bims-cadres 2022-08-21 papers

bims-cadres

Biomed News

on Cancer drug resistance

Issue of 2022‒08‒21
fifteen papers selected by
Rana Gbyli
Yale University

USP21 promotes self-renewal and tumorigenicity of mesenchymal glioblastoma stem cells by deubiquitinating and stabilizing FOXD1.
SETD1A-SOX2 axis is involved in tamoxifen resistance in estrogen receptor α-positive breast cancer cells.
Growth factor receptor signaling induces mitophagy through epitranscriptomic regulation.
CRISPR/Cas9-based genome-wide screening for deubiquitinase subfamily identifies USP1 regulating MAST1-driven cisplatin-resistance in cancer cells.
Chk1/2 inhibitor AZD7762 enhances the susceptibility of IDH-mutant brain cancer cells to temozolomide.
Human CPTP promotes growth and metastasis via sphingolipid metabolite ceramide and PI4KA/AKT signaling in pancreatic cancer cells.
Multiomics characterization implicates PTK7 in ovarian cancer EMT and cell plasticity and offers strategies for therapeutic intervention.
DDX39B drives colorectal cancer progression by promoting the stability and nuclear translocation of PKM2.
SHMT2-mediated mitochondrial serine metabolism drives 5-FU resistance by fueling nucleotide biosynthesis.
Bromodomain inhibition overcomes treatment resistance in distinct molecular subtypes of melanoma.
The tumor-repressing effect of CYP27A1 on renal cell carcinoma by 27-HC arising from cholesterol metabolism.
YTHDC1 is downregulated by the YY1/HDAC2 complex and controls the sensitivity of ccRCC to sunitinib by targeting the ANXA1-MAPK pathway.
Transcriptional, chromatin, and metabolic landscapes of LDHA inhibitor-resistant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
EPIKOL, a chromatin-focused CRISPR/Cas9-based screening platform, to identify cancer-specific epigenetic vulnerabilities.
A slow-cycling/quiescent cells subpopulation is involved in glioma invasiveness.

Cell Death Dis. 2022 Aug 16. 13(8): 712

USP21 promotes self-renewal and tumorigenicity of mesenchymal glioblastoma stem cells by deubiquitinating and stabilizing FOXD1.

Qixiang Zhang, Zhengxin Chen, Qikai Tang, Zhangjie Wang, Jiacheng Lu, Yongping You, Huibo Wang.

Recent studies suggest that Forkhead box D1 (FOXD1) plays an indispensable role in maintaining the mesenchymal (MES) properties of glioblastoma (GBM) stem cells (GSCs). Thus, understanding the mechanisms that control FOXD1 protein expression is critical for guiding GBM treatment, particularly in patients with therapy-resistant MES subtypes. In this study, we identify the ubiquitin-specific peptidase 21 (USP21) as a critical FOXD1 deubiquitinase in MES GSCs. We find that USP21 directly interacts with and stabilizes FOXD1 by reverting its proteolytic ubiquitination. Silencing of USP21 enhances polyubiquitination of FOXD1, promotes its proteasomal degradation, and ultimately attenuates MES identity in GSCs, while these effects could be largely restored by reintroduction of FOXD1. Remarkably, we show that disulfiram, a repurposed drug that could block the enzymatic activities of USP21, suppresses GSC tumorigenicity in MES GSC-derived GBM xenograft model. Additionally, we demonstrate that USP21 is overexpressed and positively correlated with FOXD1 protein levels in GBM tissues, and its expression is inversely correlated with patient survival. Collectively, our work reveals that USP21 maintains MES identity by antagonizing FOXD1 ubiquitination and degradation, suggesting that USP21 is a potential therapeutic target for the MES subtype of GBM.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-022-05163-3
Theranostics. 2022 ;12(13): 5761-5775

SETD1A-SOX2 axis is involved in tamoxifen resistance in estrogen receptor α-positive breast cancer cells.

Ming Li Jin, Liu Yang, Kwang Won Jeong.

