bims-tucedo Biomed News
on Tumor cell dormancy
Issue of 2022–05–15
27 papers selected by
Isabel Puig Borreil, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology
  1. Lymph node colonization induces tumor-immune tolerance to promote distant metastasis.
  2. EZH2 engages TGFβ signaling to promote breast cancer bone metastasis via integrin β1-FAK activation.
  3. CDK12 promotes tumorigenesis but induces vulnerability to therapies inhibiting folate one-carbon metabolism in breast cancer.
  4. Mitochondrial micropeptide STMP1 enhances mitochondrial fission to promote tumor metastasis.
  5. Hypoxia-reoxygenation couples 3βHSD1 enzyme and cofactor upregulation to facilitate androgen biosynthesis and hormone therapy resistance in prostate cancer.
  6. Translesion DNA synthesis mediates acquired resistance to olaparib plus temozolomide in small cell lung cancer.
  7. Histone H3K9 methyltransferase SETDB1 augments invadopodia formation to promote tumor metastasis.
  8. SCD1/FADS2 fatty acid desaturases equipoise lipid metabolic activity and redox-driven ferroptosis in ascites-derived ovarian cancer cells.
  9. Epigenetic repression of STING by MYC promotes immune evasion and resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors in triple negative breast cancer.
  10. MYC drives aggressive prostate cancer by disrupting transcriptional pause release at androgen receptor targets.
  11. Hunting down rare drug-tolerant cycling cells with Watermelon.
  12. Multi-scale integrative analyses identify THBS2+ cancer-associated fibroblasts as a key orchestrator promoting aggressiveness in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma.
  13. CREB5 reprograms FOXA1 nuclear interactions to promote resistance to androgen receptor targeting therapies.
  14. Meningioma DNA methylation groups identify biological drivers and therapeutic vulnerabilities.
  15. Physiological expression of PI3K H1047R mutation reveals its anti-metastatic potential in ErbB2-driven breast cancer.
  16. RUNX2 recruits the NuRD(MTA1)/CRL4B complex to promote breast cancer progression and bone metastasis.
  17. Liquid biopsies to occult brain metastasis.
  18. N6-methyladenosine-modified TRAF1 promotes sunitinib resistance by regulating apoptosis and angiogenesis in a METTL14-dependent manner in renal cell carcinoma.
  19. Third-generation EGFR and ALK inhibitors: mechanisms of resistance and management.
  20. Translocon-associated protein subunit SSR3 determines and predicts susceptibility to paclitaxel in breast cancer and glioblastoma.
  21. SRSF3-mediated regulation of N6-methyladenosine modification-related lncRNA ANRIL splicing promotes resistance of pancreatic cancer to gemcitabine.
  22. Tumor-Resilient T-cell Signature Predicts Immunotherapy Response.
  23. Environmental cues from neural crest derivatives act as metastatic triggers in an embryonic neuroblastoma model.
  24. Therapeutic Implications for Intrinsic Phenotype Classification of Metastatic Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer.
  25. Computational identification of preneoplastic cells displaying high stemness and risk of cancer progression.
  26. Colorectal Cancer Growth Is Reduced by the Ketone Body β-Hydroxybutyrate.
  27. Bispecific antibodies pin down cancer stem cells.
  1. Cell. 2022 May 01. pii: S0092-8674(22)00466-4. [Epub ahead of print]
    Lymph node colonization induces tumor-immune tolerance to promote distant metastasis.
    Nathan E Reticker-Flynn, Weiruo Zhang, Julia A Belk, Pamela A Basto, Nichole K Escalante, Genay O W Pilarowski, Alborz Bejnood, Maria M Martins, Justin A Kenkel, Ian L Linde, Sreya Bagchi, Robert Yuan, Serena Chang, Matthew H Spitzer, Yaron Carmi, Jiahan Cheng, Lorna L Tolentino, Okmi Choi, Nancy Wu, Christina S Kong, Andrew J Gentles, John B Sunwoo, Ansuman T Satpathy, Sylvia K Plevritis, Edgar G Engleman.
