya Danthurthy
- Honors College, Nova Southeastern University, 8000 N Ocean Dr., Dania Beach, FL 33004, USA
| | - Baskaran Chinnappan
- College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, 3321 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
- Rumbaugh-Goodwin Institute for Cancer Research, Nova Southeastern University, 3321 College Avenue, CCR r.605, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA;
| | - Jessica Landi
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, 3321 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
| | - Kaitlyn Pearl
- Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, 3321 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
| | - Aveta Singh
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11367, USA
| | - Keiran S. M. Smalley
- Department of Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, USA;
| | - Julia Zaias
- Division of Comparative Pathology, University of Miami, 1501 NW 10th Ave, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
| | - Jun Yong Choi
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11367, USA
- Ph.D. Programs in Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, 365 5th Ave, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Dmitriy Minond
- College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, 3321 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
- Rumbaugh-Goodwin Institute for Cancer Research, Nova Southeastern University, 3321 College Avenue, CCR r.605, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA;
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8
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Mooradian MJ, Cleary JM, Giobbie-Hurder A, Darville LNF, Parikh A, Buchbinder EI, Cohen JV, Lawrence DP, Shapiro GI, Keer H, Chen HX, Ivy SP, Smalley KSM, Koomen JM, Sullivan RJ. Dose-escalation trial of combination dabrafenib, trametinib, and AT13387 in patients with BRAF-mutant solid tumors. Cancer 2023; 129:1904-1918. [PMID: 37042037 PMCID: PMC10793106 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.34730] [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: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Combination BRAF and MEK inhibitor therapy is an active regimen in patients who have BRAF V600E-mutated tumors; however, the clinical efficacy of this therapy is limited by resistance. Preclinically, the addition of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) inhibition improves the efficacy of BRAF inhibitor therapy in both BRAF inhibitor-sensitive and BRAF inhibitor-resistant mutant cell lines. METHODS Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program study 9557 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02097225) is a phase 1 study that was designed to assess the safety and efficacy of the small-molecule HSP90 inhibitor, AT13387, in combination with dabrafenib and trametinib in BRAF V600E/K-mutant solid tumors. Correlative analyses evaluated the expression of HSP90 client proteins and chaperones. RESULTS Twenty-two patients with metastatic, BRAF V600E-mutant solid tumors were enrolled using a 3 + 3 design at four dose levels, and 21 patients were evaluable for efficacy assessment. The most common tumor type was colorectal cancer (N = 12). Dose-limiting toxicities occurred in one patient at dose level 3 and in one patient at dose level 4; specifically, myelosuppression and fatigue, respectively. The maximum tolerated dose was oral dabafenib 150 mg twice daily, oral trametinib 2 mg once daily, and intravenous AT13387 260 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15. The best response was a partial response in two patients and stable disease in eight patients, with an overall response rate of 9.5% (90% exact confidence interval [CI], 2%-27%), a disease control rate of 47.6% (90% CI, 29%-67%), and a median overall survival of 5.1 months (90% CI, 3.4-7.6 months). There were no consistent proteomic changes associated with response or resistance, although responders did have reductions in BRAF expression, and epidermal growth factor receptor downregulation using HSP90 inhibition was observed in one patient who had colorectal cancer. CONCLUSIONS HSP90 inhibition combined with BRAF/MEK inhibition was safe and produced evidence of modest disease control in a heavily pretreated population. Additional translational work may identify tumor types and resistance mechanisms that are most sensitive to this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan J. Mooradian
- Division of Medical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - James M. Cleary
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anita Giobbie-Hurder
- Division of Biostatistics, Departments of Data Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lancia N. F. Darville
- Department of Proteomics and Metabolomics Core, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Aparna Parikh
- Division of Medical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Elizabeth I. Buchbinder
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Justine V. Cohen
- Division of Medical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Donald P. Lawrence
- Division of Medical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Geoffrey I. Shapiro
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Harold Keer
- Astex Pharmaceuticals Inc., Pleasanton, California, USA
| | - Helen X. Chen
- Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Susan Percy Ivy
- Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - John M. Koomen
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Ryan J. Sullivan
- Division of Medical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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9
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Velayutham S, Seal T, Danthurthy S, Zaias J, Smalley KSM, Minond D. In Vivo Acute Toxicity Studies of Novel Anti-Melanoma Compounds Downregulators of hnRNPH1/H2. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13020349. [PMID: 36830718 PMCID: PMC9953269 DOI: 10.3390/biom13020349] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the recent advances in melanoma therapy, the need for new targets and novel approaches to therapy is urgent. We previously reported melanoma actives that work via binding and downregulating spliceosomal proteins hnRNPH1 and H2. Given the lack of knowledge about the side effects of using spliceosomal binders in humans, an acute toxicity study was conducted to evaluate these compounds in mice. Male and female mice were treated with compounds 2155-14 and 2155-18 at 50 mg/kg/day via subcutaneous injections, and the clinical signs of distress were monitored for 21 days and compared with control mice. Additionally, the effect of the leads on blood chemistry, blood cell counts, and organs was evaluated. No significant changes were observed in the body weight, blood cell count, blood chemistry, or organs of the mice following the compound treatment. The results show that our compounds, 2155-14 and 2155-18, are not toxic for the study period of three weeks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadeeshkumar Velayutham
- Rumbaugh-Goodwin Institute for Cancer Research, Nova Southeastern University, 3321 College Avenue, CCR r.605, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, 3321 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
| | - Trisha Seal
- Halmos College of Arts and Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, 3301 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
| | - Samaya Danthurthy
- Honors College, Nova Southeastern University, 8000 N Ocean Dr., Dania Beach, FL 33004, USA
| | - Julia Zaias
- Division of Comparative Pathology, University of Miami, 1501 NW 10th Ave, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Keiran S. M. Smalley
- Moffitt Cancer Center, Department of Tumor Biology, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Dmitriy Minond
- Rumbaugh-Goodwin Institute for Cancer Research, Nova Southeastern University, 3321 College Avenue, CCR r.605, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, 3321 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
- Correspondence:
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10
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Smalley KSM. Too Much Fuel on the Fire? Linking Obesity, Metabolism, and Melanoma Outcomes. Clin Cancer Res 2023; 29:5-7. [PMID: 36315002 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-22-3028] [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] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Patients with metastatic melanoma who are overweight or obese have improved outcomes when treated with immunotherapies or targeted therapies. A recent study provides the first evidence that the host metabolic state influences the tumor metabolic phenotype, with implications for tumor progression and therapeutic response. See related article by Hahn et al., p. 154.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiran S M Smalley
- Department of Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida.,Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
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11
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Karz A, Dimitrova M, Kleffman K, Alvarez-Breckenridge C, Atkins MB, Boire A, Bosenberg M, Brastianos P, Cahill DP, Chen Q, Ferguson S, Forsyth P, Glitza Oliva IC, Goldberg SB, Holmen SL, Knisely JPS, Merlino G, Nguyen DX, Pacold ME, Perez-Guijarro E, Smalley KSM, Tawbi HA, Wen PY, Davies MA, Kluger HM, Mehnert JM, Hernando E. Melanoma central nervous system metastases: An update to approaches, challenges, and opportunities. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2022; 35:554-572. [PMID: 35912544 PMCID: PMC10171356 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.13059] [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] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Brain metastases are the most common brain malignancy. This review discusses the studies presented at the third annual meeting of the Melanoma Research Foundation in the context of other recent reports on the biology and treatment of melanoma brain metastases (MBM). Although symptomatic MBM patients were historically excluded from immunotherapy trials, efforts from clinicians and patient advocates have resulted in more inclusive and even dedicated clinical trials for MBM patients. The results of checkpoint inhibitor trials were discussed in conversation with current standards of care for MBM patients, including steroids, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy. Advances in the basic scientific understanding of MBM, including the role of astrocytes and metabolic adaptations to the brain microenvironment, are exposing new vulnerabilities which could be exploited for therapeutic purposes. Technical advances including single-cell omics and multiplex imaging are expanding our understanding of the MBM ecosystem and its response to therapy. This unprecedented level of spatial and temporal resolution is expected to dramatically advance the field in the coming years and render novel treatment approaches that might improve MBM patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alcida Karz
- Department of Pathology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, USA.,Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group, Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, USA
| | - Maya Dimitrova
- Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group, Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, USA.,Department of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Kevin Kleffman
- Department of Pathology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, USA.,Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group, Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, USA
| | | | - Michael B Atkins
- Georgetown-Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and Department of Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Adrienne Boire
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - Marcus Bosenberg
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research NCI, NIH, USA
| | - Priscilla Brastianos
- MGH Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Daniel P Cahill
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Qing Chen
- Immunology, Microenvironment and Metastasis Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sherise Ferguson
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Peter Forsyth
- Department of Neuro-Oncology and Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Isabella C Glitza Oliva
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Sarah B Goldberg
- Department of Medicine (Medical Oncology), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Sheri L Holmen
- Huntsman Cancer Institute and Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Jonathan P S Knisely
- Meyer Cancer Center and Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Glenn Merlino
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research NCI, NIH, USA
| | - Don X Nguyen
- Department of Pathology, Yale Cancer Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Michael E Pacold
- Department of Radiation Oncology, NYU Langone Health and NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Eva Perez-Guijarro
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Center for Cancer Research NCI, NIH, USA
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- Department of Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Hussein A Tawbi
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Patrick Y Wen
- Center for Neuro-Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, United States, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael A Davies
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Harriet M Kluger
- Department of Medicine (Medical Oncology), Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Janice M Mehnert
- Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group, Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, USA.,Department of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Eva Hernando
- Department of Pathology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, USA.,Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group, Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, USA
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12