  Rationale: Approximately 30-40% of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer (BC) cases recur after tamoxifen therapy. Thus, additional studies on the mechanisms underlying tamoxifen resistance and more specific prognostic biomarkers are required. In this study, we investigated the role of the SET domain containing 1A (SETD1A), a histone H3-lysine 4 (H3K4) methyltransferase, in the development of tamoxifen resistance in BC. Methods: The relationship between tamoxifen resistance and SETD1A protein level was investigated using resistant cell lines derived from the parent BC cells. Biochemical and molecular assays, such as RNA-sequencing, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, chromatin-immunoprecipitation, and protein-binding assays, were used to identify the SETD1A target gene in tamoxifen-resistant BC cells. Additionally, the role of SETD1A in cancer stem cells (CSCs) was investigated using CSCs isolated from tamoxifen-resistant BC cells. Comprehensive transcriptome analysis and immunofluorescence staining using clinical datasets and tissue microarray were performed to determine the correlation between the expression of the SETD1A-SRY-box transcription factor 2 (SOX2) pair and recurrence in tamoxifen-treated patients with BC. Results: SETD1A was expressed at higher levels in tamoxifen-resistant BC cells than in primary BC cells. Notably, SETD1A-depleted tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 cells showed restored sensitivity to tamoxifen, whereas SETD1A overexpression in MCF-7 cells resulted in decreased sensitivity. SETD1A is recruited to the SOX2 gene via its interaction with SOX2, thereby enhancing the expression of SOX2 genes in tamoxifen-resistant BC cells. The growth of tamoxifen-resistant cells and CSCs was effectively suppressed by SETD1A knockdown. In addition, high levels of SETD1A and SOX2 were significantly correlated with a low survival rate in patients with ER-positive tamoxifen-resistant BC. Conclusion: Our findings provide the first evidence of the critical role of the SETD1A-SOX2 axis in tamoxifen-resistant BC cells, implying that SETD1A may serve as a molecular target and prognostic indicator of a therapeutic response in patients with tamoxifen-resistant BC.

Keywords:  SETD1A; SOX2; breast cancer; cancer stem cell; tamoxifen resistance

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.7150/thno.72599
Autophagy. 2022 Aug 18.

Growth factor receptor signaling induces mitophagy through epitranscriptomic regulation.

Deguan Lv, Kailin Yang, Jeremy N Rich.

  Aberrant growth factor receptor signaling is among the most common oncogenic drivers in cancer biology. Receptor signaling classically induces cancer growth through signaling cascades that mediate effects largely through transcriptional control. Recently, post-transcriptional RNA modifications, collectively designated as epitranscriptomics, have emerged as a critical layer of dysregulation in cancer biology. We recently reported that PDGFR (platelet derived growth factor receptor) activity in cancer stem cells (CSCs) derived from glioblastoma patients display increased post-transcriptional mRNA methylation (N6-methyladenosine [m6A]), which promotes CSC maintenance through regulation of mitophagy. Specifically, PDGF-PDGFRB signaling upregulates expression of the m6A methyltransferase METTL3, which then decorates the mitophagy regulator OPTN (optineurin) mRNA with m6A, thereby promoting OPTN mRNA degradation. Glioblastomas express lower levels of OPTN than normal brain, and forced expression of OPTN reduces tumor growth, supporting a tumor suppressive role for OPTN. Pharmacological targeting of METTL3 with PDGFR or activation of mitophagy demonstrate a combinatorial benefit. Collectively, our results suggest that upstream regulation of mitophagy in lethal cancers is mediated through growth factor receptor control of post-transcriptional RNA regulation, offering novel therapeutic paradigms.

Keywords:  Cancer stem cell; METTL3; N6-methyladenosine (m6A); OPTN; PDGF; PDGFR; glioblastoma; mitophagy; optineurin

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1080/15548627.2022.2114765
Theranostics. 2022 ;12(13): 5949-5970

CRISPR/Cas9-based genome-wide screening for deubiquitinase subfamily identifies USP1 regulating MAST1-driven cisplatin-resistance in cancer cells.

