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More P, Ngaffo JAM, Goedtel-Armbrust U, Hähnel PS, Hartwig UF, Kindler T, Wojnowski L. Transcriptional Response to Standard AML Drugs Identifies Synergistic Combinations. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12926. [PMID: 37629110 PMCID: PMC10455220 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612926] [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: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Unlike genomic alterations, gene expression profiles have not been widely used to refine cancer therapies. We analyzed transcriptional changes in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines in response to standard first-line AML drugs cytarabine and daunorubicin by means of RNA sequencing. Those changes were highly cell- and treatment-specific. By comparing the changes unique to treatment-sensitive and treatment-resistant AML cells, we enriched for treatment-relevant genes. Those genes were associated with drug response-specific pathways, including calcium ion-dependent exocytosis and chromatin remodeling. Pharmacological mimicking of those changes using EGFR and MEK inhibitors enhanced the response to daunorubicin with minimum standalone cytotoxicity. The synergistic response was observed even in the cell lines beyond those used for the discovery, including a primary AML sample. Additionally, publicly available cytotoxicity data confirmed the synergistic effect of EGFR inhibitors in combination with daunorubicin in all 60 investigated cancer cell lines. In conclusion, we demonstrate the utility of treatment-evoked gene expression changes to formulate rational drug combinations. This approach could improve the standard AML therapy, especially in older patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piyush More
- Department of Pharmacology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (J.A.M.N.); (U.G.-A.); (L.W.)
| | - Joëlle Aurelie Mekontso Ngaffo
- Department of Pharmacology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (J.A.M.N.); (U.G.-A.); (L.W.)
- Leibniz Institute for New Materials, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Ute Goedtel-Armbrust
- Department of Pharmacology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (J.A.M.N.); (U.G.-A.); (L.W.)
| | - Patricia S. Hähnel
- University Cancer Center (UCT) Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (P.S.H.); (T.K.)
- Department of Hematology & Medical Oncology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131 Mainz, Germany;
| | - Udo F. Hartwig
- Department of Hematology & Medical Oncology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131 Mainz, Germany;
- Research Center of Immunotherapy, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Thomas Kindler
- University Cancer Center (UCT) Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (P.S.H.); (T.K.)
- Department of Hematology & Medical Oncology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131 Mainz, Germany;
| | - Leszek Wojnowski
- Department of Pharmacology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (J.A.M.N.); (U.G.-A.); (L.W.)
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Göbel C, Breitenbuecher F, Kalkavan H, Hähnel PS, Kasper S, Hoffarth S, Merches K, Schild H, Lang KS, Schuler M. Functional expression cloning identifies COX-2 as a suppressor of antigen-specific cancer immunity. Cell Death Dis 2014; 5:e1568. [PMID: 25501829 PMCID: PMC4649842 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2014.531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2014] [Revised: 11/03/2014] [Accepted: 11/04/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The efficacy of immune surveillance and antigen-specific cancer immunotherapy equally depends on the activation of a sustained immune response targeting cancer antigens and the susceptibility of cancer cells to immune effector mechanisms. Using functional expression cloning and T-cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mice, we have identified cyclooxygenase 2/prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (COX-2) as resistance factor against the cytotoxicity induced by activated, antigen-specific T cells. Expressing COX-2, but not a catalytically inactive COX-2 mutant, increased the clonogenic survival of E1A-transformed murine cancer cells when cocultured with lymphocytes from St42Rag2−/− mice harboring a transgenic TCR directed against an E1A epitope. COX-2 expressing tumors established in immune-deficient mice were less susceptible to adoptive immunotherapy with TCR transgenic lymphocytes in vivo. Also, immune surveillance of COX-2-positive tumor cells in TCR transgenic mice was less efficient. The growth of murine MC-GP tumors, which show high endogenous COX-2 expression, in immunocompetent mice was effectively suppressed by treatment with a selective COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib. Mechanistically, COX-2 expression blunted the interferon-gamma release of antigen-specific T cells exposed to their respective cellular targets, and increased the expression of interleukin-4 and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase by tumor cells. Addition of interferon-gamma sensitized COX-2 expressing cancer cells to tumor suppression by antigen-specific T cells. In conclusion, COX-2, which is frequently induced in colorectal cancer, contributes to immune evasion and resistance to antigen-specific cancer immunotherapy by local suppression of T-cell effector functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Göbel