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Mandula JK, Chang S, Mohamed E, Jimenez R, Sierra-Mondragon RA, Chang DC, Obermayer AN, Moran-Segura CM, Das S, Vazquez-Martinez JA, Prieto K, Chen A, Smalley KSM, Czerniecki B, Forsyth P, Koya RC, Ruffell B, Cubillos-Ruiz JR, Munn DH, Shaw TI, Conejo-Garcia JR, Rodriguez PC. Ablation of the endoplasmic reticulum stress kinase PERK induces paraptosis and type I interferon to promote anti-tumor T cell responses. Cancer Cell 2022; 40:1145-1160.e9. [PMID: 36150390 PMCID: PMC9561067 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2022.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Activation of unfolded protein responses (UPRs) in cancer cells undergoing endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress promotes survival. However, how UPR in tumor cells impacts anti-tumor immune responses remains poorly described. Here, we investigate the role of the UPR mediator pancreatic ER kinase (PKR)-like ER kinase (PERK) in cancer cells in the modulation of anti-tumor immunity. Deletion of PERK in cancer cells or pharmacological inhibition of PERK in melanoma-bearing mice incites robust activation of anti-tumor T cell immunity and attenuates tumor growth. PERK elimination in ER-stressed malignant cells triggers SEC61β-induced paraptosis, thereby promoting immunogenic cell death (ICD) and systemic anti-tumor responses. ICD induction in PERK-ablated tumors stimulates type I interferon production in dendritic cells (DCs), which primes CCR2-dependent tumor trafficking of common-monocytic precursors and their intra-tumor commitment into monocytic-lineage inflammatory Ly6C+CD103+ DCs. These findings identify how tumor cell-derived PERK promotes immune evasion and highlight the potential of PERK-targeting therapies in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica K Mandula
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Shiun Chang
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Eslam Mohamed
- California Northstate University, Elk Grove, CA 95757, USA
| | - Rachel Jimenez
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | | | - Darwin C Chang
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Alyssa N Obermayer
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | | | - Satyajit Das
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | | | - Karol Prieto
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Ann Chen
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Brian Czerniecki
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Peter Forsyth
- Department of NeuroOncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Richard C Koya
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Brian Ruffell
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Juan R Cubillos-Ruiz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - David H Munn
- Department of Pediatrics, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Timothy I Shaw
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | | | - Paulo C Rodriguez
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
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13
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Thompson ZJ, Teer JK, Li J, Chen Z, Welsh EA, Zhang Y, Ayoubi N, Eroglu Z, Tan AC, Smalley KSM, Chen YA. Drepmel-A Multi-Omics Melanoma Drug Repurposing Resource for Prioritizing Drug Combinations and Understanding Tumor Microenvironment. Cells 2022; 11:cells11182894. [PMID: 36139469 PMCID: PMC9497118 DOI: 10.3390/cells11182894] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Although substantial progress has been made in treating patients with advanced melanoma with targeted and immuno-therapies, de novo and acquired resistance is commonplace. After treatment failure, therapeutic options are very limited and novel strategies are urgently needed. Combination therapies are often more effective than single agents and are now widely used in clinical practice. Thus, there is a strong need for a comprehensive computational resource to define rational combination therapies. We developed a Shiny app, DRepMel to provide rational combination treatment predictions for melanoma patients from seventy-three thousand combinations based on a multi-omics drug repurposing computational approach using whole exome sequencing and RNA-seq data in bulk samples from two independent patient cohorts. DRepMel provides robust predictions as a resource and also identifies potential treatment effects on the tumor microenvironment (TME) using single-cell RNA-seq data from melanoma patients. Availability: DRepMel is accessible online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary J. Thompson
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Jamie K. Teer
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Jiannong Li
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Zhihua Chen
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Eric A. Welsh
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Yonghong Zhang
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Noura Ayoubi
- Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Zeynep Eroglu
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Aik Choon Tan
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Keiran S. M. Smalley
- Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Yian Ann Chen
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
- Correspondence:
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14
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Li J, Smalley I, Chen Z, Wu JY, Phadke MS, Teer JK, Nguyen T, Karreth FA, Koomen JM, Sarnaik AA, Zager JS, Khushalani NI, Tarhini AA, Sondak VK, Rodriguez PC, Messina JL, Chen YA, Smalley KSM. Single-cell Characterization of the Cellular Landscape of Acral Melanoma Identifies Novel Targets for Immunotherapy. Clin Cancer Res 2022; 28:2131-2146. [PMID: 35247927 PMCID: PMC9106889 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-21-3145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Acral melanoma is a rare subtype of melanoma that arises on the non-hair-bearing skin of the palms, soles, and nail beds. In this study, we used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to map the transcriptional landscape of acral melanoma and identify novel immunotherapeutic targets. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We performed scRNA-seq on nine clinical specimens (five primary, four metastases) of acral melanoma. Detailed cell type curation was performed, the immune landscapes were mapped, and key results were validated by analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and single-cell datasets. Cell-cell interactions were inferred and compared with those in nonacral cutaneous melanoma. RESULTS Multiple phenotypic subsets of T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, B cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells with varying levels of activation/exhaustion were identified. A comparison between primary and metastatic acral melanoma identified gene signatures associated with changes in immune responses and metabolism. Acral melanoma was characterized by a lower overall immune infiltrate, fewer effector CD8 T cells and NK cells, and a near-complete absence of γδ T cells compared with nonacral cutaneous melanomas. Immune cells associated with acral melanoma exhibited expression of multiple checkpoints including PD-1, LAG-3, CTLA-4, V-domain immunoglobin suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA), TIGIT, and the Adenosine A2A receptor (ADORA2). VISTA was expressed in 58.3% of myeloid cells and TIGIT was expressed in 22.3% of T/NK cells. CONCLUSIONS Acral melanoma has a suppressed immune environment compared with that of cutaneous melanoma from nonacral skin. Expression of multiple, therapeutically tractable immune checkpoints were observed, offering new options for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiannong Li
- The Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Inna Smalley
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Zhihua Chen
- The Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Jheng-Yu Wu
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Manali S. Phadke
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Jamie K. Teer
- The Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Thanh Nguyen
- The Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Florian A. Karreth
- The Department of Molecular Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - John M. Koomen
- The Department of Molecular Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Amod A. Sarnaik
- The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Jonathan S. Zager
- The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Nikhil I. Khushalani
- The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Ahmad A. Tarhini
- The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Vernon K. Sondak
- The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Paulo C. Rodriguez
- The Department of Immunology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Jane L. Messina
- The Department of Immunology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Y. Ann Chen
- The Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Keiran S. M. Smalley
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
- The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
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15
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Law V, Chen Z, Vena F, Smalley I, Macaulay R, Evernden BR, Tran N, Pina Y, Puskas J, Caceres G, Bayle S, Johnson J, Liu JKC, Etame A, Vogelbaum M, Rodriguez P, Duckett D, Czerniecki B, Chen A, Smalley KSM, Forsyth PA. A preclinical model of patient-derived cerebrospinal fluid circulating tumor cells for experimental therapeutics in leptomeningeal disease from melanoma. Neuro Oncol 2022; 24:1673-1686. [PMID: 35213727 PMCID: PMC9527526 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noac054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leptomeningeal disease (LMD) occurs as a late complication of several human cancers and has no rationally designed treatment options. A major barrier to developing effective therapies for LMD is the lack of cell-based or preclinical models that recapitulate human disease. Here, we describe the development of in vitro and in vivo cultures of patient-derived cerebrospinal fluid circulating tumor cells (PD-CSF-CTCs) from patients with melanoma as a preclinical model to identify exploitable vulnerabilities in melanoma LMD. METHODS CSF-CTCs were collected from melanoma patients with melanoma-derived LMD and cultured ex vivo using human meningeal cell-conditioned media. Using immunoassays and RNA-sequencing analyses of PD-CSF-CTCs, molecular signaling pathways were examined and new therapeutic targets were tested for efficacy in PD-CSF-CTCs preclinical models. RESULTS PD-CSF-CTCs were successfully established both in vitro and in vivo. Global RNA analyses of PD-CSF-CTCs revealed several therapeutically tractable targets. These studies complimented our prior proteomic studies highlighting IGF1 signaling as a potential target in LMD. As a proof of concept, combining treatment of ceritinib and trametinib in vitro and in vivo demonstrated synergistic antitumor activity in PD-CSF-CTCs and BRAF inhibitor-resistant melanoma cells. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that CSF-CTCs can be grown in vitro and in vivo from some melanoma patients with LMD and used as preclinical models. These models retained melanoma expression patterns and had signaling pathways that are therapeutically targetable. These novel models/reagents may be useful in developing rationally designed treatments for LMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Law
- Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA.,Department of Neuro-Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Zhihua Chen
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Francesca Vena
- Department of Drug Discovery, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Inna Smalley
- Department of Cancer Physiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Robert Macaulay
- Department of Pathology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Brittany R Evernden
- Department of Analytic Microscopy, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Nam Tran
- Department of Analytic Microscopy, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Yolanda Pina
- Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA.,Department of Analytic Microscopy, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - John Puskas
- Department of Pathology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Gisela Caceres
- Department of Pathology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Simon Bayle
- Department of Drug Discovery, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Joseph Johnson
- Department of Analytic Microscopy, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - James K C Liu
- Department of Neuro-Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Arnold Etame
- Department of Neuro-Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Michael Vogelbaum
- Department of Neuro-Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Paulo Rodriguez
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Derek Duckett
- Department of Drug Discovery, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Brian Czerniecki
- Department of Breast Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Ann Chen
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Peter A Forsyth
- Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA.,Department of Neuro-Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
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16
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Emmons MF, Smalley KSM. Ironing-Out the Details: New Strategies for Combining Ferroptosis Inhibitors with Immunotherapy in Melanoma. J Invest Dermatol 2021; 142:18-20. [PMID: 34565560 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.06.014] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Escape from ferroptosis is an important determinant of metastasis and immune evasion in melanoma. In a new article of the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, Wang et al. (2021) identify the CAMKK2‒adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase‒NRF2 signaling axis as a negative regulator of ferroptosis and showed that inhibiting CAMKK2 increases the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy. These findings offer new opportunities for the development of ferroptosis-inducing therapies to use in combination with immune checkpoint agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael F Emmons
- The Department of Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- The Department of Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA; Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, USA.