Apoorvi Tyagi, Kamini Kaushal, Arun Pandian Chandrasekaran, Neha Sarodaya, Soumyadip Das, Chang-Hwan Park, Seok-Ho Hong, Kye-Seong Kim, Suresh Ramakrishna.

  Background: Cisplatin is one of the frontline anticancer agents. However, development of cisplatin-resistance limits the therapeutic efficacy of cisplatin-based treatment. The expression of microtubule-associated serine/threonine kinase 1 (MAST1) is a primary factor driving cisplatin-resistance in cancers by rewiring the MEK pathway. However, the mechanisms responsible for MAST1 regulation in conferring drug resistance is unknown. Methods: We implemented a CRISPR/Cas9-based, genome-wide, dual screening system to identify deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) that govern cisplatin resistance and regulate MAST1 protein level. We analyzed K48- and K63-linked polyubiquitination of MAST1 protein and mapped the interacting domain between USP1 and MAST1 by immunoprecipitation assay. The deubiquitinating effect of USP1 on MAST1 protein was validated using rescue experiments, in vitro deubiquitination assay, immunoprecipitation assays, and half-life analysis. Furthermore, USP1-knockout A549 lung cancer cells were generated to validate the deubiquitinating activity of USP1 on MAST1 abundance. The USP1-MAST1 correlation was evaluated using bioinformatics tool and in different human clinical tissues. The potential role of USP1 in regulating MAST1-mediated cisplatin resistance was confirmed using a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments. Finally, the clinical relevance of the USP1-MAST1 axis was validated by application of small-molecule inhibitors in a lung cancer xenograft model in NSG mice. Results: The CRISPR/Cas9-based dual screening system identified USP1 as a novel deubiquitinase that interacts, stabilizes, and extends the half-life of MAST1 by preventing its K48-linked polyubiquitination. The expression analysis across human clinical tissues revealed a positive correlation between USP1 and MAST1. USP1 promotes MAST1-mediated MEK1 activation as an underlying mechanism that contributes to cisplatin-resistance in cancers. Loss of USP1 led to attenuation of MAST1-mediated cisplatin-resistance both in vitro and in vivo. The combined pharmacological inhibition of USP1 and MAST1 using small-molecule inhibitors further abrogated MAST1 level and synergistically enhanced cisplatin efficacy in a mouse xenograft model. Conclusions: Overall, our study highlights the role of USP1 in the development of cisplatin resistance and uncovers the regulatory mechanism of MAST1-mediated cisplatin resistance in cancers. Co-treatment with USP1 and MAST1 inhibitors abrogated tumor growth and synergistically enhanced cisplatin efficacy, suggesting a novel alternative combinatorial therapeutic strategy that could further improve MAST1-based therapy in patients with cisplatin-resistant tumors.

Keywords:  Apoptosis; DNA damage; DUB inhibitor; clinical tumor samples; drug resistance; kinase inhibitor; ubiquitin proteasome system

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.7150/thno.72826
Med Oncol. 2022 Aug 16. 39(11): 166

Chk1/2 inhibitor AZD7762 enhances the susceptibility of IDH-mutant brain cancer cells to temozolomide.

Erkin Ozgiray, Fatma Sogutlu, Cigir Biray Avci.

