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Martin EM, Orlando KA, Yokobori K, Wade PA. The estrogen receptor/GATA3/FOXA1 transcriptional network: lessons learned from breast cancer. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2021; 71:65-70. [PMID: 34225008 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2021.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Cellular identity and physiologic function in mammary epithelial cells and in many breast cancers flow from the action of a network of master transcriptional regulators including estrogen receptor alpha, GATA3, and FOXA1. The last decade has seen the completion of multiple large sequencing projects focusing on breast cancer. These massive compendia of sequence data have provided a wealth of new information linking mutation in these transcription factors to alterations in tumor biology and transcriptional program. The emerging details on mutation in cancer, and direct experimental exploration of hypotheses based on it, are now providing a wealth of new information on the roles played by estrogen receptor alpha, GATA3, and FOXA1 in regulating gene transcription and how their combined action contributes to a network shaping cell function in both physiologic and disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M Martin
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, 111 TW Alexander Drive, NC, 27707, USA
| | - Krystal A Orlando
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, 111 TW Alexander Drive, NC, 27707, USA
| | - Kosuke Yokobori
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, 111 TW Alexander Drive, NC, 27707, USA
| | - Paul A Wade
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, 111 TW Alexander Drive, NC, 27707, USA.
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Orlando KA, Raab JR, Douglas AK, Abudu A, Wang Y, Negri GL, Colborne S, Morin GB, Lang JD, Hendricks WP, Raupach EA, Pirrotte P, Huntsman DG, Trent JM, Parker JS, Weissman BE. Abstract B25: SMARCA4/BRG1 and AP-1 co-regulate an epithelial-like signature in small-cell carcinoma of ovary, hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT). Clin Cancer Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1158/1557-3265.ovca19-b25] [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
Mutations in SMARCA4 (BRG1), one of the two mutually exclusive ATPases of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, occur in >95% of small cell carcinomas of the ovary, hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT), a rare and aggressive form of ovarian cancer. Because of its apparent role as a driver for SCCOHT, we performed integrative multi-omic analyses in a SCCOHT cell line +/- BRG1 re-expression to identify its role in SCCOHT tumorigenesis. After re-expression, BRG1 was recruited to both distal and promoter regions. We also observed increased chromatin accessibility at distal sites enriched for transcription factor binding motifs for AP-1 family members. Of interest, BRG1 re-expression induced an epithelial-like gene and protein expression concomitant with enrichment of AP-1 motifs at the TSS of highly upregulated epithelial genes. To determine the biologic relevance of these changes at AP-1 binding sites, we used a dominant negative AP-1 cell line to demonstrate that the necessity of AP-1 DNA binding activity and BRG1 re-expression for the protein expression of epithelial genes. Our study demonstrates that BRG1 loss may drive SCCOHT tumorigenesis by diminishing an epithelial-like gene and protein signature of its cell of origin driven by altered AP-1 binding.
Citation Format: Krystal A. Orlando, Jesse R. Raab, Amber K. Douglas, Aierken Abudu, Yemin Wang, Gian Luca Negri, Shane Colborne, Gregg B. Morin, Jessica D. Lang, William P.D. Hendricks, Elizabeth A. Raupach, Patrick Pirrotte, David G. Huntsman, Jeffrey M. Trent, Joel S. Parker, Bernard E. Weissman. SMARCA4/BRG1 and AP-1 co-regulate an epithelial-like signature in small-cell carcinoma of ovary, hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Ovarian Cancer Research; 2019 Sep 13-16, 2019; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(13_Suppl):Abstract nr B25.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jesse R. Raab
- 1University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC,
| | | | | | - Yemin Wang
- 3University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,
| | | | | | | | - Jessica D. Lang
- 4Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, AZ
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Joel S. Parker
- 1University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC,
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Tischkowitz M, Huang S, Banerjee S, Hague J, Hendricks WPD, Huntsman DG, Lang JD, Orlando KA, Oza AM, Pautier P, Ray-Coquard I, Trent JM, Witcher M, Witkowski L, McCluggage WG, Levine DA, Foulkes WD, Weissman BE. Small-Cell Carcinoma of the Ovary, Hypercalcemic Type-Genetics, New Treatment Targets, and Current Management Guidelines. Clin Cancer Res 2020; 26:3908-3917. [PMID: 32156746 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-3797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Small-cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT) is a rare and highly aggressive ovarian malignancy. In almost all cases, it is associated with somatic and often germline pathogenic variants in SMARCA4, which encodes for the SMARCA4 protein (BRG1), a subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex. Approximately 20% of human cancers possess pathogenic variants in at least one SWI/SNF subunit. Because of their role in regulating many important cellular processes including transcriptional control, DNA repair, differentiation, cell division, and DNA replication, SWI/SNF complexes with mutant subunits are thought to contribute to cancer initiation and progression. Fewer than 500 cases of SCCOHT have been reported in the literature and approximately 60% are associated with hypercalcemia. SCCOHT primarily affects females under 40 years of age who usually present with symptoms related to a pelvic mass. SCCOHT is an aggressive cancer, with long-term survival rates of 30% in early-stage cases. Although various treatment approaches have been proposed, there is no consensus on surveillance and therapeutic strategy. An international group of multidisciplinary clinicians and researchers recently formed the International SCCOHT Consortium to evaluate current knowledge and propose consensus surveillance and therapeutic recommendations, with the aim of improving outcomes. Here, we present an overview of the genetics of this cancer, provide updates on new treatment targets, and propose management guidelines for this challenging cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Tischkowitz