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17
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Smalley I, Chen Z, Phadke M, Li J, Yu X, Wyatt C, Evernden B, Messina JL, Sarnaik A, Sondak VK, Zhang C, Law V, Tran N, Etame A, Macaulay RJB, Eroglu Z, Forsyth PA, Rodriguez PC, Chen YA, Smalley KSM. Single-Cell Characterization of the Immune Microenvironment of Melanoma Brain and Leptomeningeal Metastases. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:4109-4125. [PMID: 34035069 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-21-1694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Melanoma brain metastases (MBM) and leptomeningeal melanoma metastases (LMM) are two different manifestations of melanoma CNS metastasis. Here, we used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to define the immune landscape of MBM, LMM, and melanoma skin metastases. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN scRNA-seq was undertaken on 43 patient specimens, including 8 skin metastases, 14 MBM, and 19 serial LMM specimens. Detailed cell type curation was performed, the immune landscapes were mapped, and key results were validated by IHC and flow cytometry. Association analyses were undertaken to identify immune cell subsets correlated with overall survival. RESULTS The LMM microenvironment was characterized by an immune-suppressed T-cell landscape distinct from that of brain and skin metastases. An LMM patient with long-term survival demonstrated an immune repertoire distinct from that of poor survivors and more similar to normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Upon response to PD-1 therapy, this extreme responder showed increased levels of T cells and dendritic cells in their CSF, whereas poor survivors showed little improvement in their T-cell responses. In MBM patients, therapy led to increased immune infiltrate, with similar T-cell transcriptional diversity noted between skin metastases and MBM. A correlation analysis across the entire immune landscape identified the presence of a rare population of dendritic cells (DC3) that was associated with increased overall survival and positively regulated the immune environment through modulation of activated T cells and MHC expression. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides the first atlas of two distinct sites of melanoma CNS metastases and defines the immune cell landscape that underlies the biology of this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inna Smalley
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.
| | - Zhihua Chen
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Manali Phadke
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Jiannong Li
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Xiaoqing Yu
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Clayton Wyatt
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Brittany Evernden
- Department of Neurooncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Jane L Messina
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.,Department of Pathology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Amod Sarnaik
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Vernon K Sondak
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Chaomei Zhang
- Molecular Genomics Core, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Vincent Law
- Department of Neurooncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Nam Tran
- Department of Neurooncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Arnold Etame
- Department of Neurooncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Robert J B Macaulay
- Department of Neurooncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.,Department of Pathology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Zeynep Eroglu
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Peter A Forsyth
- Department of Neurooncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Paulo C Rodriguez
- Department of Immunology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Y Ann Chen
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida. .,Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
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18
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Smalley KSM, Teer JK, Chen YA, Wu JY, Yao J, Koomen JM, Chen WS, Rodriguez-Waitkus P, Karreth FA, Messina JL. A Mutational Survey of Acral Nevi. JAMA Dermatol 2021; 157:831-835. [PMID: 33978681 DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2021.0793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Importance Acral skin may develop nevi, but their mutational status and association with acral melanoma is unclear. Objective To perform targeted next-generation sequencing on a cohort of acral nevi to determine their mutational spectrum. Design, Setting, and Participants Acral nevi specimens (n = 50) that had been obtained for diagnostic purposes were identified from the pathology archives of a tertiary care academic cancer center and a university dermatology clinic. Next-generation sequencing was performed on DNA extracted from the specimens, and mutations called. A subset of samples was stained immunohistochemically for the BRAF V600E mutation. Results A total of 50 nevi from 49 patients (19 males and 30 females; median [range] age, 48 [13-85] years) were examined. Analysis of the sequencing data revealed a high prevalence of BRAF mutations (n = 43), with a lower frequency of NRAS mutations (n = 5). Mutations in BRAF and NRAS were mutually exclusive. Conclusions and Relevance In this cohort study, nevi arising on mostly sun-protected acral skin showed a rate of BRAF mutation similar to that of acquired nevi on sun-exposed skin but far higher than that of acral melanoma. These findings are in contrast to the well-characterized mutational landscape of acral melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiran S M Smalley
- Department of Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.,Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Jamie K Teer
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Y Ann Chen
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Jheng-Yu Wu
- Department of Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Jiqiang Yao
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - John M Koomen
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Wei-Shen Chen
- Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida
| | - Paul Rodriguez-Waitkus
- Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida
| | - Florian A Karreth
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Jane L Messina
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
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19
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Phadke MS, Chen Z, Li J, Mohamed E, Davies MA, Smalley I, Duckett DR, Palve V, Czerniecki BJ, Forsyth PA, Noyes D, Adeegbe DO, Eroglu Z, Nguyen KT, Tsai KY, Rix U, Burd CE, Chen YA, Rodriguez PC, Smalley KSM. Targeted Therapy Given after Anti-PD-1 Leads to Prolonged Responses in Mouse Melanoma Models through Sustained Antitumor Immunity. Cancer Immunol Res 2021; 9:554-567. [PMID: 33653716 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-20-0905] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy (IT) and targeted therapy (TT) are both effective against melanoma, but their combination is frequently toxic. Here, we investigated whether the sequence of IT (anti-PD-1)→ TT (ceritinib-trametinib or dabrafenib-trametinib) was associated with improved antitumor responses in mouse models of BRAF- and NRAS-mutant melanoma. Mice with NRAS-mutant (SW1) or BRAF-mutant (SM1) mouse melanomas were treated with either IT, TT, or the sequence of IT→TT. Tumor volumes were measured, and samples from the NRAS-mutant melanomas were collected for immune-cell analysis, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), and reverse phase protein analysis (RPPA). scRNA-seq demonstrated that the IT→TT sequence modulated the immune environment, leading to increased infiltration of T cells, monocytes, dendritic cells and natural killer cells, and decreased numbers of tumor-associated macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and regulatory T cells. Durable responses to the IT→TT sequence were dependent on T-cell activity, with depletion of CD8+, but not CD4+, T cells abrogating the therapeutic response. An analysis of transcriptional heterogeneity in the melanoma compartment showed the sequence of IT→TT enriched for a population of melanoma cells with increased expression of MHC class I and melanoma antigens. RPPA analysis demonstrated that the sustained immune response induced by IT→TT suppressed tumor-intrinsic signaling pathways required for therapeutic escape. These studies establish that upfront IT improves the responses to TT in BRAF- and NRAS-mutant melanoma models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manali S Phadke
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Zhihua Chen
- The Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Jiannong Li
- The Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Eslam Mohamed
- The Department of Immunology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Michael A Davies
- The Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Inna Smalley
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Derek R Duckett
- The Department of Drug Discovery, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Vinayak Palve
- The Department of Drug Discovery, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Brian J Czerniecki
- The Department of Immunology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Peter A Forsyth
- The Department of Neurooncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - David Noyes
- The Department of Malignant Hematology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Dennis O Adeegbe
- The Department of Immunology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Zeynep Eroglu
- The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Kimberly T Nguyen
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Kenneth Y Tsai
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Uwe Rix
- The Department of Drug Discovery, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Christin E Burd
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Yian A Chen
- The Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Paulo C Rodriguez
- The Department of Immunology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.
- The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
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20
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Neelature Sriramareddy S, Smalley KSM. MEK-ing the Most of It: Strategies to Co-target Gαq and MAPK in Uveal Melanoma. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:1217-1219. [PMID: 33355300 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-20-4530] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Most uveal melanomas harbor mutations in Gαq and show constitutive MAPK activation. Although MEK inhibition has some efficacy against uveal melanoma, clinical responses are typically poor. The Gαq inhibitor-MEK inhibitor combination showed prolonged suppression of MAPK signaling in preclinical uveal melanoma models and led to improved therapeutic responses.See related article by Hitchman et al., p. 1476.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida. .,Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
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21
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Law V, Baldwin M, Ramamoorthi G, Kodumudi K, Tran N, Smalley I, Duckett D, Kalinski P, Czerniecki B, Smalley KSM, Forsyth PA. A Murine Ommaya Xenograft Model to Study Direct-Targeted Therapy of Leptomeningeal Disease. J Vis Exp 2021. [PMID: 33586709 PMCID: PMC9014476 DOI: 10.3791/62033] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Leptomeningeal disease (LMD) is an uncommon type of central nervous system (CNS) metastasis to the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). The most common cancers that cause LMD are breast and lung cancers and melanoma. Patients diagnosed with LMD have a very poor prognosis and generally survive for only a few weeks or months. One possible reason for the lack of efficacy of systemic therapy against LMD is the failure to achieve therapeutically effective concentrations of drug in the CSF because of an intact and relatively impermeable blood-brain barrier (BBB) or blood-CSF barrier across the choroid plexus. Therefore, directly administering drugs intrathecally or intraventricularly may overcome these barriers. This group has developed a model that allows for the effective delivery of therapeutics (i.e., drugs, antibodies, and cellular therapies) chronically and the repeated sampling of CSF to determine drug concentrations and target modulation in the CSF (when the tumor microenvironment is targeted in mice). The model is the murine equivalent of a magnetic resonance imaging-compatible Ommaya reservoir, which is used clinically. This model, which is affixed to the skull, has been designated as the "Murine Ommaya." As a therapeutic proof of concept, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 antibodies (clone 7.16.4) were delivered into the CSF via the Murine Ommaya to treat mice with LMD from human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer. The Murine Ommaya increases the efficiency of drug delivery using a miniature access port and prevents the wastage of excess drug; it does not interfere with CSF sampling for molecular and immunological studies. The Murine Ommaya is useful for testing novel therapeutics in experimental models of LMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Law
- Department of Neuro-Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute; Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
| | - Margi Baldwin
- Department of Comparative Medicine, University of South Florida
| | - Ganesan Ramamoorthi
- Department of Breast Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
| | - Krithika Kodumudi
- Department of Breast Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
| | - Nam Tran
- Department of Neuro-Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
| | - Inna Smalley
- Department of Cancer Physiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
| | - Derek Duckett
- Department of Drug Discovery, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
| | - Pawel Kalinski
- Department of Medical Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
| | - Brian Czerniecki
- Department of Breast Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
| | - Peter A Forsyth
- Department of Neuro-Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute; Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute;
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22
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Phadke M, Ozgun A, Eroglu Z, Smalley KSM. Melanoma brain metastases: Biological basis and novel therapeutic strategies. Exp Dermatol 2021; 31:31-42. [PMID: 33455008 DOI: 10.1111/exd.14286] [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] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The development of brain metastases is the deadliest complication of advanced melanoma and has long been associated with a dismal prognosis. The recent years have seen incredible progress in the development of therapies for melanoma brain metastases (MBM), with both targeted therapies (the BRAF-MEK inhibitor combination) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (the anti-CTLA-4, anti-PD-1 combination) showing impressive levels of activity. Despite this, durations of response for these therapies remain lower at intracranial sites of metastasis compared to extracranial metastases and it has been suggested that there are unique features of the brain microenvironment that contribute to therapeutic escape. In this review, we outline the latest research into the biology and pathophysiology of melanoma brain metastasis development and progression. We then discuss the current status of clinical trial that are open to patients with MBM and end by describing the ongoing challenges for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manali Phadke
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Alpaslan Ozgun
- The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Zeynep Eroglu
- The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA.,The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
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23
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Taylor NJ, Gaynanova I, Eschrich SA, Welsh EA, Garrett TJ, Beecher C, Sharma R, Koomen JM, Smalley KSM, Messina JL, Kanetsky PA. Metabolomics of primary cutaneous melanoma and matched adjacent extratumoral microenvironment. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240849. [PMID: 33108391 PMCID: PMC7591037 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Melanoma causes the vast majority of deaths attributable to skin cancer, largely due to its propensity for metastasis. To date, few studies have examined molecular changes between primary cutaneous melanoma and adjacent putatively normal skin. To broaden temporal inferences related to initiation of disease, we performed a metabolomics investigation of primary melanoma and matched extratumoral microenvironment (EM) tissues; and, to make inferences about progressive disease, we also compared unmatched metastatic melanoma tissues to EM tissues. METHODS Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolic profiling was performed on frozen human tissues. RESULTS We observed 824 metabolites as differentially abundant among 33 matched tissue samples, and 1,118 metabolites as differentially abundant between metastatic melanoma (n = 46) and EM (n = 34) after false discovery rate (FDR) adjustment (p<0.01). No significant differences in metabolite abundances were noted comparing primary and metastatic melanoma tissues. CONCLUSIONS Overall, pathway-based results significantly distinguished melanoma tissues from EM in the metabolism of: ascorbate and aldarate, propanoate, tryptophan, histidine, and pyrimidine. Within pathways, the majority of individual metabolite abundances observed in comparisons of primary melanoma vs. EM and metastatic melanoma vs. EM were directionally consistent. This observed concordance suggests most identified compounds are implicated in the initiation or maintenance of melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J. Taylor
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Irina Gaynanova
- Department of Statistics, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Steven A. Eschrich
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Eric A. Welsh
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Timothy J. Garrett
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Chris Beecher
- IROA Technologies, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Ritin Sharma
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - John M. Koomen
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Keiran S. M. Smalley
- Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Jane L. Messina
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
| | - Peter A. Kanetsky
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, United States of America
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24
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Zhang C, Smalley I, Emmons MF, Sharma R, Izumi V, Messina J, Koomen JM, Pasquale EB, Forsyth PA, Smalley KSM. Noncanonical EphA2 Signaling Is a Driver of Tumor-Endothelial Cell Interactions and Metastatic Dissemination in BRAF Inhibitor‒Resistant Melanoma. J Invest Dermatol 2020; 141:840-851.e4. [PMID: 32890629 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2020.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Acquired BRAF/MAPK/extracellular signal‒regulated kinase inhibitor resistance in melanoma results in a new transcriptional state associated with an increased risk of metastasis. In this study, we identified noncanonical ephrin receptor (Eph) EphA2 signaling as a driver of the resistance-associated metastatic state. We used mass spectrometry‒based proteomic and phenotypic assays to demonstrate that the expression of active noncanonical EphA2-S897E in melanoma cells led to a mesenchymal-to-amoeboid transition driven by Cdc42 activation. The induction of mesenchymal-to-amoeboid transition promoted melanoma cell invasion, survival under shear stress, adhesion to endothelial cells under continuous-flow conditions, increased permeability of endothelial cell monolayers, and stimulated melanoma transendothelial cell migration. In vivo, melanoma cells expressing EphA2-S897E or active Cdc42 showed superior lung retention after tail-vain injection. Analysis of BRAF inhibitor‒sensitive and ‒resistant melanoma cells demonstrated resistance to be associated with a mesenchymal-to-amoeboid transition switch, upregulation of Cdc42 activity, increased invasion, and transendothelial migration. The drug-resistant metastatic state was dependent on histone deacetylase 8 activity. Silencing of histone deacetylase 8 led to the inhibition of EphA2 and protein kinase B phosphorylation, reduced invasion, and impaired melanoma cell-endothelial cell interactions. In summary, we have demonstrated that the metastatic state associated with acquired BRAF inhibitor resistance is dependent on noncanonical EphA2 signaling, leading to increased melanoma-endothelial cell interactions and enhanced tumor dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Zhang
- The Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Inna Smalley
- The Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA.