  The IDH mutation initially exhibits chemosensitive properties, progression-free survival cannot be achieved in the later grades, and malignant transformation occurs as a result of TMZ-induced hypermutation profile and adaptation to this profile. In this study, we evaluated the potential of the combination of TMZ and AZD7762 at molecular level, to increase the anticancer activity of TMZ in IDH-mutant U87-mg cells. We used the WST-1 test to evaluate cytotoxic effect of TMZ and AZD7762 combination with dose-effect and isobologram curves. The effects of the inhibitory and effective concentrations of the combination on apoptosis, cell cycle and γ-H2AX phosphorylation were analyzed with flow cytometry. The expression of genes responsible for the DNA damage response was analyzed with qRT-PCR. The combination showed a synergistic effect with high dose reduction index. Single and combined administrations of TMZ and AZD7762 increased in G2/M arrest from 24 to 48 h, and cells in the G2/M phase shifted towards octaploidy at 72 h. While no double-strand breaks were detected after TMZ treatment, AZD7762 and combination treatments caused a significant increase in γ-H2AX phosphorylation and increased apoptotic stimulation towards 72 h although TMZ did not cause apoptotic effect in IDH-mutant U87-mg cells. The genes controlling the apoptosis were determined to be upregulated in all three groups, and genes regarding cell cycle checkpoints were downregulated. Targeting Chk1/2 with AZD7762 simultaneously with TMZ may be a potential therapeutic strategy for both increasing the sensitivity of IDH-mutant glioma cells to TMZ and reducing the dose of TMZ. In IDH-mutant glioma cells, AZD7762, the Chk1/2 inhibitor, can increase the efficacy of Temozolomide by (i) increasing mitotic chaos, and (ii) inhibiting double-strand break repair, (iii) thereby inducing cell death.

Keywords:  AZD7762; DNA damage response; IDH-mutant glioma; Polploidy; Temozolomide

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-022-01769-x
Int J Biol Sci. 2022 ;18(13): 4963-4983

Human CPTP promotes growth and metastasis via sphingolipid metabolite ceramide and PI4KA/AKT signaling in pancreatic cancer cells.

Yanqun Zhang, Shenying Ji, Xiangyu Zhang, Mengyun Lu, Yihong Hu, Yucheng Han, Guanghou Shui, Sin Man Lam, Xianqiong Zou.

  Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a devastating solid malignancy with a dismal prognosis. The treatment of metastatic PC is a current challenge for medical oncologists due to a lack of early detection, drug resistance, and relapse. Therefore, potential biomarkers and effective therapeutic targets for PC are urgently required. Ceramide-1-phosphate transfer protein (CPTP) is a member of the glycolipid transfer protein family, which is associated with autophagy and inflammation regulation. The roles and mechanisms of CPTP in PC have not been clarified. In this study, by RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry analysis, we found that CPTP is highly expressed in PC and is associated with a poor prognosis in PC patients. By using cell counting kit-8, colony formation, transwell and matrigel assays in vitro, as well as xenograft model assays in vivo, we further proved that CPTP enhanced PC cells growth and metastasis. In PC cells, human CPTP promotes growth and metastasis via sphingolipid metabolite ceramide and PI4KA/AKT signaling. Sp (specific protein)-1 and Sp3 transcription factors also act as upstream positive regulators of CPTP expression in PC cells. Collectively, these findings suggested that CPTP may function as a pro-tumorigenic gene in PC cells and could be a promising therapeutic target in PC.

Keywords:  CPTP; epithelial-mesenchymal transition; metastasis; pancreatic cancer; sphingolipid metabolite

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.7150/ijbs.70007
Cell Death Dis. 2022 Aug 17. 13(8): 714

Multiomics characterization implicates PTK7 in ovarian cancer EMT and cell plasticity and offers strategies for therapeutic intervention.

Juuli Raivola, Alice Dini, Hanna Karvonen, Emilia Piki, Kari Salokas, Wilhelmiina Niininen, Laura Kaleva, Kaiyang Zhang, Mariliina Arjama, Greta Gudoityte, Brinton Seashore-Ludlow, Markku Varjosalo, Olli Kallioniemi, Sampsa Hautaniemi, Astrid Murumägi, Daniela Ungureanu.