- Department of Medical Genetics, National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom. .,East Anglian Medical Genetics Unit, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sidong Huang
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,The Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Susana Banerjee
- The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer Hague
- East Anglian Medical Genetics Unit, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - William P D Hendricks
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Division of Integrated Cancer Genomics, Phoenix, Arizona
| | | | - Jessica D Lang
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Division of Integrated Cancer Genomics, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Krystal A Orlando
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Amit M Oza
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Isabelle Ray-Coquard
- Centre Anti cancereux Léon Bérard, & University Claude Bernard Lyon, GINECO Group, Lyon, France
| | - Jeffrey M Trent
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Division of Integrated Cancer Genomics, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Michael Witcher
- The Lady Davis Institute of the Jewish General Hospital, Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Leora Witkowski
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - W Glenn McCluggage
- Department of Pathology, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Douglas A Levine
- Gynecologic Oncology, Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York
| | - William D Foulkes
- The Lady Davis Institute of the Jewish General Hospital, Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.,Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Medical Genetics, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Medical Genetics and Cancer Research Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Bernard E Weissman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. .,Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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Orlando KA, Nguyen V, Raab JR, Walhart T, Weissman BE. Remodeling the cancer epigenome: mutations in the SWI/SNF complex offer new therapeutic opportunities. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2019; 19:375-391. [PMID: 30986130 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2019.1605905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cancer genome sequencing studies have discovered mutations in members of the SWItch/Sucrose Non-Fermentable (SWI/SNF) chromatin-remodeling complex in nearly 25% of human cancers. The SWI/SNF complex, first discovered in S. cerevisiae, shows strong conservation from yeast to Drosophila to mammals, contains approximately 10-12 subunits and regulates nucleosome positioning through the energy generated by its ATPase subunits. The unexpected finding of frequent mutations in the complex has fueled studies to identify the mechanisms that drive tumor development and the accompanying therapeutic vulnerabilities. Areas covered: In the review, we focus upon the potential roles different SWI/SNF subunit mutations play in human oncogenesis, their common and unique mechanisms of transformation and the potential for translating these mechanisms into targeted therapies for SWI/SNF-mutant tumors. Expert opinion: We currently have limited insights into how mutations in different SWI/SNF subunits drive the development of human tumors. Because the SWI/SNF complex participates in a broad range of normal cellular functions, defining specific oncogenic pathways has proved difficult. In addition, therapeutic options for SWI/SNF-mutant cancers have mainly evolved from high-throughput screens of cell lines with mutations in different subunits. Future studies should follow a more coherent plan to pinpoint common vulnerabilities among these tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystal A Orlando
- a Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine , University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill , NC , USA
| | - Vinh Nguyen
- b Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine , University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill , NC , USA
| | - Jesse R Raab
- c Department of Genetics , University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill , NC , USA
| | - Tara Walhart
- d Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center , University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill , NC , USA
| | - Bernard E Weissman
- a Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine , University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill , NC , USA.,b Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine , University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill , NC , USA.,d Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center , University of North Carolina , Chapel Hill , NC , USA