| | - Michael F Emmons
- The Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Ritin Sharma
- The Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Victoria Izumi
- The Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Jane Messina
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - John M Koomen
- The Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Elena B Pasquale
- Department of Tumor Initiation and Maintenance, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Peter A Forsyth
- The Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA; The Department of Neuro-Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA; Tom Baker Cancer Center, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- The Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA; The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
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25
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Wang X, Yu X, Krauthammer M, Hugo W, Duan C, Kanetsky PA, Teer JK, Thompson ZJ, Kalos D, Tsai KY, Smalley KSM, Sondak VK, Chen YA, Conejo-Garcia JR. The Association of MUC16 Mutation with Tumor Mutation Burden and Its Prognostic Implications in Cutaneous Melanoma. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020; 29:1792-1799. [PMID: 32611582 PMCID: PMC7483810 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-20-0307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [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: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND MUC16 is a mucin marker that is frequently mutated in melanoma, but whether MUC16 mutations could be useful as a surrogate biomarker for tumor mutation burden (TMB) remains unclear. METHODS This study rigorously evaluates the MUC16 mutation as a clinical biomarker in cutaneous melanoma by utilizing genomic and clinical data from patient samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and two independent validation cohorts. We further extended the analysis to studies with patients treated with immunotherapies. RESULTS Analysis results showed that samples with MUC16 mutations had a higher TMB than the samples of wild-type, with strong statistical significance (P < 0.001) in all melanoma cohorts tested. Associations between MUC16 mutations and TMB remained statistically significant after adjusting for potential confounding factors in the TCGA cohort [OR, 9.28 (95% confidence interval (CI), 5.18-17.39); P < 0.001], Moffitt cohort [OR, 31.95 (95% CI, 8.71-163.90); P < 0.001], and Yale cohort [OR, 8.09 (95% CI, 3.12-23.79); P < 0.01]. MUC16 mutations were also found to be associated with overall survival in the TCGA [HR, 0.62; (95% CI, 0.45-0.85); P < 0.01] and Moffitt cohorts [HR, 0.49 (95% CI, 0.28-0.87); P = 0.014]. Strikingly, MUC16 is the only top frequently mutated gene for which prognostic significance was observed. MUC16 mutations were also found valuable in predicting anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 therapy responses. CONCLUSIONS MUC16 mutation appears to be a useful predictive marker of global TMB and patient survival in melanoma. IMPACT This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first systematic evaluation of MUC16 mutation as a clinical biomarker and a predictive biomarker for immunotherapy in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefeng Wang
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.
| | - Xiaoqing Yu
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | | | - Willy Hugo
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Chunzhe Duan
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Peter A Kanetsky
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Jamie K Teer
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Zachary J Thompson
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Denise Kalos
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Kenneth Y Tsai
- Department of Pathology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Vernon K Sondak
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Y Ann Chen
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.
| | - Jose R Conejo-Garcia
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.
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26
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Abstract
Although BRAF-MEK inhibition can enhance the immune recognition of melanoma cells, the mechanisms that underlie this remain poorly defined. In this issue of Cancer Discovery, Erkes and colleagues present new data showing that BRAF-MEK inhibition activates pyroptosis in melanoma cells through gasdermin E cleavage, leading to T-cell infiltration and improved therapy responses in vivo.See related article by Erkes et al., p. 254.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiran S M Smalley
- The Department of Tumor Biology and the Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.
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27
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Glitza IC, Smalley KSM, Brastianos PK, Davies MA, McCutcheon I, Liu JKC, Ahmed KA, Arrington JA, Evernden BR, Smalley I, Eroglu Z, Khushalani N, Margolin K, Kluger H, Atkins MB, Tawbi H, Boire A, Forsyth P. Leptomeningeal disease in melanoma patients: An update to treatment, challenges, and future directions. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2020; 33:527-541. [PMID: 31916400 PMCID: PMC10126834 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [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: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
In February 2018, the Melanoma Research Foundation and the Moffitt Cancer Center hosted the Second Summit on Melanoma Central Nervous System Metastases in Tampa, Florida. The meeting included investigators from multiple academic centers and disciplines. A consensus summary of the progress and challenges in melanoma parenchymal brain metastases was published (Eroglu et al., Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research, 2019, 32, 458). Here, we will describe the current state of basic, translational, clinical research, and therapeutic management, for melanoma patients with leptomeningeal disease. We also outline key challenges and barriers to be overcome to make progress in this deadly disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella C. Glitza
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Keiran S. M. Smalley
- Melanoma Research Center of Excellence, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | | | - Michael A. Davies
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ian McCutcheon
- Department of Neurosurgery, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - James K. C. Liu
- Department of Neuro-Oncology & Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Kamran A. Ahmed
- Department of Radiation Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - John A. Arrington
- Head of Neuroradiology Section, Department of Radiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Brittany R. Evernden
- Department of Neuro-Oncology & Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Inna Smalley
- Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Zeynep Eroglu
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Nikhil Khushalani
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Kim Margolin
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Harriet Kluger
- Department of Medical Oncology, Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Michael B. Atkins
- Department of Medical Oncology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Hussein Tawbi
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Adrienne Boire
- Department of Neuro-Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering, New York, NY, USA
| | - Peter Forsyth
- Department of Neuro-Oncology & Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
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28
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Smalley I, Law V, Wyatt C, Evernden B, Fang B, Koomen JM, Welsh EA, Macaulay RJB, Forsyth PA, Smalley KSM. Proteomic Analysis of CSF from Patients with Leptomeningeal Melanoma Metastases Identifies Signatures Associated with Disease Progression and Therapeutic Resistance. Clin Cancer Res 2020; 26:2163-2175. [PMID: 31924735 PMCID: PMC7196498 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-2840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The development of leptomeningeal melanoma metastases (LMM) is a rare and devastating complication of the late-stage disease, for which no effective treatments exist. Here, we performed a multi-omics analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with LMM to determine how the leptomeningeal microenvironment shapes the biology and therapeutic responses of melanoma cells. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN A total of 45 serial CSF samples were collected from 16 patients, 8 of these with confirmed LMM. Of those with LMM, 7 had poor survival (<4 months) and one was an extraordinary responder (still alive with survival >35 months). CSF samples were analyzed by mass spectrometry and incubated with melanoma cells that were subjected to RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis. Functional assays were performed to validate the pathways identified. RESULTS Mass spectrometry analyses showed the CSF of most patients with LMM to be enriched for pathways involved in innate immunity, protease-mediated damage, and IGF-related signaling. All of these were anticorrelated in the extraordinary responder. RNA-seq analysis showed CSF to induce PI3K/AKT, integrin, B-cell activation, S-phase entry, TNFR2, TGFβ, and oxidative stress responses in the melanoma cells. ELISA assays confirmed that TGFβ expression increased in the CSF of patients progressing with LMM. CSF from poorly responding patients conferred tolerance to BRAF inhibitor therapy in apoptosis assays. CONCLUSIONS These analyses identified proteomic/transcriptional signatures in the CSF of patients who succumbed to LMM. We further showed that the CSF from patients with LMM has the potential to modulate BRAF inhibitor responses and may contribute to drug resistance.See related commentary by Glitza Oliva and Tawbi, p. 2083.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inna Smalley
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Vincent Law
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
- Department of Neurooncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Clayton Wyatt
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Brittany Evernden
- Department of Neurooncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Bin Fang
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Core, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - John M Koomen
- Department of Molecular Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Eric A Welsh
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Robert J B Macaulay
- Department of Neurooncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Peter A Forsyth
- Department of Neurooncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.