Most patients with ovarian cancer (OC) are diagnosed at a late stage when there are very few therapeutic options and a poor prognosis. This is due to the lack of clearly defined underlying mechanisms or an oncogenic addiction that can be targeted pharmacologically, unlike other types of cancer. Here, we identified protein tyrosine kinase 7 (PTK7) as a potential new therapeutic target in OC following a multiomics approach using genetic and pharmacological interventions. We performed proteomics analyses upon PTK7 knockdown in OC cells and identified novel downstream effectors such as synuclein-γ (SNCG), SALL2, and PP1γ, and these findings were corroborated in ex vivo primary samples using PTK7 monoclonal antibody cofetuzumab. Our phosphoproteomics analyses demonstrated that PTK7 modulates cell adhesion and Rho-GTPase signaling to sustain epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell plasticity, which was confirmed by high-content image analysis of 3D models. Furthermore, using high-throughput drug sensitivity testing (525 drugs) we show that targeting PTK7 exhibited synergistic activity with chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel, CHK1/2 inhibitor prexasertib, and PLK1 inhibitor GSK461364, among others, in OC cells and ex vivo primary samples. Taken together, our study provides unique insight into the function of PTK7, which helps to define its role in mediating aberrant Wnt signaling in ovarian cancer.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-022-05161-5
Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2022 Aug 17. 7(1): 275

DDX39B drives colorectal cancer progression by promoting the stability and nuclear translocation of PKM2.

Gang Zhao, Hang Yuan, Qin Li, Jie Zhang, Yafei Guo, Tianyu Feng, Rui Gu, Deqiong Ou, Siqi Li, Kai Li, Ping Lin.

Metastasis is a major cause of colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality, but its molecular mechanisms are still not fully understood. Here, we show that upregulated DDX39B correlates with liver metastases and aggressive phenotypes in CRC. DDX39B is an independent prognostic factor associated with poor clinical outcome in CRC patients. We demonstrate that Sp1 potently activates DDX39B transcription by directly binding to the GC box of the DDX39B promoter in CRC cells. DDX39B overexpression augments the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells, while the opposite results are obtained in DDX39B-deficient CRC cells. Mechanistically, DDX39B interacts directly with and stabilizes PKM2 by competitively suppressing STUB1-mediated PKM2 ubiquitination and degradation. Importantly, DDX39B recruits importin α5 to accelerate the nuclear translocation of PKM2 independent of ERK1/2-mediated phosphorylation of PKM2, leading to the transactivation of oncogenes and glycolysis-related genes. Consequently, DDX39B enhances glucose uptake and lactate production to activate Warburg effect in CRC. We identify that Arg319 of DDX39B is required for PKM2 binding as well as PKM2 nuclear accumulation and for DDX39B to promote CRC growth and metastasis. In addition, blocking PKM2 nuclear translocation or treatment with glycolytic inhibitor 2-deoxy-D-glucose efficiently abolishes DDX39B-triggered malignant development in CRC. Taken together, our findings uncover a key role for DDX39B in modulating glycolytic reprogramming and aggressive progression, and implicate DDX39B as a potential therapeutic target in CRC.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-022-01096-7
Cell Rep. 2022 Aug 16. pii: S2211-1247(22)01050-6. [Epub ahead of print]40(7): 111233

SHMT2-mediated mitochondrial serine metabolism drives 5-FU resistance by fueling nucleotide biosynthesis.

Erica Pranzini, Elisa Pardella, Livio Muccillo, Angela Leo, Ilaria Nesi, Alice Santi, Matteo Parri, Tong Zhang, Alejandro Huerta Uribe, Tiziano Lottini, Lina Sabatino, Anna Caselli, Annarosa Arcangeli, Giovanni Raugei, Vittorio Colantuoni, Paolo Cirri, Paola Chiarugi, Oliver D K Maddocks, Paolo Paoli, Maria Letizia Taddei.

  5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a key component of chemotherapy for colorectal cancer (CRC). 5-FU efficacy is established by intracellular levels of folate cofactors and DNA damage repair strategies. However, drug resistance still represents a major challenge. Here, we report that alterations in serine metabolism affect 5-FU sensitivity in in vitro and in vivo CRC models. In particular, 5-FU-resistant CRC cells display a strong serine dependency achieved either by upregulating endogenous serine synthesis or increasing exogenous serine uptake. Importantly, regardless of the serine feeder strategy, serine hydroxymethyltransferase-2 (SHMT2)-driven compartmentalization of one-carbon metabolism inside the mitochondria represents a specific adaptation of resistant cells to support purine biosynthesis and potentiate DNA damage response. Interfering with serine availability or affecting its mitochondrial metabolism revert 5-FU resistance. These data disclose a relevant mechanism of mitochondrial serine use supporting 5-FU resistance in CRC and provide perspectives for therapeutic approaches.