      For many solid malignancies, lymph node (LN) involvement represents a harbinger of distant metastatic disease and, therefore, an important prognostic factor. Beyond its utility as a biomarker, whether and how LN metastasis plays an active role in shaping distant metastasis remains an open question. Here, we develop a syngeneic melanoma mouse model of LN metastasis to investigate how tumors spread to LNs and whether LN colonization influences metastasis to distant tissues. We show that an epigenetically instilled tumor-intrinsic interferon response program confers enhanced LN metastatic potential by enabling the evasion of NK cells and promoting LN colonization. LN metastases resist T cell-mediated cytotoxicity, induce antigen-specific regulatory T cells, and generate tumor-specific immune tolerance that subsequently facilitates distant tumor colonization. These effects extend to human cancers and other murine cancer models, implicating a conserved systemic mechanism by which malignancies spread to distant organs.
    Keywords:  ISGs; MHC-I; NK cells; PD-L1; Tregs; interferon; lymph nodes; metastasis; regulatory T cells; tolerance
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2022.04.019
  2. Nat Commun. 2022 May 10. 13(1): 2543
    EZH2 engages TGFβ signaling to promote breast cancer bone metastasis via integrin β1-FAK activation.
    Lin Zhang, Jingkun Qu, Yutao Qi, Yimin Duan, Yu-Wen Huang, Zhifen Zhou, Ping Li, Jun Yao, Beibei Huang, Shuxing Zhang, Dihua Yu.
      Bone metastases occur in 50-70% of patients with late-stage breast cancers and effective therapies are needed. The expression of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is correlated with breast cancer metastasis, but its function in bone metastasis hasn't been well-explored. Here we report that EZH2 promotes osteolytic metastasis of breast cancer through regulating transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) signaling. EZH2 induces cancer cell proliferation and osteoclast maturation, whereas EZH2 knockdown decreases bone metastasis incidence and outgrowth in vivo. Mechanistically, EZH2 transcriptionally increases ITGB1, which encodes for integrin β1. Integrin β1 activates focal adhesion kinase (FAK), which phosphorylates TGFβ receptor type I (TGFβRI) at tyrosine 182 to enhance its binding to TGFβ receptor type II (TGFβRII), thereby activating TGFβ signaling. Clinically applicable FAK inhibitors but not EZH2 methyltransferase inhibitors effectively inhibit breast cancer bone metastasis in vivo. Overall, we find that the EZH2-integrin β1-FAK axis cooperates with the TGFβ signaling pathway to promote bone metastasis of breast cancer.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-30105-0
  3. Nat Commun. 2022 May 12. 13(1): 2642
    CDK12 promotes tumorigenesis but induces vulnerability to therapies inhibiting folate one-carbon metabolism in breast cancer.
    M G Filippone, D Gaglio, R Bonfanti, F A Tucci, E Ceccacci, R Pennisi, M Bonanomi, G Jodice, M Tillhon, F Montani, G Bertalot, S Freddi, M Vecchi, A Taglialatela, M Romanenghi, F Romeo, N Bianco, E Munzone, F Sanguedolce, G Vago, G Viale, P P Di Fiore, S Minucci, L Alberghina, M Colleoni, P Veronesi, D Tosoni, S Pece.
      Cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) overexpression is implicated in breast cancer, but whether it has a primary or only a cooperative tumorigenic role is unclear. Here, we show that transgenic CDK12 overexpression in the mouse mammary gland per se is sufficient to drive the emergence of multiple and multifocal tumors, while, in cooperation with known oncogenes, it promotes earlier tumor onset and metastasis. Integrative transcriptomic, metabolomic and functional data reveal that hyperactivation of the serine-glycine-one-carbon network is a metabolic hallmark inherent to CDK12-induced tumorigenesis. Consistently, in retrospective patient cohort studies and in patient-derived xenografts, CDK12-overexpressing breast tumors show positive response to methotrexate-based chemotherapy targeting CDK12-induced metabolic alterations, while being intrinsically refractory to other types of chemotherapy. In a retrospective analysis of hormone receptor-negative and lymph node-positive breast cancer patients randomized in an adjuvant phase III trial to 1-year low-dose metronomic methotrexate-based chemotherapy or no maintenance chemotherapy, a high CDK12 status predicts a dramatic reduction in distant metastasis rate in the chemotherapy-treated vs. not-treated arm. Thus, by coupling tumor progression with metabolic reprogramming, CDK12 creates an actionable vulnerability for breast cancer therapy and might represent a suitable companion biomarker for targeted antimetabolite therapies in human breast cancers.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-30375-8
  4. Cancer Res. 2022 May 11. pii: canres.3910.2021. [Epub ahead of print]
    Mitochondrial micropeptide STMP1 enhances mitochondrial fission to promote tumor metastasis.