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29
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Yin Q, Wyatt CJ, Han T, Smalley KSM, Wan L. ITCH as a potential therapeutic target in human cancers. Semin Cancer Biol 2020; 67:117-130. [PMID: 32165318 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2020.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [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: 12/26/2019] [Revised: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The ITCH/AIP4 ubiquitin E3 ligase was discovered independently by two groups searching for atrophin-1 interacting proteins and studying the genetics of mouse coat color alteration, respectively. ITCH is classified as a NEDD4 family E3 ligase featured with the C-terminal HECT domain for E3 ligase function and WW domains for substrate recruiting. ITCH deficiency in the mouse causes severe multi-organ autoimmune disease. Its roles in maintaining a balanced immune response have been extensively characterized over the past two and a half decades. A wealth of reports demonstrate a multifaceted role of ITCH in human cancers. Given the versatility of ITCH in catalyzing both proteolytic and non-proteolytic ubiquitination of its over fifty substrates, ITCH's role in malignancies is believed to be context-dependent. In this review, we summarize the downstream substrates of ITCH, the functions of ITCH in both tumor cells and the immune system, as well as the implications of such functions in human cancers. Moreover, we describe the upstream regulatory mechanisms of ITCH and the efforts have been made to target ITCH using small molecule inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Yin
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Clayton J Wyatt
- Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Tao Han
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Lixin Wan
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
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30
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Gonçalves J, Emmons MF, Faião-Flores F, Aplin AE, Harbour JW, Licht JD, Wink MR, Smalley KSM. Decitabine limits escape from MEK inhibition in uveal melanoma. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2019; 33:507-514. [PMID: 31758842 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [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: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
MEK inhibitors (MEKi) demonstrate anti-proliferative activity in patients with metastatic uveal melanoma, but responses are short-lived. In the present study, we evaluated the MEKi trametinib alone and in combination with drugs targeting epigenetic regulators, including DOT1L, EZH2, LSD1, DNA methyltransferases, and histone acetyltransferases. The DNA methyltransferase inhibitor (DNMTi) decitabine effectively enhanced the anti-proliferative activity of trametinib in cell viability, colony formation, and 3D organoid assays. RNA-Seq analysis showed the MEKi-DNMTi combination primarily affected the expression of genes involved in G1 and G2/2M checkpoints, cell survival, chromosome segregation and mitotic spindle. The DNMTi-MEKi combination did not appear to induce a DNA damage response (as measured by γH2AX foci) or senescence (as measured by β-galactosidase staining) compared to either MEKi or DNMTi alone. Instead, the combination increased expression of the CDK inhibitor p21 and the pro-apoptotic protein BIM. In vivo, the DNMTi-MEKi combination was more effective at suppressing growth of MP41 uveal melanoma xenografts than either drug alone. Our studies indicate that DNMTi may enhance the activity of MEKi in uveal melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Gonçalves
- The Department of Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA.,Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Michael F Emmons
- The Department of Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA
| | | | - Andrew E Aplin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - J William Harbour
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Jonathan D Licht
- Division of Hematology & Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Florida Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Márcia R Wink
- Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil
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31
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Xie M, Zheng H, Madan-Lala R, Dai W, Gimbrone NT, Chen Z, Kinose F, Blackstone SA, Smalley KSM, Cress D, Haura EB, Rix U, Beg AA. Abstract B072: MEK inhibition modulates cytokine response to mediate therapeutic efficacy in lung cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2019. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.targ-19-b072] [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: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Activating mutations in BRAF, a key mediator of RAS signaling, are present in ~50% of melanoma patients. Pharmacological inhibition of BRAF or the downstream MAP kinase MEK are highly effective in treating BRAF-mutant melanoma. In contrast, RAS pathway inhibitors have been less effective in treating epithelial malignancies, such as lung cancer. Immunotherapeutics, especially those targeting checkpoint receptors on T cells, have revolutionized treatment of many cancer types. It has been proposed that MEK inhibitors(MEKi) may help generate a tumor microenvironment that enhances response to immunotherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate a novel cross-talk mechanism between MEKi and cytokine signaling response which could be used to enhance therapeutic efficacy against cancer types that are minimally responsive to MEKi. Methods: The association between MEK inhibition, NF-κB signaling and clinical response was analyzed using publicly available RNA-sequencing data from pre-treatment and on-treatment biopsies of patients (EGA S00001000992). To identify clinical and pre-clinical compounds that enhance cytokine response, we performed drug library screening for CCL5 and CXCL10 expression. 289 different agents (0.1 mM and 1 mM) were incubated with A549 cells in 96 well plates, with or without the presence of 0.2 ng/ml TNFα and 1 ng/ml IFNγ. Chemokine levels in supernatant were detected using Bead-Based Multiplex Assays. To investigate cytokine response modulatory mechanisms of MEKi, qPCR, Western Blot and flow cytometry were used to determine NF-κB activity and targeting gene expressions in lung cancer cells lines. The anti-tumor effect of MEKi in combination with TNFα and IFNγ was assessed using viable cell counting, cell cycle assay and apoptosis marker (cleaved caspase 3) expression in vitro. For in vivo studies, we performed combinatory therapies using MEKi plus intratumoral cytokine injection, MEKi plus PD-1 blockade in LKR subcutaneous tumor model. Results: We show that treatment of melanoma patients with BRAF and MEK inhibitors activated tumor NF-κB activity. MEKi potentiated the response to TNFα, a potent activator of NF-κB. MEKi increased cell surface expression of TNFα receptor 1 (TNFR1), which enhanced NF-κB activation and augmented expression of genes regulated by TNFα and IFNγ. Drug screening results demonstrated that this was a general activity of inhibitors of MEK and ERK kinases. Treatment with MEKi led to acquisition of a novel vulnerability to TNFα and IFNγ-induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells that were refractory to MEKi killing and augmented cell cycle arrest. Abolishing the expression of TNFR1 on lung cancer cells impaired the anti-tumor efficacy of MEKi while the administration of TNFα and IFNγ in MEKi-treated mice enhanced the anti-tumor response. Furthermore, immunotherapeutics known to induce expression of these cytokines synergized with MEKi in eradicating tumors. Conclusions:These findings define a novel cytokine response modulatory function of MEKi which can be therapeutically exploited. We show that lung cancer cells are rendered sensitive to MEKi by TNFα and IFNγ, providing strong mechanistic rationale for combining MEKi with immunotherapeutics, such as checkpoint blockers, in lung cancer.
Citation Format: Mengyu Xie, Hong Zheng, Ranjna Madan-Lala, Wenjie Dai, Nicholas T. Gimbrone, Zhihua Chen, Fumi Kinose, Sarah A. Blackstone, Keiran S. M. Smalley, Douglas Cress, Eric B. Haura, Uwe Rix, Amer A. Beg. MEK inhibition modulates cytokine response to mediate therapeutic efficacy in lung cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2019 Oct 26-30; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2019;18(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B072. doi:10.1158/1535-7163.TARG-19-B072
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Uwe Rix
- Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
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32
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Smalley I, Kim E, Li J, Spence P, Wyatt CJ, Eroglu Z, Sondak VK, Messina JL, Babacan NA, Maria-Engler SS, De Armas L, Williams SL, Gatenby RA, Chen YA, Anderson ARA, Smalley KSM. Leveraging transcriptional dynamics to improve BRAF inhibitor responses in melanoma. EBioMedicine 2019; 48:178-190. [PMID: 31594749 PMCID: PMC6838387 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Melanoma is a heterogeneous tumour, but the impact of this heterogeneity upon therapeutic response is not well understood. METHODS Single cell mRNA analysis was used to define the transcriptional heterogeneity of melanoma and its dynamic response to BRAF inhibitor therapy and treatment holidays. Discrete transcriptional states were defined in cell lines and melanoma patient specimens that predicted initial sensitivity to BRAF inhibition and the potential for effective re-challenge following resistance. A mathematical model was developed to maintain competition between the drug-sensitive and resistant states, which was validated in vivo. FINDINGS Our analyses showed melanoma cell lines and patient specimens to be composed of >3 transcriptionally distinct states. The cell state composition was dynamically regulated in response to BRAF inhibitor therapy and drug holidays. Transcriptional state composition predicted for therapy response. The differences in fitness between the different transcriptional states were leveraged to develop a mathematical model that optimized therapy schedules to retain the drug sensitive population. In vivo validation demonstrated that the personalized adaptive dosing schedules outperformed continuous or fixed intermittent BRAF inhibitor schedules. INTERPRETATION Our study provides the first evidence that transcriptional heterogeneity at the single cell level predicts for initial BRAF inhibitor sensitivity. We further demonstrate that manipulating transcriptional heterogeneity through personalized adaptive therapy schedules can delay the time to resistance. FUNDING This work was funded by the National Institutes of Health. The funder played no role in assembly of the manuscript.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inna Smalley
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Eunjung Kim
- Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Jiannong Li
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Paige Spence
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Clayton J Wyatt
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Zeynep Eroglu
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Vernon K Sondak
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Jane L Messina
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA; Department of Anatomic Pathology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Nalan Akgul Babacan
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Silvya Stuchi Maria-Engler
- Department of Clinical Analysis and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lesley De Armas
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Sion L Williams
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Robert A Gatenby
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Y Ann Chen
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA.
| | - Alexander R A Anderson
- Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA.
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA; Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA.