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Wang Y, Chen SY, Colborne S, Lambert G, Shin CY, Santos ND, Orlando KA, Lang JD, Hendricks WPD, Bally MB, Karnezis AN, Hass R, Underhill TM, Morin GB, Trent JM, Weissman BE, Huntsman DG. Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors Synergize with Catalytic Inhibitors of EZH2 to Exhibit Antitumor Activity in Small Cell Carcinoma of the Ovary, Hypercalcemic Type. Mol Cancer Ther 2018; 17:2767-2779. [PMID: 30232145 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-18-0348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT) is a rare but extremely lethal malignancy that mainly impacts young women. SCCOHT is characterized by a diploid genome with loss of SMARCA4 and lack of SMARCA2 expression, two mutually exclusive ATPases of the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex. We and others have identified the histone methyltransferase EZH2 as a promising therapeutic target for SCCOHT, suggesting that SCCOHT cells depend on the alternation of epigenetic pathways for survival. In this study, we found that SCCOHT cells were more sensitive to pan-HDAC inhibitors compared with other ovarian cancer lines or immortalized cell lines tested. Pan-HDAC inhibitors, such as quisinostat, reversed the expression of a group of proteins that were deregulated in SCCOHT cells due to SMARCA4 loss, leading to growth arrest, apoptosis, and differentiation in vitro and suppressed tumor growth of xenografted tumors of SCCOHT cells. Moreover, combined treatment of HDAC inhibitors and EZH2 inhibitors at sublethal doses synergistically induced histone H3K27 acetylation and target gene expression, leading to rapid induction of apoptosis and growth suppression of SCCOHT cells and xenografted tumors. Therefore, our preclinical study highlighted the therapeutic potential of combined treatment of HDAC inhibitors with EZH2 catalytic inhibitors to treat SCCOHT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yemin Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. .,Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Shary Yuting Chen
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Shane Colborne
- Michael Smith Genome Science Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Galen Lambert
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Chae Young Shin
- Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Nancy Dos Santos
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Krystal A Orlando
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Jessica D Lang
- Division of Integrated Cancer Genomics, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, Arizona
| | - William P D Hendricks
- Division of Integrated Cancer Genomics, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Marcel B Bally
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Anthony N Karnezis
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ralf Hass
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, D-30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - T Michael Underhill
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences and Biomedical Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Gregg B Morin
- Michael Smith Genome Science Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jeffrey M Trent
- Division of Integrated Cancer Genomics, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Bernard E Weissman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - David G Huntsman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. .,Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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6
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Lang JD, Hendricks WPD, Orlando KA, Yin H, Kiefer J, Ramos P, Sharma R, Pirrotte P, Raupach EA, Sereduk C, Tang N, Liang WS, Washington M, Facista SJ, Zismann VL, Cousins EM, Major MB, Wang Y, Karnezis AN, Sekulic A, Hass R, Vanderhyden BC, Nair P, Weissman BE, Huntsman DG, Trent JM. Ponatinib Shows Potent Antitumor Activity in Small Cell Carcinoma of the Ovary Hypercalcemic Type (SCCOHT) through Multikinase Inhibition. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 24:1932-1943. [PMID: 29440177 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-1928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Revised: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: Small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT) is a rare, aggressive ovarian cancer in young women that is universally driven by loss of the SWI/SNF ATPase subunits SMARCA4 and SMARCA2. A great need exists for effective targeted therapies for SCCOHT.Experimental Design: To identify underlying therapeutic vulnerabilities in SCCOHT, we conducted high-throughput siRNA and drug screens. Complementary proteomics approaches profiled kinases inhibited by ponatinib. Ponatinib was tested for efficacy in two patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models and one cell-line xenograft model of SCCOHT.Results: The receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family was enriched in siRNA screen hits, with FGFRs and PDGFRs being overlapping hits between drug and siRNA screens. Of multiple potent drug classes in SCCOHT cell lines, RTK inhibitors were only one of two classes with selectivity in SCCOHT relative to three SWI/SNF wild-type ovarian cancer cell lines. We further identified ponatinib as the most effective clinically approved RTK inhibitor. Reexpression of SMARCA4 was shown to confer a 1.7-fold increase in resistance to ponatinib. Subsequent proteomic assessment of ponatinib target modulation in SCCOHT cell models confirmed inhibition of nine known ponatinib target kinases alongside 77 noncanonical ponatinib targets in SCCOHT. Finally, ponatinib delayed tumor doubling time 4-fold in SCCOHT-1 xenografts while reducing final tumor volumes in SCCOHT PDX models by 58.6% and 42.5%.Conclusions: Ponatinib is an effective agent for SMARCA4-mutant SCCOHT in both in vitro and in vivo preclinical models through its inhibition of multiple kinases. Clinical investigation of this FDA-approved oncology drug in SCCOHT is warranted. Clin Cancer Res; 24(8); 1932-43. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica D Lang
- Division of Integrated Cancer Genomics, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, Arizona
| | - William P D Hendricks
- Division of Integrated Cancer Genomics, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Krystal A Orlando
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Lineberger Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Hongwei Yin
- Division of Integrated Cancer Genomics, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Jeffrey Kiefer
- Division of Integrated Cancer Genomics, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Pilar Ramos
- Division of Integrated Cancer Genomics, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Ritin Sharma