- Department of Medical Oncology, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen 45122, Germany
| | - F Breitenbuecher
- Department of Medical Oncology, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen 45122, Germany
| | - H Kalkavan
- 1] Department of Medical Oncology, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen 45122, Germany [2] Department of Immunology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen 45122, Germany
| | - P S Hähnel
- Department of Medical Oncology, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen 45122, Germany
| | - S Kasper
- Department of Medical Oncology, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen 45122, Germany
| | - S Hoffarth
- Department of Medical Oncology, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen 45122, Germany
| | - K Merches
- Department of Immunology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen 45122, Germany
| | - H Schild
- Institute for Immunology, University Medical Center, Mainz 55101, Germany
| | - K S Lang
- Department of Immunology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen 45122, Germany
| | - M Schuler
- 1] Department of Medical Oncology, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen 45122, Germany [2] German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg 69120, Germany
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Tam WF, Hähnel PS, Schüler A, Lee BH, Okabe R, Zhu N, Pante SV, Raffel G, Mercher T, Wernig G, Bockamp E, Sasca D, Kreft A, Robinson GW, Hennighausen L, Gilliland DG, Kindler T. STAT5 is crucial to maintain leukemic stem cells in acute myelogenous leukemias induced by MOZ-TIF2. Cancer Res 2012; 73:373-84. [PMID: 23149921 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-12-0255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [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] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
MOZ-TIF2 is a leukemogenic fusion oncoprotein that confers self-renewal capability to hematopoietic progenitor cells and induces acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) with long latency in bone marrow transplantation assays. Here, we report that FLT3-ITD transforms hematopoietic cells in cooperation with MOZ-TIF2 in vitro and in vivo. Coexpression of FLT3-ITD confers growth factor independent survival/proliferation, shortens disease latency, and results in an increase in the number of leukemic stem cells (LSC). We show that STAT5, a major effector of aberrant FLT3-ITD signal transduction, is both necessary and sufficient for this cooperative effect. In addition, STAT5 signaling is essential for MOZ-TIF2-induced leukemic transformation itself. Lack of STAT5 in fetal liver cells caused rapid differentiation and loss of replating capacity of MOZ-TIF2-transduced cells enriched for LSCs. Furthermore, mice serially transplanted with Stat5(-/-) MOZ-TIF2 leukemic cells develop AML with longer disease latency and finally incomplete penetrance when compared with mice transplanted with Stat5(+/+) MOZ-TIF2 leukemic cells. These data suggest that STAT5AB is required for the self-renewal of LSCs and represents a combined signaling node of FLT3-ITD and MOZ-TIF2 driven leukemogenesis. Therefore, targeting aberrantly activated STAT5 or rewired downstream signaling pathways may be a promising therapeutic option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winnie F Tam
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Waldner MJ, Wirtz S, Becker C, Seidel D, Tubbe I, Cappel K, Hähnel PS, Galle PR, Schuler M, Neurath MF. Perforin deficiency attenuates inflammation and tumor growth in colitis-associated cancer. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2010; 16:559-67. [PMID: 19785028 DOI: 10.1002/ibd.21107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a markedly increased risk to develop colon cancer, but there are only limited data about the host antitumor response in such colitis-associated cancer. In the present study we aimed at assessing the role of perforin-dependent effector mechanisms in the immune response in a murine model of colitis-associated colon cancer. METHODS Wildtype and perforin-deficient mice were analyzed in a mouse model of colitis-associated colon cancer using azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). RESULTS Tumors of wildtype mice showed infiltration of CD4+, CD8+ T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, high numbers of apoptotic cells, and expression of the transcription factor eomesodermin and cytotoxic effector proteins, suggesting a potential role of the antitumor immune response in AOM/DSS tumorigenesis. Furthermore, perforin deficiency resulted in reduced apoptosis of epithelial cells as compared to wildtype mice, whereas tumor infiltration by NK cells, CD8+, and CD4+ T cells was unchanged. However, perforin-deficient mice surprisingly developed significantly fewer tumors than wildtype mice. Subsequent studies identified an important role of perforin in regulating colitis activity, as perforin deficiency caused a significant reduction of DSS colitis activity and proinflammatory cytokine production as compared to wildtype controls. CONCLUSIONS Perforin is involved in both the antitumor immune response and the regulation of activity of mucosal inflammation in colitis-associated cancer. Our data emphasize the possible consequences for therapeutic strategies targeting colitis-associated colon cancer.
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