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33
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Xie M, Zheng H, Madan-Lala R, Dai W, Gimbrone NT, Chen Z, Kinose F, Blackstone SA, Smalley KSM, Cress WD, Haura EB, Rix U, Beg AA. MEK Inhibition Modulates Cytokine Response to Mediate Therapeutic Efficacy in Lung Cancer. Cancer Res 2019; 79:5812-5825. [PMID: 31362929 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-19-0698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Activating mutations in BRAF, a key mediator of RAS signaling, are present in approximately 50% of melanoma patients. Pharmacologic inhibition of BRAF or the downstream MAP kinase MEK is highly effective in treating BRAF-mutant melanoma. In contrast, RAS pathway inhibitors have been less effective in treating epithelial malignancies, such as lung cancer. Here, we show that treatment of melanoma patients with BRAF and MEK inhibitors (MEKi) activated tumor NF-κB activity. MEKi potentiated the response to TNFα, a potent activator of NF-κB. In both melanoma and lung cancer cells, MEKi increased cell-surface expression of TNFα receptor 1 (TNFR1), which enhanced NF-κB activation and augmented expression of genes regulated by TNFα and IFNγ. Screening of 289 targeted agents for the ability to increase TNFα and IFNγ target gene expression demonstrated that this was a general activity of inhibitors of MEK and ERK kinases. Treatment with MEKi led to acquisition of a novel vulnerability to TNFα and IFNγ-induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells that were refractory to MEKi killing and augmented cell-cycle arrest. Abolishing the expression of TNFR1 on lung cancer cells impaired the antitumor efficacy of MEKi, whereas the administration of TNFα and IFNγ in MEKi-treated mice enhanced the antitumor response. Furthermore, immunotherapeutics known to induce expression of these cytokines synergized with MEKi in eradicating tumors. These findings define a novel cytokine response modulatory function of MEKi that can be therapeutically exploited. SIGNIFICANCE: Lung cancer cells are rendered sensitive to MEK inhibitors by TNFα and IFNγ, providing a strong mechanistic rationale for combining immunotherapeutics, such as checkpoint blockers, with MEK inhibitor therapy for lung cancer.See related commentary by Havel, p. 5699.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyu Xie
- Department of Immunology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida.,Cancer Biology PhD Program, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Hong Zheng
- Department of Immunology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | | | - Wenjie Dai
- Department of Immunology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | - Nicholas T Gimbrone
- Cancer Biology PhD Program, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida.,Department of Molecular Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | - Zhihua Chen
- Department of Bioinformatics, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | - Fumi Kinose
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | | | | | - W Douglas Cress
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida.,Department of Thoracic Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | - Eric B Haura
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | - Uwe Rix
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida.,Department of Drug Discovery, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | - Amer A Beg
- Department of Immunology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida. .,Department of Thoracic Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
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Faião-Flores F, Emmons MF, Durante MA, Kinose F, Saha B, Fang B, Koomen JM, Chellappan SP, Maria-Engler SS, Rix U, Licht JD, Harbour JW, Smalley KSM. HDAC Inhibition Enhances the In Vivo Efficacy of MEK Inhibitor Therapy in Uveal Melanoma. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 25:5686-5701. [PMID: 31227503 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-3382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [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: 10/15/2018] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The clinical use of MEK inhibitors in uveal melanoma is limited by the rapid acquisition of resistance. This study has used multiomics approaches and drug screens to identify the pan-HDAC inhibitor panobinostat as an effective strategy to limit MEK inhibitor resistance.Experimental Design: Mass spectrometry-based proteomics and RNA-Seq were used to identify the signaling pathways involved in the escape of uveal melanoma cells from MEK inhibitor therapy. Mechanistic studies were performed to evaluate the escape pathways identified, and the efficacy of the MEK-HDAC inhibitor combination was demonstrated in multiple in vivo models of uveal melanoma. RESULTS We identified a number of putative escape pathways that were upregulated following MEK inhibition, including the PI3K/AKT pathway, ROR1/2, and IGF-1R signaling. MEK inhibition was also associated with increased GPCR expression, particularly the endothelin B receptor, and this contributed to therapeutic escape through ET-3-mediated YAP signaling. A screen of 289 clinical grade compounds identified HDAC inhibitors as potential candidates that suppressed the adaptive YAP and AKT signaling that followed MEK inhibition. In vivo, the MEK-HDAC inhibitor combination outperformed either agent alone, leading to a long-term decrease of tumor growth in both subcutaneous and liver metastasis models and the suppression of adaptive PI3K/AKT and YAP signaling. CONCLUSIONS Together, our studies have identified GPCR-mediated YAP activation and RTK-driven AKT signaling as key pathways involved in the escape of uveal melanoma cells from MEK inhibition. We further demonstrate that HDAC inhibition is a promising combination partner for MEK inhibitors in advanced uveal melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Faião-Flores
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Michael F Emmons
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Michael A Durante
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Fumi Kinose
- Department of Drug Discovery, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Biswarup Saha
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Bin Fang
- Department of Molecular Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - John M Koomen
- Department of Molecular Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Srikumar P Chellappan
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Silvya Stuchi Maria-Engler
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Uwe Rix
- Department of Drug Discovery, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Jonathan D Licht
- Division of Hematology & Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Florida Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - J William Harbour
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.
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35
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Mancera N, Smalley KSM, Margo CE. Melanoma of the eyelid and periocular skin: Histopathologic classification and molecular pathology. Surv Ophthalmol 2019; 64:272-288. [PMID: 30578807 DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2018.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Revised: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma, a potentially lethal malignancy of the periocular skin, represents only a small proportion of the roughly 87,000 new cases of cutaneous melanoma diagnosed annually in the United States. Most of our understanding of melanoma of the eyelid skin is extrapolated from studies of cutaneous melanoma located elsewhere. Recent years have witnessed major breakthroughs in molecular biology and genomics of cutaneous melanoma, some of which have led to the development of targeted therapies. The molecular insights have also kindled interest in rethinking how cutaneous melanomas are classified and assessed for risk. We provide a synopsis of the epidemiology, histopathologic classification, and clinical experience of eyelid melanoma since 1990 and then review major advances in the molecular biology of cutaneous melanoma, exploring how this impacts our understanding of classification and predicting risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norberto Mancera
- Department of Ophthalmology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- Departments of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA; Cutaneous Oncology The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Curtis E Margo
- Department of Ophthalmology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA; Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
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36
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Eroglu Z, Holmen SL, Chen Q, Khushalani NI, Amaravadi R, Thomas R, Ahmed KA, Tawbi H, Chandra S, Markowitz J, Smalley I, Liu JK, Chen YA, Najjar YG, Karreth FA, Abate-Daga D, Glitza IC, Sosman JA, Sondak VK, Bosenberg M, Herlyn M, Atkins MB, Kluger H, Margolin K, Forsyth PA, Davies MA, Smalley KSM. Melanoma central nervous system metastases: An update to approaches, challenges, and opportunities. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2019; 32:458-469. [PMID: 30712316 PMCID: PMC7771318 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [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: 12/19/2018] [Revised: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In February 2018, the Melanoma Research Foundation and the Moffitt Cancer Center hosted the Second Summit on Melanoma Central Nervous System (CNS) Metastases in Tampa, Florida. In this white paper, we outline the current status of basic science, translational, and clinical research into melanoma brain metastasis development and therapeutic management. We further outline the important challenges that remain for the field and the critical barriers that need to be overcome for continued progress to be made in this clinically difficult area.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sheri L. Holmen
- University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Qing Chen
- The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Ravi Amaravadi
- The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yana G. Najjar
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Michael B. Atkins
- Georgetown University Cancer Center, Washington, District of Columbia
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37
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Yin Q, Han T, Fang B, Zhang G, Zhang C, Roberts ER, Izumi V, Zheng M, Jiang S, Yin X, Kim M, Cai J, Haura EB, Koomen JM, Smalley KSM, Wan L. K27-linked ubiquitination of BRAF by ITCH engages cytokine response to maintain MEK-ERK signaling. Nat Commun 2019; 10:1870. [PMID: 31015455 PMCID: PMC6478693 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09844-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [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: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BRAF plays an indispensable role in activating the MEK/ERK pathway to drive tumorigenesis. Receptor tyrosine kinase and RAS-mediated BRAF activation have been extensively characterized, however, it remains undefined how BRAF function is fine-tuned by stimuli other than growth factors. Here, we report that in response to proinflammatory cytokines, BRAF is subjected to lysine 27-linked poly-ubiquitination in melanoma cells by the ITCH ubiquitin E3 ligase. Lysine 27-linked ubiquitination of BRAF recruits PP2A to antagonize the S365 phosphorylation and disrupts the inhibitory interaction with 14-3-3, leading to sustained BRAF activation and subsequent elevation of the MEK/ERK signaling. Physiologically, proinflammatory cytokines activate ITCH to maintain BRAF activity and to promote proliferation and invasion of melanoma cells, whereas the ubiquitination-deficient BRAF mutant displays compromised kinase activity and reduced tumorigenicity. Collectively, our study reveals a pivotal role for ITCH-mediated BRAF ubiquitination in coordinating the signals between cytokines and the MAPK pathway activation in melanoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Yin
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Tao Han
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Bin Fang
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Core, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Guolin Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Chao Zhang
- Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Evan R Roberts
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Victoria Izumi
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Core, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Mengmeng Zheng
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA
| | - Shulong Jiang
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.,Department of Oncology, Jining First People's Hospital, Jining, Shandong, 272111, P.R. China
| | - Xiu Yin
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.,Department of Oncology, Jining First People's Hospital, Jining, Shandong, 272111, P.R. China
| | - Minjung Kim
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.,Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA
| | - Jianfeng Cai
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA
| | - Eric B Haura
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - John M Koomen
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.,Proteomics and Metabolomics Core, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- Department of Tumor Biology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.,Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Lixin Wan
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA. .,Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
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38
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Emmons MF, Faião-Flores F, Sharma R, Thapa R, Messina JL, Becker JC, Schadendorf D, Seto E, Sondak VK, Koomen JM, Chen YA, Lau EK, Wan L, Licht JD, Smalley KSM. HDAC8 Regulates a Stress Response Pathway in Melanoma to Mediate Escape from BRAF Inhibitor Therapy. Cancer Res 2019; 79:2947-2961. [PMID: 30987999 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-19-0040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Revised: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma cells have the ability to switch to a dedifferentiated, invasive phenotype in response to multiple stimuli. Here, we show that exposure of melanomas to multiple stresses including BRAF-MEK inhibitor therapy, hypoxia, and UV irradiation leads to an increase in histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8) activity and the adoption of a drug-resistant phenotype. Mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomics implicated HDAC8 in the regulation of MAPK and AP-1 signaling. Introduction of HDAC8 into drug-naïve melanoma cells conveyed resistance both in vitro and in vivo. HDAC8-mediated BRAF inhibitor resistance was mediated via receptor tyrosine kinase activation, leading to MAPK signaling. Although HDACs function at the histone level, they also regulate nonhistone substrates, and introduction of HDAC8 decreased the acetylation of c-Jun, increasing its transcriptional activity and enriching for an AP-1 gene signature. Mutation of the putative c-Jun acetylation site at lysine 273 increased transcriptional activation of c-Jun in melanoma cells and conveyed resistance to BRAF inhibition. In vivo xenograft studies confirmed the key role of HDAC8 in therapeutic adaptation, with both nonselective and HDAC8-specific inhibitors enhancing the durability of BRAF inhibitor therapy. Our studies demonstrate that HDAC8-specific inhibitors limit the adaptation of melanoma cells to multiple stresses including BRAF-MEK inhibition. SIGNIFICANCE: This study provides evidence that HDAC8 drives transcriptional plasticity in melanoma cells in response to a range of stresses through direct deacetylation of c-Jun.Graphical Abstract: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/79/11/2947/F1.large.jpg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael F Emmons
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Fernanda Faião-Flores
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Ritin Sharma
- The Department of Molecular Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Ram Thapa
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Jane L Messina
- The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Jurgen C Becker
- Department of Translational Skin Cancer Research, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Dirk Schadendorf
- Department of Translational Skin Cancer Research, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Edward Seto
- George Washington University, Washington, D.C
| | - Vernon K Sondak
- The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - John M Koomen
- The Department of Molecular Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Yian A Chen
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Eric K Lau
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida.,The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Lixin Wan
- The Department of Molecular Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Jonathan D Licht
- The University of Florida Health Cancer Center, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida. .,The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
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39
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Faião-Flores F, Smalley KSM. Get with the Program! Stemness and Reprogramming in Melanoma Metastasis. J Invest Dermatol 2019; 138:10-13. [PMID: 29273143 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2017.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Revised: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Cancer cells are highly plastic and adopt multiple phenotypic states that contribute to tumor progression. Heppt et al. demonstrate that the homeodomain transcription factor Msh homeobox 1 reprograms melanoma cells to a precursor state associated with melanoma progression and increased liver metastasis. Identification of this new role for Msh homeobox 1 may facilitate the development of new therapies that limit melanoma dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Faião-Flores
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA; The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA.