    Chen Xie, Feng-Yi Wang, Ye Sang, Bin Chen, Jia-Hui Huang, Feng-Jun He, Hui Li, Ying Zhu, Xingguo Liu, Shi-Mei Zhuang, Jian-Hong Fang.
      Micropeptides are a recently discovered class of molecules that play vital roles in various cellular processes, including differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis. Here, we sought to identify cancer-associated micropeptides and to uncover their mechanistic functions. A micropeptide named short trans-membrane protein 1 (STMP1) that localizes at the inner mitochondrial membrane was identified to be upregulated in various cancer types and associated with metastasis and recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Both gain- and loss-of-function studies revealed that STMP1 increased dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) activation to promote mitochondrial fission and enhanced migration of tumor cells. STMP1 silencing inhibited in vivo tumor metastasis in xenograft mouse models. Overexpression of STMP1 led to redistribution of mitochondria to the leading edge of cells and enhanced lamellipodia formation. Treatment with a DRP1 inhibitor abrogated the promotive effect of STMP1 on mitochondrial fission, lamellipodia formation, and tumor cell migration in vitro and metastasis in vivo. Furthermore, STMP1 interacted with myosin heavy chain 9 (MYH9), the subunit of non-muscle myosin II, and silencing MYH9 abrogated STMP1-induced DRP1 activation, mitochondrial fission, and cell migration. Collectively, this study identifies STMP1 as a critical regulator of metastasis and a novel unit of the mitochondrial fission protein machinery, providing a potential therapeutic target for treating metastases.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-21-3910
  5. Cancer Res. 2022 May 10. pii: canres.4256.2021. [Epub ahead of print]
    Hypoxia-reoxygenation couples 3βHSD1 enzyme and cofactor upregulation to facilitate androgen biosynthesis and hormone therapy resistance in prostate cancer.
    Liang Qin, Yoon-Mi Chung, Michael Berk, Bryan Naelitz, Ziqi Zhu, Eric Klein, Abhishek A Chakraborty, Nima Sharifi.
      Androgen deprivation therapy suppresses tumor androgen receptor (AR) signaling by depleting circulating testosterone and is a mainstay treatment for advanced prostate cancer. Despite initial treatment response, castration-resistant prostate cancer nearly always develops and remains driven primarily by the androgen axis. Here we investigated how changes in oxygenation affect androgen synthesis. In prostate cancer cells, chronic hypoxia coupled to reoxygenation resulted in efficient metabolism of androgen precursors to produce androgens and activate AR. Hypoxia induced 3βHSD1, the rate-limiting androgen synthesis regulator, and reoxygenation replenished necessary cofactors, suggesting that hypoxia and reoxygenation both facilitate potent androgen synthesis. The EGLN1/VHL/HIF2α pathway induced 3βHSD1 expression through direct binding of HIF2α to the 5' regulatory region of HSD3B1 to promote transcription. Overexpression of HIF2α facilitated prostate cancer progression, which largely depended on 3βHSD1. Inhibition of HIF2α with the small molecule PT2399 prevented prostate cancer cell proliferation. These results thus identify HIF2α as a regulator of androgen synthesis and potential therapeutic target in prostate cancer.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-21-4256
  6. Sci Adv. 2022 May 13. 8(19): eabn1229
    Translesion DNA synthesis mediates acquired resistance to olaparib plus temozolomide in small cell lung cancer.
    Marcello Stanzione, Jun Zhong, Edmond Wong, Thomas J LaSalle, Jillian F Wise, Antoine Simoneau, David T Myers, Sarah Phat, Moshe Sade-Feldman, Michael S Lawrence, M Kyle Hadden, Lee Zou, Anna F Farago, Nicholas J Dyson, Benjamin J Drapkin.
      In small cell lung cancer (SCLC), acquired resistance to DNA-damaging therapy is challenging to study because rebiopsy is rarely performed. We used patient-derived xenograft models, established before therapy and after progression, to dissect acquired resistance to olaparib plus temozolomide (OT), a promising experimental therapy for relapsed SCLC. These pairs of serial models reveal alterations in both cell cycle kinetics and DNA replication and demonstrate both inter- and intratumoral heterogeneity in mechanisms of resistance. In one model pair, up-regulation of translesion DNA synthesis (TLS) enabled tolerance of OT-induced damage during DNA replication. TLS inhibitors restored sensitivity to OT both in vitro and in vivo, and similar synergistic effects were seen in additional SCLC cell lines. This represents the first described mechanism of acquired resistance to DNA damage in a patient with SCLC and highlights the potential of the serial model approach to investigate and overcome resistance to therapy in SCLC.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abn1229
  7. Oncogene. 2022 May 11.
    Histone H3K9 methyltransferase SETDB1 augments invadopodia formation to promote tumor metastasis.