- Collaborative Center for Translational Mass Spectrometry, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Patrick Pirrotte
- Collaborative Center for Translational Mass Spectrometry, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Elizabeth A Raupach
- Division of Integrated Cancer Genomics, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, Arizona.,Collaborative Center for Translational Mass Spectrometry, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Chris Sereduk
- Division of Integrated Cancer Genomics, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Nanyun Tang
- Division of Integrated Cancer Genomics, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Winnie S Liang
- Division of Integrated Cancer Genomics, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Megan Washington
- Division of Integrated Cancer Genomics, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Salvatore J Facista
- Division of Integrated Cancer Genomics, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Victoria L Zismann
- Division of Integrated Cancer Genomics, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Emily M Cousins
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Lineberger Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Michael B Major
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Lineberger Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Yemin Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia and Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Anthony N Karnezis
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia and Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Aleksandar Sekulic
- Division of Integrated Cancer Genomics, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, Arizona.,Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona
| | - Ralf Hass
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Barbara C Vanderhyden
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, and Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Bernard E Weissman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Lineberger Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - David G Huntsman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia and Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jeffrey M Trent
- Division of Integrated Cancer Genomics, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, Arizona.
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Wang Y, Chen SY, Karnezis AN, Colborne S, Santos ND, Lang JD, Hendricks WP, Orlando KA, Yap D, Kommoss F, Bally MB, Morin GB, Trent JM, Weissman BE, Huntsman DG. The histone methyltransferase EZH2 is a therapeutic target in small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcaemic type. J Pathol 2017; 242:371-383. [PMID: 28444909 DOI: 10.1002/path.4912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Revised: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcaemic type (SCCOHT) is a rare but aggressive and untreatable malignancy affecting young women. We and others recently discovered that SMARCA4, a gene encoding the ATPase of the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodelling complex, is the only gene recurrently mutated in the majority of SCCOHT. The low somatic complexity of SCCOHT genomes and the prominent role of the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodelling complex in transcriptional control of genes suggest that SCCOHT cells may rely on epigenetic rewiring for oncogenic transformation. Herein, we report that approximately 80% (19/24) of SCCOHT tumour samples have strong expression of the histone methyltransferase EZH2 by immunohistochemistry, with the rest expressing variable amounts of EZH2. Re-expression of SMARCA4 suppressed the expression of EZH2 in SCCOHT cells. In comparison to other ovarian cell lines, SCCOHT cells displayed hypersensitivity to EZH2 shRNAs and two selective EZH2 inhibitors, GSK126 and EPZ-6438. EZH2 inhibitors induced cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and cell differentiation in SCCOHT cells, along with the induction of genes involved in cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, and neuron-like differentiation. EZH2 inhibitors suppressed tumour growth and improved the survival of mice bearing SCCOHT xenografts. Therefore, our data suggest that loss of SMARCA4 creates a dependency on the catalytic activity of EZH2 in SCCOHT cells and that pharmacological inhibition of EZH2 is a promising therapeutic strategy for treating this disease. Copyright © 2017 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yemin Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia and Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Shary Yuting Chen
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia and Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Anthony N Karnezis
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia and Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Shane Colborne
- Michael Smith Genome Science Centre, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Nancy Dos Santos
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jessica D Lang
- Division of Integrated Cancer Genomics, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - William Pd Hendricks
- Division of Integrated Cancer Genomics, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Krystal A Orlando
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Damian Yap
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia and Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Friedrich Kommoss
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia and Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Marcel B Bally
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Gregg B Morin
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jeffrey M Trent
- Division of Integrated Cancer Genomics, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Bernard E Weissman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - David G Huntsman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia and Department of Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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