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40
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Filipp FV, Birlea S, Bosenberg MW, Brash D, Cassidy PB, Chen S, D'Orazio JA, Fujita M, Goh BK, Herlyn M, Indra AK, Larue L, Leachman SA, Le Poole C, Liu-Smith F, Manga P, Montoliu L, Norris DA, Shellman Y, Smalley KSM, Spritz RA, Sturm RA, Swetter SM, Terzian T, Wakamatsu K, Weber JS, Box NF. Frontiers in pigment cell and melanoma research. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2018; 31:728-735. [PMID: 30281213 DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2018] [Revised: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In this perspective, we identify emerging frontiers in clinical and basic research of melanocyte biology and its associated biomedical disciplines. We describe challenges and opportunities in clinical and basic research of normal and diseased melanocytes that impact current approaches to research in melanoma and the dermatological sciences. We focus on four themes: (1) clinical melanoma research, (2) basic melanoma research, (3) clinical dermatology, and (4) basic pigment cell research, with the goal of outlining current highlights, challenges, and frontiers associated with pigmentation and melanocyte biology. Significantly, this document encapsulates important advances in melanocyte and melanoma research including emerging frontiers in melanoma immunotherapy, medical and surgical oncology, dermatology, vitiligo, albinism, genomics and systems biology, epidemiology, pigment biophysics and chemistry, and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian V Filipp
- Systems Biology and Cancer Metabolism, Program for Quantitative Systems Biology, University of California Merced, Merced, California
| | - Stanca Birlea
- Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Marcus W Bosenberg
- Department of Dermatology and Dermatopathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Douglas Brash
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Pamela B Cassidy
- Department of Dermatology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Suzie Chen
- Susan Lehman Cullman Laboratory for Cancer Research, Department of Chemical Biology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
| | - John A D'Orazio
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Mayumi Fujita
- Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Boon-Kee Goh
- Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, Skin Physicians Private Limited, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Meenhard Herlyn
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Arup K Indra
- Department of Dermatology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon
| | - Lionel Larue
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Normal and Pathological Development of Melanocytes, UMR 3347, CNRS, Institut Curie, Orsay, France
| | - Sancy A Leachman
- Department of Dermatology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Caroline Le Poole
- Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Feng Liu-Smith
- Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Irvine, Orange, California
| | - Prashiela Manga
- Ronald O Perlman Department of Dermatology, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Lluis Montoliu
- CNB-CSIC, CIBERER-ISCIII, Campus de Cantoblanco, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Madrid, Spain
| | - David A Norris
- Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Yiqun Shellman
- Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | | | - Richard A Spritz
- Human Medical Genetics and Genomics Program, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Richard A Sturm
- Dermatology Research Centre, University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Susan M Swetter
- Department of Dermatology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
| | - Tamara Terzian
- Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Kazumasa Wakamatsu
- Department of Chemistry, Fujita Health University School of Health Sciences, Toyoake, Japan
| | - Jeffrey S Weber
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Neil F Box
- Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado
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41
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Li J, Smalley I, Schell MJ, Smalley KSM, Chen YA. SinCHet: a MATLAB toolbox for single cell heterogeneity analysis in cancer. Bioinformatics 2018; 33:2951-2953. [PMID: 28472395 PMCID: PMC5870537 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btx297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Summary Single-cell technologies allow characterization of transcriptomes and epigenomes for individual cells under different conditions and provide unprecedented resolution for researchers to investigate cellular heterogeneity in cancer. The SinCHet (Single Cell Heterogeneity) toolbox is developed in MATLAB and has a graphical user interface (GUI) for visualization and user interaction. It analyzes both continuous (e.g. mRNA expression) and binary omics data (e.g. discretized methylation data). The toolbox does not only quantify cellular heterogeneity using Shannon Profile (SP) at different clonal resolutions but also detects heterogeneity differences using a D statistic between two populations. It is defined as the area under the Profile of Shannon Difference (PSD). This flexible tool provides a default clonal resolution using the change point of PSD detected by multivariate adaptive regression splines model; it also allows user-defined clonal resolutions for further investigation. This tool provides insights into emerging or disappearing clones between conditions, and enables the prioritization of biomarkers for follow-up experiments based on heterogeneity or marker differences between and/or within cell populations. Availability and implementation The SinCHet software is freely available for non-profit academic use. The source code, example datasets, and the compiled package are available at http://labpages2.moffitt.org/chen/software/. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiannong Li
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Inna Smalley
- Departments of Tumor Biology and Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Michael J Schell
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- Departments of Tumor Biology and Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Y Ann Chen
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
- To whom correspondence should be addressed.
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42
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Eroglu Z, Chen YA, Gibney GT, Weber JS, Kudchadkar RR, Khushalani NI, Markowitz J, Brohl AS, Tetteh LF, Ramadan H, Arnone G, Li J, Zhao X, Sharma R, Darville LNF, Fang B, Smalley I, Messina JL, Koomen JM, Sondak VK, Smalley KSM. Combined BRAF and HSP90 Inhibition in Patients with Unresectable BRAF V600E-Mutant Melanoma. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 24:5516-5524. [PMID: 29674508 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-0565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Revised: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: BRAF inhibitors are clinically active in patients with advanced BRAFV600-mutant melanoma, although acquired resistance remains common. Preclinical studies demonstrated that resistance could be overcome using concurrent treatment with the HSP90 inhibitor XL888.Patients and Methods: Vemurafenib (960 mg p.o. b.i.d.) combined with escalating doses of XL888 (30, 45, 90, or 135 mg p.o. twice weekly) was investigated in 21 patients with advanced BRAFV600-mutant melanoma. Primary endpoints were safety and determination of a maximum tolerated dose. Correlative proteomic studies were performed to confirm HSP inhibitor activity.Results: Objective responses were observed in 15 of 20 evaluable patients [75%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 51%-91%], with 3 complete and 12 partial responses. Median progression-free survival and overall survival were 9.2 months (95% CI, 3.8-not reached) and 34.6 months (6.2-not reached), respectively. The most common grade 3/4 toxicities were skin toxicities, such as rash (n = 4, 19%) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (n = 3, 14%), along with diarrhea (n = 3, 14%). Pharmacodynamic analysis of patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) showed increased day 8 HSP70 expression compared with baseline in the three cohorts with XL888 doses ≥45 mg. Diverse effects of vemurafenib-XL888 upon intratumoral HSP client protein expression were noted, with the expression of multiple proteins (including ERBB3 and BAD) modulated on therapy.Conclusions: XL888 in combination with vemurafenib has clinical activity in patients with advanced BRAFV600-mutant melanoma, with a tolerable side-effect profile. HSP90 inhibitors warrant further evaluation in combination with current standard-of-care BRAF plus MEK inhibitors in BRAFV600-mutant melanoma. Clin Cancer Res; 24(22); 5516-24. ©2018 AACR See related commentary by Sullivan, p. 5496.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeynep Eroglu
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | - Y Ann Chen
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | - Geoffrey T Gibney
- Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Washington, District of Columbia
| | | | - Ragini R Kudchadkar
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | - Joseph Markowitz
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | - Andrew S Brohl
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | - Leticia F Tetteh
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | - Howida Ramadan
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | - Gina Arnone
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | - Jiannong Li
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | - Xiuhua Zhao
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | - Ritin Sharma
- Department of Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | | | - Bin Fang
- Department of Proteomics, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | - Inna Smalley
- Department of Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | - Jane L Messina
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | - John M Koomen
- Molecular Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | - Vernon K Sondak
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- Department of Cutaneous Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida. .,Department of Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
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43
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Phadke M, Remsing Rix LL, Smalley I, Bryant AT, Luo Y, Lawrence HR, Schaible BJ, Chen YA, Rix U, Smalley KSM. Dabrafenib inhibits the growth of BRAF-WT cancers through CDK16 and NEK9 inhibition. Mol Oncol 2017; 12:74-88. [PMID: 29112787 PMCID: PMC5748485 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [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: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the BRAF inhibitors dabrafenib and vemurafenib have both proven successful against BRAF-mutant melanoma, there seem to be differences in their mechanisms of action. Here, we show that dabrafenib is more effective at inhibiting the growth of NRAS-mutant and KRAS-mutant cancer cell lines than vemurafenib. Using mass spectrometry-based chemical proteomics, we identified NEK9 and CDK16 as unique targets of dabrafenib. Both NEK9 and CDK16 were highly expressed in specimens of advanced melanoma, with high expression of both proteins correlating with a worse overall survival. A role for NEK9 in the growth of NRAS- and KRAS-mutant cell lines was suggested by siRNA studies in which silencing was associated with decreased proliferation, cell cycle arrest associated with increased p21 expression, inhibition of phospho-CHK1, decreased CDK4 expression, and the initiation of a senescence response. Inhibition of CDK4 but not CHK1 recapitulated the effects of NEK9 silencing, indicating this to be the likely mechanism of growth inhibition. We next turned our attention to CDK16 and found that its knockdown inhibited the phosphorylation of the Rb protein at S780 and increased expression of p27. Both of these effects were phenocopied in NRAS- and KRAS-mutant cancer cells by dabrafenib, but not vemurafenib. Combined silencing of NEK9 and CDK16 was associated with enhanced inhibition of melanoma cell proliferation. In summary, we have identified dabrafenib as a potent inhibitor of NEK9 and CDK16, and our studies suggest that inhibition of these kinases may have activity against cancers that do not harbor BRAF mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manali Phadke
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Lily L Remsing Rix
- The Department of Drug Discovery, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Inna Smalley
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Annamarie T Bryant
- The Department of Drug Discovery, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Yunting Luo
- The Chemical Biology Core, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Harshani R Lawrence
- The Chemical Biology Core, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Braydon J Schaible
- The Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Yian A Chen
- The Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Uwe Rix
- The Department of Drug Discovery, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA.,The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
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44
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Verduzco D, Kuenzi BM, Kinose F, Sondak VK, Eroglu Z, Rix U, Smalley KSM. Ceritinib Enhances the Efficacy of Trametinib in BRAF/NRAS-Wild-Type Melanoma Cell Lines. Mol Cancer Ther 2017; 17:73-83. [PMID: 29133622 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-17-0196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2017] [Revised: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Targeted therapy options are currently lacking for the heterogeneous population of patients whose melanomas lack BRAF or NRAS mutations (∼35% of cases). We undertook a chemical biology screen to identify potential novel drug targets for this understudied group of tumors. Screening a panel of 8 BRAF/NRAS-WT melanoma cell lines against 240 targeted drugs identified ceritinib and trametinib as potential hits with single-agent activity. Ceritinib enhanced the efficacy of trametinib across the majority of the BRAF/NRAS-WT cell lines, and the combination showed increased cytotoxicity in both three-dimensional spheroid culture and long-term colony formation experiments. Coadministration of ceritinib and trametinib led to robust inhibition of tumor growth in an in vivo xenograft BRAF/NRAS-WT melanoma model; this was not due to ALK inhibition by ceritinib. Mechanistic studies showed the ceritinib-trametinib combination to increase suppression of MAPK and TORC1 signaling. Similar results were seen when BRAF/NRAS-WT melanoma cells were treated with a combination of trametinib and the TORC1/2 inhibitor INK128. We next used mass spectrometry-based chemical proteomics and identified known and new ceritinib targets, such as IGF1R and ACK1, respectively. Validation studies suggested that ceritinib could suppress mTORC1 signaling in the presence of trametinib through inhibition of IGF1R and/or ACK1 in a cell line-dependent manner. Together, our studies demonstrated that combining a specific inhibitor (trametinib) with a more broadly targeted agent (ceritinib) has efficacy against tumors with heterogeneous mutational profiles. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(1); 73-83. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Verduzco
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Brent M Kuenzi
- The Department of Drug Discovery, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Fumi Kinose
- The Department of Drug Discovery, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Vernon K Sondak
- The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Zeynep Eroglu
- The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Uwe Rix
- The Department of Drug Discovery, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida. .,The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
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45
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiran S M Smalley
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA; The Department of Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA.