Keywords:  5-FU resistance; CP: Cancer; DNA damage response; Serine metabolism; colorectal cancer; mitochondrial metabolism; nucleotide metabolism; one-carbon metabolism (OCM)

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111233
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 Aug 23. 119(34): e2206824119

Bromodomain inhibition overcomes treatment resistance in distinct molecular subtypes of melanoma.

Altaf A Dar, Vladimir Bezrookove, Mehdi Nosrati, Ryan Ice, John M Patino, Edith M Vaquero, Brian Parrett, Stanley P Leong, Kevin B Kim, Robert J Debs, Liliana Soroceanu, James R Miller, Pierre-Yves Desprez, James E Cleaver, Nathan Salomonis, Sean McAllister, Mohammed Kashani-Sabet.

  Therapy of BRAF-mutant melanoma with selective inhibitors of BRAF (BRAFi) and MEK (MEKi) represents a major clinical advance but acquired resistance to therapy has emerged as a key obstacle. To date, no clinical approaches successfully resensitize to BRAF/MEK inhibition. Here, we develop a therapeutic strategy for melanoma using bromosporine, a bromodomain inhibitor. Bromosporine (bromo) monotherapy produced significant anti-tumor effects against established melanoma cell lines and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). Combinatorial therapy involving bromosporine and cobimetinib (bromo/cobi) showed synergistic anti-tumor effects in multiple BRAFi-resistant PDX models. The bromo/cobi combination was superior in vivo to standard BRAFi/MEKi therapy in the treatment-naive BRAF-mutant setting and to MEKi alone in the setting of immunotherapy-resistant NRAS- and NF1-mutant melanoma. RNA sequencing of xenografts treated with bromo/cobi revealed profound down-regulation of genes critical to cell division and mitotic progression. Bromo/cobi treatment resulted in marked DNA damage and cell-cycle arrest, resulting in induction of apoptosis. These studies introduce bromodomain inhibition, alone or combined with agents targeting the mitogen activated protein kinase pathway, as a rational therapeutic approach for melanoma refractory to standard targeted or immunotherapeutic approaches.

Keywords:  bromodomain inhibition; drug resistance; melanoma; targeted therapy

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2206824119
FASEB J. 2022 Sep;36(9): e22499

The tumor-repressing effect of CYP27A1 on renal cell carcinoma by 27-HC arising from cholesterol metabolism.

Xingming Zhang, Xiaoxue Yin, Jindong Dai, Guangxi Sun, Haoran Zhang, Jiayu Liang, Jinge Zhao, Sha Zhu, Junru Chen, Xudong Zhu, Yuchao Ni, Zhipeng Wang, Zhenhua Liu, Ni Chen, Pengfei Shen, Hao Zeng.

  As a key approach to mediate cholesterol metabolism, the role of the CYP27A1/27-HC axis in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains unclear. Analysis of CYP27A1 expression from public databases and metastatic cases in our center suggested that CYP27A1 was obviously downregulated in RCC tissues, and survival analysis further showed its correlation with favorable clinicopathological features and prognosis. In vitro, up and downregulation of CYP27A1 expression in RCC cell lines could definitely illustrate its anticipation involving apoptosis, proliferation, invasion, migration, and clonality. This could be achieved through upregulation of 27-HC concentration, which mediates the activation of signaling pathways of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Further, recovery of CYP27A1 expression could definitely inhibit the proliferation of RCC tumors in vivo. This is the first study to explore the role of the CYP27A1/27-HC axis in RCC. Attempts to maintain the normal function of the axis may be a potential strategy in the treatment of RCC, and the predictive value of CYP27A1 detection on the efficacy of targeted therapy in metastatic RCC is also worthy of attention.