    Shuhei Ueshima, Jia Fang.
      Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide, which harbors various accumulated genetic and epigenetic abnormalities. Histone methyltransferase SETDB1 is a pivotal epigenetic regulator whose focal amplification and upregulation are commonly detected in NSCLC. However, molecular mechanisms underlying the pro-oncogenic function of SETDB1 remain poorly characterized. Here, we demonstrate that SETDB1 augments the migration and invasion capabilities of NSCLC cells by reinforcing invadopodia formation and mediated ECM degradation. At the molecular level, SETDB1 suppresses the expression of FOXA2, a crucial tumor and metastasis suppressor via coordinated epigenetic mechanisms - SETDB1 not only catalyzes histone H3K9 methylation on FOXA2 genomic locus, but also recruits DNMT3A to regulate DNA methylation on CpG island. Consequently, depletion of Setdb1 in murine lung adenocarcinoma cells completely abolished their full and spontaneous metastatic capabilities in mouse xenograft models. These findings together establish the pro-metastasis activity of SETDB1 in NSCLC and elucidate the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41388-022-02345-3
  8. Theranostics. 2022 ;12(7): 3534-3552
    SCD1/FADS2 fatty acid desaturases equipoise lipid metabolic activity and redox-driven ferroptosis in ascites-derived ovarian cancer cells.
    Yang Xuan, Huogang Wang, Mingo Mh Yung, Fushun Chen, Wai-Sun Chan, Yau-Sang Chan, Stephen Kw Tsui, Hextan Ys Ngan, Karen Kl Chan, David W Chan.
      Rationale: Malignant ascites in peritoneal metastases is a lipid-enriched microenvironment and is frequently involved in the poor prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). However, the detailed mechanisms underlying ovarian cancer (OvCa) cells dictating their lipid metabolic activities in promoting tumor progression remain elusive. Methods: The omental conditioned medium (OCM) was established to imitate the omental or ascites microenvironment. Mass spectrometry, RT-qPCR, IHC, and western blot assays were applied to evaluate human fatty acid desaturases expressions and activities. Pharmaceutical inhibition and genetic ablation of SCD1/FADS2 were performed to observe the oncogenic capacities. RNA sequencing, lipid peroxidation, cellular iron, ROS, and Mito-Stress assays were applied to examine ferroptosis. OvCa patient-derived organoid and mouse model of peritoneal metastases were used to evaluate the combined effect of SCD1/FADS2 inhibitors with cisplatin. Results: We found that two critical fatty acid desaturases, stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) and acyl-CoA 6-desaturase (FADS2), were aberrantly upregulated, accelerating lipid metabolic activities and tumor aggressiveness of ascites-derived OvCa cells. Lipidomic analysis revealed that the elevation of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) was positively associated with SCD1/FADS2 levels and the oncogenic capacities of OvCa cells. In contrast, pharmaceutical inhibition and genetic ablation of SCD1/FADS2 retarded tumor growth, cancer stem cell (CSC) formation and reduced platinum resistance. Inhibition of SCD1/FADS2 directly downregulated GPX4 and the GSH/GSSG ratio, causing disruption of the cellular/mitochondrial redox balance and subsequently, iron-mediated lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial dysfunction in ascites-derived OvCa cells. Conclusions: Combinational treatment with SCD1/FADS2 inhibitors and cisplatin synergistically repressed tumor cell dissemination, providing a promising chemotherapeutic strategy against EOC peritoneal metastases.
    Keywords:  lipid desaturases; lipid metabolism; ovarian cancer; oxidative stress; peritoneal metastases
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.7150/thno.70194
  9. Cancer Immunol Res. 2022 May 13. pii: canimm.0826.2021. [Epub ahead of print]
    Epigenetic repression of STING by MYC promotes immune evasion and resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors in triple negative breast cancer.
