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Rausch J, Dzama MM, Dolgikh N, Stiller HL, Bohl SR, Lahrmann C, Kunz K, Kessler L, Echchannaoui H, Chen CW, Kindler T, Döhner K, Burrows F, Theobald M, Sasca D, Kühn MWM. Menin inhibitor ziftomenib (KO-539) synergizes with drugs targeting chromatin regulation or apoptosis and sensitizes acute myeloid leukemia with MLL rearrangement or NPM1 mutation to venetoclax. Haematologica 2023; 108:2837-2843. [PMID: 37102614 PMCID: PMC10543165 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2022.282160] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Rausch
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) partner site Frankfurt/Mainz and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg, Germany; University Cancer Center Mainz, Mainz
| | - Margarita M Dzama
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz
| | - Nadezda Dolgikh
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) partner site Frankfurt/Mainz and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg, Germany; University Cancer Center Mainz, Mainz
| | - Hanna L Stiller
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) partner site Frankfurt/Mainz and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg, Germany; University Cancer Center Mainz, Mainz
| | - Stephan R Bohl
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana- Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Catharina Lahrmann
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) partner site Frankfurt/Mainz and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg, Germany; University Cancer Center Mainz, Mainz
| | - Kerstin Kunz
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) partner site Frankfurt/Mainz and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg, Germany; University Cancer Center Mainz, Mainz
| | | | - Hakim Echchannaoui
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) partner site Frankfurt/Mainz and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg, Germany; University Cancer Center Mainz, Mainz
| | - Chun-Wei Chen
- Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute City of Hope, Duarte, CA
| | - Thomas Kindler
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) partner site Frankfurt/Mainz and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg, Germany; University Cancer Center Mainz, Mainz
| | - Konstanze Döhner
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm
| | | | - Matthias Theobald
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) partner site Frankfurt/Mainz and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg, Germany; University Cancer Center Mainz, Mainz
| | - Daniel Sasca
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) partner site Frankfurt/Mainz and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg, Germany; University Cancer Center Mainz, Mainz
| | - Michael W M Kühn
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) partner site Frankfurt/Mainz and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg, Germany; University Cancer Center Mainz, Mainz.
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Winkler M, Friedrich J, Boedicker C, Dolgikh N. Co-targeting MCL-1 and ERK1/2 kinase induces mitochondrial apoptosis in rhabdomyosarcoma cells. Transl Oncol 2021; 16:101313. [PMID: 34906889 PMCID: PMC8681038 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2021.101313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Co-inhibition of ERK1/2 and MCL-1 induces synergistic cell death in rhabdomyosarcoma. Ulixertinib/S63845 co-treatment effectively induces caspase-dependent apoptosis. BIM, BMF, BAK and BAX are required for Ulixertinib/S63845-induced apoptosis.
The RAS/MEK/ERK genetic axis is commonly altered in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), indicating high activity of downstream effector ERK1/2 kinase. Previously, we have demonstrated that inhibition of the RAS/MEK/ERK signaling pathway in RMS is insufficient to induce cell death due to residual pro-survival MCL-1 activity. Here, we show that the combination of ERK1/2 inhibitor Ulixertinib and MCL-1 inhibitor S63845 is highly synergistic and induces apoptotic cell death in RMS in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, Ulixertinib/S63845 co-treatment suppresses long-term survival of RMS cells, induces rapid caspase activation and caspase-dependent apoptosis. Mechanistically, Ulixertinib-mediated upregulation of BIM and BMF in combination with MCL-1 inhibition by S63845 shifts the balance of BCL-2 proteins towards a pro-apoptotic state resulting in apoptosis induction. A genetic silencing approach reveals that BIM, BMF, BAK and BAX are all required for Ulixertinib/S63845-induced apoptosis. Overexpression of BCL-2 rescues cell death triggered by Ulixertinib/S63845 co-treatment, confirming that combined inhibition of ERK1/2 and MCL-1 effectively induces cell death of RMS cells via the intrinsic mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Thus, this study is the first to demonstrate the cytotoxic potency of co-inhibition of ERK1/2 and MCL-1 for RMS treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius Winkler
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Komturstr. 3a, 60528 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Juliane Friedrich
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Komturstr. 3a, 60528 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Cathinka Boedicker
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Komturstr. 3a, 60528 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Nadezda Dolgikh
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Komturstr. 3a, 60528 Frankfurt, Germany.