Keywords:  27-HC; CDKN1B; CYP27A1; RCC; TNFR1; apoptosis; c-IAP2

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.202101146RR
J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2022 Aug 17. 41(1): 250

YTHDC1 is downregulated by the YY1/HDAC2 complex and controls the sensitivity of ccRCC to sunitinib by targeting the ANXA1-MAPK pathway.

Wei Li, Kun Ye, Xurui Li, Xinlin Liu, Mou Peng, Fang Chen, Wei Xiong, Yinhuai Wang, Liang Zhu.

  BACKGROUND: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as sunitinib are multitarget antiangiogenic agents in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). They are widely used in the treatment of advanced/metastatic renal cancer. However, resistance to TKIs is common in the clinic, particularly after long-term treatment. YTHDC1 is the main nuclear reader protein that binds with m6A to regulate the splicing, export and stability of mRNA. However, the specific role and corresponding mechanism of YTHDC1 in renal cancer cells are still unclear.METHODS: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset was used to study the expression of YTHDC1 in ccRCC. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), wound healing, Transwell and xenograft assays were applied to explore the biological function of YTHDC1 in ccRCC. Western blot, quantitative real time PCR (RT‒qPCR), RNA immunoprecipitation PCR (RIP-qPCR), methylated RIP-qPCR (MeRIP-qPCR) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analyses were applied to study the YY1/HDAC2/YTHDC1/ANXA1 axis in renal cancer cells. The CCK-8 assay and xenograft assay were used to study the role of YTHDC1 in determining the sensitivity of ccRCC to sunitinib.
RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that YTHDC1 is downregulated in ccRCC tissues compared with normal tissues. Low expression of YTHDC1 is associated with a poor prognosis in patients with ccRCC. Subsequently, we showed that YTHDC1 inhibits the progression of renal cancer cells via downregulation of the ANXA1/MAPK pathways. Moreover, we also showed that the YTHDC1/ANXA1 axis modulates the sensitivity of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. We then revealed that HDAC2 inhibitors resensitize ccRCC to tyrosine kinase inhibitors through the YY1/HDAC2 complex. We have identified a novel YY1/HDAC2/YTHDC1/ANXA1 axis modulating the progression and chemosensitivity of ccRCC.
CONCLUSION: We identified a novel YY1/HDAC2/YTHDC1/ANXA1 axis modulating the progression and chemosensitivity of ccRCC.

Keywords:  ANXA1; Clear cell renal cell carcinoma; HDAC2/YY1; Sunitinib; YTHDC1

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s13046-022-02460-9
Front Oncol. 2022 ;12 926437

Transcriptional, chromatin, and metabolic landscapes of LDHA inhibitor-resistant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Parmanand Malvi, Vipin Rawat, Romi Gupta, Narendra Wajapeyee.

  Metabolic reprogramming, due in part to the overexpression of metabolic enzymes, is a key hallmark of cancer cells. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDHA), a metabolic enzyme that catalyzes the interconversion of lactate and pyruvate, is overexpressed in a wide variety of cancer types, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Furthermore, the genetic or pharmacological inhibition of LDHA suppresses cancer growth, demonstrating a cancer-promoting role for this enzyme. Therefore, several pharmacological LDHA inhibitors are being developed and tested as potential anti-cancer therapeutic agents. Because cancer cells are known to rapidly adapt and become resistant to anti-cancer therapies, in this study, we modeled the adaptation of cancer cells to LDHA inhibition. Using PDAC as a model system, we studied the molecular aspects of cells resistant to the competitive LDHA inhibitor sodium oxamate. We performed unbiased RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing (ATAC-seq), and metabolomics analyses of parental and oxamate-resistant PDAC cells treated with and without oxamate to identify the transcriptional, chromatin, and metabolic landscapes of these cells. We found that oxamate-resistant PDAC cells were significantly different from parental cells at the levels of mRNA expression, chromatin accessibility, and metabolites. Additionally, an integrative analysis combining the RNA-seq and ATAC-seq datasets identified a subset of differentially expressed mRNAs that directly correlated with changes in chromatin accessibility. Finally, functional analysis of differentially expressed metabolic genes in parental and oxamate-resistant PDAC cells treated with and without oxamate, together with an integrative analysis of RNA-seq and metabolomics data, revealed changes in metabolic enzymes that might explain the changes in metabolite levels observed in these cells. Collectively, these studies identify the transcriptional, chromatin, and metabolic landscapes of LDHA inhibitor resistance in PDAC cells. Future functional studies related to these changes remain necessary to reveal the direct roles played by these changes in the development of LDHA inhibitor resistance and uncover approaches for more effective use of LDHA inhibitors in cancer therapy.