    Kyung-Min Lee, Chang-Ching Lin, Alberto Servetto, Joonbeom Bae, Vishal Kandagatla, Dan Ye, Gun Min Kim, Dhivya R Sudhan, Saurabh Mendiratta, Paula I Gonzalez-Ericsson, Justin M Balko, Jeon Lee, Spencer Barnes, Venkat S Malladi, Siamak Tabrizi, Sangeetha M Reddy, Seoyun Yum, Ching-Wei Chang, Katherine E Hutchinson, Susan E Yost, Yuan Yuan, Zhijian J Chen, Yang-Xin Fu, Ariella B Hanker, Carlos L Arteaga.
      The MYC oncogene is frequently amplified in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Here, we show that MYC suppression induces immune-related hallmark gene set expression and tumor-infiltrating T cells in MYC-hyperactivated TNBCs. Mechanistically, MYC repressed stimulator of interferon genes (STING) expression via direct binding to the STING1 enhancer region, resulting in downregulation of the T-cell chemokines CCL5, CXCL10 and CXCL11. In primary and metastatic TNBC cohorts, tumors with high MYC expression or activity exhibited low STING expression. Using a CRISPR-mediated enhancer perturbation approach, we demonstrated that MYC-driven immune evasion is mediated by STING repression. STING repression induced resistance to PD-L1 blockade in mouse models of TNBC. Finally, a small molecule inhibitor of MYC combined with PD-L1 blockade elicited a durable response in immune-cold TNBC with high MYC expression, suggesting a strategy to restore PD-L1 inhibitor sensitivity in MYC-overexpressing TNBC.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1158/2326-6066.CIR-21-0826
  10. Nat Commun. 2022 May 13. 13(1): 2559
    MYC drives aggressive prostate cancer by disrupting transcriptional pause release at androgen receptor targets.
    Xintao Qiu, Nadia Boufaied, Tarek Hallal, Avery Feit, Anna de Polo, Adrienne M Luoma, Walaa Alahmadi, Janie Larocque, Giorgia Zadra, Yingtian Xie, Shengqing Gu, Qin Tang, Yi Zhang, Sudeepa Syamala, Ji-Heui Seo, Connor Bell, Edward O'Connor, Yang Liu, Edward M Schaeffer, R Jeffrey Karnes, Sheila Weinmann, Elai Davicioni, Colm Morrissey, Paloma Cejas, Leigh Ellis, Massimo Loda, Kai W Wucherpfennig, Mark M Pomerantz, Daniel E Spratt, Eva Corey, Matthew L Freedman, X Shirley Liu, Myles Brown, Henry W Long, David P Labbé.
      c-MYC (MYC) is a major driver of prostate cancer tumorigenesis and progression. Although MYC is overexpressed in both early and metastatic disease and associated with poor survival, its impact on prostate transcriptional reprogramming remains elusive. We demonstrate that MYC overexpression significantly diminishes the androgen receptor (AR) transcriptional program (the set of genes directly targeted by the AR protein) in luminal prostate cells without altering AR expression. Analyses of clinical specimens reveal that concurrent low AR and high MYC transcriptional programs accelerate prostate cancer progression toward a metastatic, castration-resistant disease. Data integration of single-cell transcriptomics together with ChIP-seq uncover an increase in RNA polymerase II (Pol II) promoter-proximal pausing at AR-dependent genes following MYC overexpression without an accompanying deactivation of AR-bound enhancers. Altogether, our findings suggest that MYC overexpression antagonizes the canonical AR transcriptional program and contributes to prostate tumor initiation and progression by disrupting transcriptional pause release at AR-regulated genes.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-30257-z
  11. Nat Rev Cancer. 2022 May 10.
    Hunting down rare drug-tolerant cycling cells with Watermelon.
    Yaara Oren.
      
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41568-022-00483-0
  12. Theranostics. 2022 ;12(7): 3104-3130
    Multi-scale integrative analyses identify THBS2+ cancer-associated fibroblasts as a key orchestrator promoting aggressiveness in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma.
    Haitang Yang, Beibei Sun, Liwen Fan, Wenyan Ma, Ke Xu, Sean R R Hall, Zhexin Wang, Ralph A Schmid, Ren-Wang Peng, Thomas M Marti, Wen Gao, Jianlin Xu, Weiwei Yang, Feng Yao.