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Koch A, Jeiler B, Roedig J, van Wijk SJL, Dolgikh N, Fulda S. Smac mimetics and TRAIL cooperate to induce MLKL-dependent necroptosis in Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines. Neoplasia 2021; 23:539-550. [PMID: 33971465 PMCID: PMC8122156 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2021.03.003] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) is a highly aggressive form of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The clinical outcome in children with BL has improved over the last years but the prognosis for adults is still poor, highlighting the need for novel treatment strategies. Here, we report that the combinational treatment with the Smac mimetic BV6 and TRAIL triggers necroptosis in BL when caspases are blocked by zVAD.fmk (TBZ treatment). The sensitivity of BL cells to TBZ correlates with MLKL expression. We demonstrate that necroptotic signaling critically depends on MLKL, since siRNA-induced knockdown and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of MLKL profoundly protect BL cells from TBZ-induced necroptosis. Conversely, MLKL overexpression in cell lines expressing low levels of MLKL leads to necroptosis induction, which can be rescued by pharmacological inhibitors, highlighting the important role of MLKL for necroptosis execution. Importantly, the methylation status analysis of the MLKL promoter reveals a correlation between methylation and MLKL expression. Thus, MLKL is epigenetically regulated in BL and might serve as a prognostic marker for treatment success of necroptosis-based therapies. These findings have crucial implications for the development of new treatment options for BL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annkathrin Koch
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Birte Jeiler
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jens Roedig
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Sjoerd J L van Wijk
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Nadezda Dolgikh
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Simone Fulda
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Germany.
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McCarthy N, Dolgikh N, Logue S, Patterson JB, Zeng Q, Gorman AM, Samali A, Fulda S. The IRE1 and PERK arms of the unfolded protein response promote survival of rhabdomyosarcoma cells. Cancer Lett 2020; 490:76-88. [PMID: 32679165 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [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: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the most common soft-tissue sarcoma, is associated with a low 5-year survival and harsh treatment side effects, underscoring an urgent need for therapy. The unfolded protein response (UPR) is activated in response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, where three ER stress receptors, IRE1, PERK and ATF6, aim to restore cellular homeostasis. The UPR is pro-tumourigenic in many cancers. In this study, we investigate basal UPR activity in RMS. Basal activation of IRE1 and PERK was observed in RMS cell lines, which was diminished upon addition of the IRE1 RNase inhibitor, MKC8866, or PERK inhibitor, AMGEN44. UPR inhibition caused a reduction in cell viability, cell proliferation and inhibition of long-term colony formation in both subtypes of RMS. Alveolar RMS (ARMS) subtype was highly sensitive to IRE1 inhibition, whereas embryonal RMS (ERMS) subtypes responded more markedly to PERK inhibition. Further investigation revealed a robust activation of senescence upon UPR inhibition. For the first time, the UPR is implicated in RMS biology and phenotype, and inhibition of UPR signalling reduces cell growth, suggesting that the UPR may be a promising target in RMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole McCarthy
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Komturstr. 3a, 60528, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Nadezda Dolgikh
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Komturstr. 3a, 60528, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Susan Logue
- Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Canada
| | | | - Qinping Zeng
- Fosun Orinove PharmaTech Inc., Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Adrienne M Gorman
- Apoptosis Research Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Afshin Samali
- Apoptosis Research Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Simone Fulda
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Komturstr. 3a, 60528, Frankfurt, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
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Boedicker C, Hussong M, Grimm C, Dolgikh N, Meister MT, Enßle JC, Wanior M, Knapp S, Schweiger MR, Fulda S. Co-inhibition of BET proteins and PI3Kα triggers mitochondrial apoptosis in rhabdomyosarcoma cells. Oncogene 2020; 39:3837-3852. [PMID: 32161312 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-1229-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 01/10/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Remodeling transcription by targeting bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) proteins has emerged as promising anticancer strategy. Here, we identify a novel synergistic interaction of the BET inhibitor JQ1 with the PI3Kα-specific inhibitor BYL719 to trigger mitochondrial apoptosis and to suppress tumor growth in models of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). RNA-Seq revealed that JQ1/BYL719 co-treatment shifts the overall balance of BCL-2 family gene expression towards apoptosis and upregulates expression of BMF, BCL2L11 (BIM), and PMAIP1 (NOXA) while downregulating BCL2L1 (BCL-xL). These changes were confirmed by qRT-PCR and western blot analysis. Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) of RNA-Seq data followed by validation qRT-PCR and western blot identified MYC and FOXO3a as potential transcription factors (TFs) upstream of the observed gene expression pattern. Immunoprecipitation (IP) studies showed that JQ1/BYL719-stimulated increase in BIM expression enhances the neutralization of antiapoptotic BCL-2, BCL-xL, and MCL-1. This promotes the activation of BAK and BAX and caspase-dependent apoptosis, as (1) individual silencing of BMF, BIM, NOXA, BAK, or BAX, (2) overexpression of BCL-2 or MCL-1 or (3) the caspase inhibitor N-Benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp(O-Me) fluoromethylketone (zVAD.fmk) all rescue JQ1/BYL719-induced cell death. In conclusion, co-inhibition of BET proteins and PI3Kα cooperatively induces mitochondrial apoptosis by proapoptotic re-balancing of BCL-2 family proteins. This discovery opens exciting perspectives for therapeutic exploitation of BET inhibitors in RMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathinka Boedicker
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site, Frankfurt, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michelle Hussong
- Laboratory for Epigenomics and Tumor genetics, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Christina Grimm
- Laboratory for Epigenomics and Tumor genetics, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Nadezda Dolgikh
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Michael T Meister
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site, Frankfurt, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Julius C Enßle
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Marek Wanior
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Chemistry and BMLS (SGC), Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Stefan Knapp
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site, Frankfurt, Germany
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Chemistry and BMLS (SGC), Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Michal R Schweiger
- Laboratory for Epigenomics and Tumor genetics, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Simone Fulda
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany.
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site, Frankfurt, Germany.
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
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Dächert J, Ehrenfeld V, Habermann K, Dolgikh N, Fulda S. Targeting ferroptosis in rhabdomyosarcoma cells. Int J Cancer 2019; 146:510-520. [DOI: 10.1002/ijc.32496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin Dächert
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe‐University Frankfurt Germany
| | - Vanessa Ehrenfeld
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe‐University Frankfurt Germany
| | - Karoline Habermann
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe‐University Frankfurt Germany
| | - Nadezda Dolgikh
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe‐University Frankfurt Germany
| | - Simone Fulda
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe‐University Frankfurt Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg Germany
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Dolgikh N, Hugle M, Vogler M, Fulda S. NRAS-Mutated Rhabdomyosarcoma Cells Are Vulnerable to Mitochondrial Apoptosis Induced by Coinhibition of MEK and PI3K α. Cancer Res 2018; 78:2000-2013. [PMID: 29437705 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-1737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Revised: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Sequencing studies have revealed recurrent mutations in the RAS pathway in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). However, RAS effector pathways in RMS are poorly defined. Here, we report that coinhibition of NRAS or MEK plus PI3Kα triggers widespread apoptosis in NRAS-mutated RMS cells. Subtoxic concentrations of the MEK inhibitor MEK162 and the PI3Kα-specific inhibitor BYL719 synergized to trigger apoptosis in NRAS-mutated RMS cells in vitro and in vivoNRAS- or HRAS-mutated cell lines were more vulnerable to MEK162/BYL719 cotreatment than RAS wild-type cell lines, and MEK162/BYL719 cotreatment was more effective to trigger apoptosis in NRAS-mutated than RAS wild-type RMS tumors in vivo We identified BCL-2-modifying factor (BMF) as an inhibitory target of oncogenic NRAS, with either NRAS silencing or MEK inhibition upregulating BMF mRNA and protein levels, which BYL719 further increased. BMF silencing ablated MEK162/BYL719-induced apoptosis. Mechanistic investigations implicated a proapoptotic rebalancing of BCL-2 family members and suppression of cap-dependent translation in apoptotic sensitivity upon MEK162/BYL719 cotreatment. Our results offer a rationale for combining MEK- and PI3Kα-specific inhibitors in clinical treatment of RAS-mutated RMS.Significance: These findings offer a mechanistic rationale for combining MEK- and PI3Kα-specific inhibitors in the clinical treatment of RAS-mutated forms of often untreatable rhabdomyosarcomas. Cancer Res; 78(8); 2000-13. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadezda Dolgikh
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Manuela Hugle
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Meike Vogler
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Simone Fulda
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Pediatrics, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany. .,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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