Keywords:  LDHA; cancer metabolism; chromatin accessibility; metabolomics; transcriptomics

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.926437
Cell Death Dis. 2022 Aug 16. 13(8): 710

EPIKOL, a chromatin-focused CRISPR/Cas9-based screening platform, to identify cancer-specific epigenetic vulnerabilities.

Ozlem Yedier-Bayram, Bengul Gokbayrak, Alisan Kayabolen, Ali Cenk Aksu, Ayse Derya Cavga, Ahmet Cingöz, Ezgi Yagmur Kala, Goktug Karabiyik, Rauf Günsay, Beril Esin, Tunc Morova, Fırat Uyulur, Hamzah Syed, Martin Philpott, Adam P Cribbs, Sonia H Y Kung, Nathan A Lack, Tamer T Onder, Tugba Bagci-Onder.

Dysregulation of the epigenome due to alterations in chromatin modifier proteins commonly contribute to malignant transformation. To interrogate the roles of epigenetic modifiers in cancer cells, we generated an epigenome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout library (EPIKOL) that targets a wide-range of epigenetic modifiers and their cofactors. We conducted eight screens in two different cancer types and showed that EPIKOL performs with high efficiency in terms of sgRNA distribution and depletion of essential genes. We discovered novel epigenetic modifiers that regulate triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and prostate cancer cell fitness. We confirmed the growth-regulatory functions of individual candidates, including SS18L2 and members of the NSL complex (KANSL2, KANSL3, KAT8) in TNBC cells. Overall, we show that EPIKOL, a focused sgRNA library targeting ~800 genes, can reveal epigenetic modifiers that are essential for cancer cell fitness under in vitro and in vivo conditions and enable the identification of novel anti-cancer targets. Due to its comprehensive epigenome-wide targets and relatively high number of sgRNAs per gene, EPIKOL will facilitate studies examining functional roles of epigenetic modifiers in a wide range of contexts, such as screens in primary cells, patient-derived xenografts as well as in vivo models.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-022-05146-4
Nat Commun. 2022 Aug 15. 13(1): 4767

A slow-cycling/quiescent cells subpopulation is involved in glioma invasiveness.

Francesco Antonica, Lucia Santomaso, Davide Pernici, Linda Petrucci, Giuseppe Aiello, Alessandro Cutarelli, Luciano Conti, Alessandro Romanel, Evelina Miele, Toma Tebaldi, Luca Tiberi.

Pediatric and adult high-grade gliomas are the most common primary malignant brain tumors, with poor prognosis due to recurrence and tumor infiltration after therapy. Quiescent cells have been implicated in tumor recurrence and treatment resistance, but their direct visualization and targeting remain challenging, precluding their mechanistic study. Here, we identify a population of malignant cells expressing Prominin-1 in a non-proliferating state in pediatric high-grade glioma patients. Using a genetic tool to visualize and ablate quiescent cells in mouse brain cancer and human cancer organoids, we reveal their localization at both the core and the edge of the tumors, and we demonstrate that quiescent cells are involved in infiltration of brain cancer cells. Finally, we find that Harmine, a DYRK1A/B inhibitor, partially decreases the number of quiescent and infiltrating cancer cells. Our data point to a subpopulation of quiescent cells as partially responsible of tumor invasiveness, one of the major causes of brain cancer morbidity.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-32448-0