      Rationale: Subsets of patients with early-stage lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) have a poor post-surgical course after curative surgery. However, biomarkers stratifying this high-risk subset and molecular underpinnings underlying the aggressive phenotype remain unclear. Methods: We integrated bulk and single-cell transcriptomics, proteomics, secretome and spatial profiling of clinical early-stage LUAD samples to identify molecular underpinnings that promote the aggressive phenotype. Results: We identified and validated THBS2, at multi-omic levels, as a tumor size-independent biomarker that robustly predicted post-surgical survival in multiple independent clinical cohorts of early-stage LUAD. Furthermore, scRNA-seq data revealed that THBS2 is exclusively derived from a specific cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) subset that is distinct from CAFs defined by classical markers. Interestingly, our data demonstrated that THBS2 was preferentially secreted via exosomes in early-stage LUAD tumors with high aggressiveness, and its levels in the peripheral plasma associated with short recurrence-free survival. Further characterization showed that THBS2-high early-stage LUAD was characterized by suppressed antitumor immunity. Specifically, beyond tumor cells, THBS2+ CAFs mainly interact with B and CD8+ T lymphocytes as well as macrophages within tumor microenvironment of early-stage LUAD, and THBS2-high LUAD was associated with decreased immune cell infiltrates but increased immune exhaustion marker. Clinically, high THBS2 expression predicted poor response to immunotherapies and short post-treatment survival of patients. Finally, THBS2 recombinant protein suppressed ex vivo T cells proliferation and promoted in vivo LUAD tumor growth and distant micro-metastasis. Conclusions: Our multi-level analyses uncovered tumor-specific THBS2+ CAFs as a key orchestrator promoting aggressiveness in early-stage LUAD.
    Keywords:  THBS2; cancer-associated fibroblast; early-stage lung adenocarcinoma; exosome; immunotherapy
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.7150/thno.69590
  13. Elife. 2022 May 12. pii: e73223. [Epub ahead of print]11
    CREB5 reprograms FOXA1 nuclear interactions to promote resistance to androgen receptor targeting therapies.
    Justin H Hwang, Rand Arafeh, Ji-Heui Seo, Sylvan C Baca, Megan Ludwig, Taylor E Arnoff, Lydia Sawyer, Camden Richter, Sydney Tape, Hannah E Bergom, Sean McSweeney, Jonathan P Rennhack, Sarah A Klingenberg, Alexander T M Cheung, Jason Kwon, Jonathan So, Steven Kregel, Eliezer M Van Allen, Justin M Drake, Matthew L Freedman, William C Hahn.
      Metastatic castration resistant prostate cancers (mCRPC) are treated with therapies that antagonize the androgen receptor (AR). Nearly all patients develop resistance to AR-targeted therapies (ART). Our previous work identified CREB5 as an upregulated target gene in human mCRPC that promoted resistance to all clinically-approved ART. The mechanisms by which CREB5 promotes progression of mCRPC or other cancers remains elusive. Integrating ChIP-seq and rapid immunoprecipitation and mass spectroscopy of endogenous proteins (RIME), we report that cells overexpressing CREB5 demonstrate extensive reprogramming of nuclear protein-protein interactions in response to the ART agent enzalutamide. Specifically, CREB5 physically interacts with AR, the pioneering actor FOXA1, and other known co-factors of AR and FOXA1 at transcription regulatory elements recently found to be active in mCRPC patients. We identified a subset of CREB5/FOXA1 co-interacting nuclear factors that have critical functions for AR transcription (GRHL2, HOXB13) while others (TBX3, NFIC) regulated cell viability and ART resistance and were amplified or overexpressed in mCRPC. Upon examining the nuclear protein interactions and the impact of CREB5 expression on the mCRPC patient transcriptome, we found CREB5 was associated with Wnt signaling and epithelial to mesenchymal transitions, implicating these pathways in CREB5/FOXA1-mediated ART resistance. Overall, these observations define the molecular interactions among CREB5, FOXA1, and pathways that promote ART resistance.
    Keywords:  cancer biology; chromosomes; gene expression; human
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.73223
  14. Nat Genet. 2022 May 09.
    Meningioma DNA methylation groups identify biological drivers and therapeutic vulnerabilities.