| | - Peter A Forsyth
- The Department of Neurooncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
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46
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Niessner H, Sinnberg T, Kosnopfel C, Smalley KSM, Beck D, Praetorius C, Mai M, Beissert S, Kulms D, Schaller M, Garbe C, Flaherty KT, Westphal D, Wanke I, Meier F. BRAF Inhibitors Amplify the Proapoptotic Activity of MEK Inhibitors by Inducing ER Stress in NRAS-Mutant Melanoma. Clin Cancer Res 2017; 23:6203-6214. [PMID: 28724666 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-0098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2017] [Revised: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: NRAS mutations in malignant melanoma are associated with aggressive disease requiring rapid antitumor intervention, but there is no approved targeted therapy for this subset of patients. In clinical trials, the MEK inhibitor (MEKi) binimetinib displayed modest antitumor activity, making combinations a requisite. In a previous study, the BRAF inhibitor (BRAFi) vemurafenib was shown to induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress that together with inhibition of the RAF-MEK-ERK (MAPK) pathway amplified its proapoptotic activity in BRAF-mutant melanoma. The present study investigated whether this effect might extent to NRAS-mutant melanoma, in which MAPK activation would be expected.Experimental Design and Results: BRAFi increased pERK, but also significantly increased growth inhibition and apoptosis induced by the MEKi in monolayer, spheroids, organotypic, and patient-derived tissue slice cultures of NRAS-mutant melanoma. BRAFi such as encorafenib induced an ER stress response via the PERK pathway, as detected by phosphorylation of eIF2α and upregulation of the ER stress-related factors ATF4, CHOP, and NUPR1 and the proapoptotic protein PUMA. MEKi such as binimetinib induced the expression of the proapoptotic protein BIM and activation of the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis, the latter of which was enhanced by combination with encorafenib. The increased apoptotic rates caused by the combination treatment were significantly reduced through siRNA knockdown of ATF4 and BIM, confirming its critical roles in this process.Conclusions: The data presented herein encourage further advanced in vivo and clinical studies to evaluate MEKi in combination with ER stress inducing BRAFi as a strategy to treat rapidly progressing NRAS-mutant melanoma. Clin Cancer Res; 23(20); 6203-14. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heike Niessner
- Department of Dermatology, Oncology, University Medical Center, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Tobias Sinnberg
- Department of Dermatology, Oncology, University Medical Center, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Corinna Kosnopfel
- Department of Dermatology, Oncology, University Medical Center, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- Department of Tumor Biology, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | - Daniela Beck
- Department of Dermatology, Oncology, University Medical Center, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christian Praetorius
- Department of Dermatology, Carl Gustav Carus Medical Center, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, TU Dresden, Germany
| | - Marion Mai
- Department of Dermatology, Carl Gustav Carus Medical Center, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefan Beissert
- Department of Dermatology, Carl Gustav Carus Medical Center, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Dagmar Kulms
- Department of Dermatology, Carl Gustav Carus Medical Center, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, TU Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Schaller
- Department of Dermatology, Oncology, University Medical Center, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Claus Garbe
- Department of Dermatology, Oncology, University Medical Center, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Keith T Flaherty
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Dana Westphal
- Department of Dermatology, Carl Gustav Carus Medical Center, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, TU Dresden, Germany
| | - Ines Wanke
- Department of Dermatology, Oncology, University Medical Center, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Friedegund Meier
- Department of Dermatology, Oncology, University Medical Center, Tübingen, Germany.,Department of Dermatology, Carl Gustav Carus Medical Center, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden, Germany
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47
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Forsyth PA, Smalley KSM, Sondak VK. BRAF-MEK inhibition in melanoma brain metastases: a new hope. Lancet Oncol 2017; 18:836-837. [DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(17)30449-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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48
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Massaro RR, Faião-Flores F, Rebecca VW, Sandri S, Alves-Fernandes DK, Pennacchi PC, Smalley KSM, Maria-Engler SS. Inhibition of proliferation and invasion in 2D and 3D models by 2-methoxyestradiol in human melanoma cells. Pharmacol Res 2017; 119:242-250. [PMID: 28212889 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2017.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Revised: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Despite the recent advances in the clinical management of melanoma, there remains a need for new pharmacological approaches to treat this cancer. 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME) is a metabolite of estrogen that has shown anti-tumor effects in many cancer types. In this study we show that 2ME treatment leads to growth inhibition in melanoma cells, an effect associated with entry into senescence, decreased pRb and Cyclin B1 expression, increased p21/Cip1 expression and G2/M cell cycle arrest. 2ME treatment also inhibits melanoma cell growth in colony formation assay, including cell lines with acquired resistance to BRAF and BRAF+MEK inhibitors. We further show that 2ME is effective against melanoma with different BRAF and NRAS mutational status. Moreover, 2ME induced the retraction of cytoplasmic projections in a 3D spheroid model and significantly decreased cell proliferation in a 3D skin reconstruct model. Together our studies bring new insights into the mechanism of action of 2ME allowing melanoma targeted therapy to be further refined. Continued progress in this area is expected to lead to improved anti-cancer treatments and the development of new and more effective clinical analogues.
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Affiliation(s)
- R R Massaro
- Department of Clinical Chemistry & Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - F Faião-Flores
- Department of Clinical Chemistry & Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - V W Rebecca
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, USA
| | - S Sandri
- Department of Clinical Chemistry & Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - D K Alves-Fernandes
- Department of Clinical Chemistry & Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - P C Pennacchi
- Department of Clinical Chemistry & Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - K S M Smalley
- The Department of Tumor Biology, The Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, USA
| | - S S Maria-Engler
- Department of Clinical Chemistry & Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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49
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Sharma R, Fedorenko I, Spence PT, Sondak VK, Smalley KSM, Koomen JM. Activity-Based Protein Profiling Shows Heterogeneous Signaling Adaptations to BRAF Inhibition. J Proteome Res 2016; 15:4476-4489. [PMID: 27934295 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.6b00613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Patients with BRAF V600E mutant melanoma are typically treated with targeted BRAF kinase inhibitors, such as vemurafenib and dabrafenib. Although these drugs are initially effective, they are not curative. Most of the focus to date has been upon genetic mechanisms of acquired resistance; therefore, we must better understand the global signaling adaptations that mediate escape from BRAF inhibition. In the current study, we have used activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) with ATP-analogue probes to enrich kinases and other enzyme classes that contribute to BRAF inhibitor (BRAFi) resistance in four paired isogenic BRAFi-naïve/resistant cell line models. Our analysis showed these cell line models, which also differ in their PTEN status, have considerable heterogeneity in their kinase ATP probe uptake in comparing both naïve cells and adaptations to chronic drug exposure. A number of kinases including FAK1, SLK, and TAOK2 had increased ATP probe uptake in BRAFi resistant cells, while KHS1 (M4K5) and BRAF had decreased ATP probe uptake in the BRAFi-resistant cells. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed BRAFi resistance is associated with a significant enhancement in ATP probe uptake in proteins implicated in cytoskeletal organization and adhesion, and decreases in ATP probe uptake in proteins associated with cell metabolic processes. The ABPP approach was able to identify key phenotypic mediators critical for each BRAFi resistant cell line. Together, these data show that common phenotypic adaptations to BRAF inhibition can be mediated through very different signaling networks, suggesting considerable redundancy within the signaling of BRAF mutant melanoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritin Sharma
- Molecular Oncology, ‡Tumor Biology, §Cutaneous Oncology, and ∥The Chemical Biology and Molecular Medicine Program, Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute , 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Inna Fedorenko
- Molecular Oncology, ‡Tumor Biology, §Cutaneous Oncology, and ∥The Chemical Biology and Molecular Medicine Program, Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute , 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Paige T Spence
- Molecular Oncology, ‡Tumor Biology, §Cutaneous Oncology, and ∥The Chemical Biology and Molecular Medicine Program, Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute , 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Vernon K Sondak
- Molecular Oncology, ‡Tumor Biology, §Cutaneous Oncology, and ∥The Chemical Biology and Molecular Medicine Program, Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute , 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - Keiran S M Smalley
- Molecular Oncology, ‡Tumor Biology, §Cutaneous Oncology, and ∥The Chemical Biology and Molecular Medicine Program, Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute , 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
| | - John M Koomen
- Molecular Oncology, ‡Tumor Biology, §Cutaneous Oncology, and ∥The Chemical Biology and Molecular Medicine Program, Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute , 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
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50
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Smalley KSM. Increased immunity and BRAF inhibition: Yet another argument for combination therapy? Pharmacol Res 2016; 113:719-720. [PMID: 27392741 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2016.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 06/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Keiran S M Smalley
- The Departments of Tumor Biology and Cutaneous Oncology, The Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, United States.
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