    Abrar Choudhury, Stephen T Magill, Charlotte D Eaton, Briana C Prager, William C Chen, Martha A Cady, Kyounghee Seo, Calixto-Hope G Lucas, Tim J Casey-Clyde, Harish N Vasudevan, S John Liu, Javier E Villanueva-Meyer, Tai-Chung Lam, Jenny Kan-Suen Pu, Lai-Fung Li, Gilberto Ka-Kit Leung, Danielle L Swaney, Michael Y Zhang, Jason W Chan, Zhixin Qiu, Michael V Martin, Matthew S Susko, Steve E Braunstein, Nancy Ann Oberheim Bush, Jessica D Schulte, Nicholas Butowski, Penny K Sneed, Mitchel S Berger, Nevan J Krogan, Arie Perry, Joanna J Phillips, David A Solomon, Joseph F Costello, Michael W McDermott, Jeremy N Rich, David R Raleigh.
      Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial tumors. There are no effective medical therapies for meningioma patients, and new treatments have been encumbered by limited understanding of meningioma biology. Here, we use DNA methylation profiling on 565 meningiomas integrated with genetic, transcriptomic, biochemical, proteomic and single-cell approaches to show meningiomas are composed of three DNA methylation groups with distinct clinical outcomes, biological drivers and therapeutic vulnerabilities. Merlin-intact meningiomas (34%) have the best outcomes and are distinguished by NF2/Merlin regulation of susceptibility to cytotoxic therapy. Immune-enriched meningiomas (38%) have intermediate outcomes and are distinguished by immune infiltration, HLA expression and lymphatic vessels. Hypermitotic meningiomas (28%) have the worst outcomes and are distinguished by convergent genetic and epigenetic mechanisms driving the cell cycle and resistance to cytotoxic therapy. To translate these findings into clinical practice, we show cytostatic cell cycle inhibitors attenuate meningioma growth in cell culture, organoids, xenografts and patients.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-022-01061-8
  15. Oncogene. 2022 May 10.
    Physiological expression of PI3K H1047R mutation reveals its anti-metastatic potential in ErbB2-driven breast cancer.
    Alexandra M Simond, Tung Bui, Dongmei Zuo, Virginie Sanguin-Gendreau, Trisha Rao, Wayne A Phillips, Robert D Cardiff, William J Muller.
      p110α is a catalytic subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), a major downstream effector of receptor tyrosine kinase ErbB2, that is amplified and overexpressed in 20-30% of breast cancers, 40% of which have an activating mutation in p110α. Despite the high frequency of PIK3CA gain-of-function mutations, their prognostic value is controversial. Here, we employ a knock-in transgenic strategy to restrict the expression of an activated form of ErbB2 and p110α kinase domain mutation (p110αHR) in the mammary epithelium. Physiological levels of transgene expression under the control of their endogenous promoters did not result in a major synergistic effect. However, tumors arising in ErbB2/p110αHR bi-genic strain metastasized to the lung with significantly reduced capacity compared to tumors expressing ErbB2 alone. The reduced metastasis was further associated with retention of the myoepithelial layer reminiscent of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a non-invasive stage of human breast cancer. Molecular and biochemical analyses revealed that these poorly metastatic tumors exhibited a significant decrease in phospho-myosin light chain 2 (MLC2) associated with cellular contractility and migration. Examination of human samples for MLC2 activity revealed a progressive increase in cellular contractility between non-invasive DCIS and invasive ductal carcinoma. Collectively, these data argue that p110αHR mutation attenuates metastatic behavior in the context of ErbB2-driven breast cancer.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41388-022-02323-9
  16. Cell Death Differ. 2022 May 09.
    RUNX2 recruits the NuRD(MTA1)/CRL4B complex to promote breast cancer progression and bone metastasis.
    Xin Yin, Xu Teng, Tianyu Ma, Tianshu Yang, Jingyao Zhang, Miaomiao Huo, Wei Liu, Yunkai Yang, Baowen Yuan, Hefen Yu, Wei Huang, Yan Wang.
      Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) is an osteogenesis-related transcription factor that has emerged as a prominent transcription repressing factor in carcinogenesis. However, the role of RUNX2 in breast cancer metastasis remains poorly understood. Here, we show that RUNX2 recruits the metastasis-associated 1 (MTA1)/NuRD and the Cullin 4B (CUL4B)-Ring E3 ligase (CRL4B) complex to form a transcriptional-repressive complex, which catalyzes the histone deacetylation and ubiquitylation. Genome-wide analysis of the RUNX2/NuRD(MTA1)/CRL4B complex targets identified a cohort of genes including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), which are critically involved in cell growth, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and invasion. We demonstrate that the RUNX2/NuRD(MTA1)/CRL4B complex promotes the proliferation, invasion, tumorigenesis, bone metastasis, cancer stemness of breast cancer in vitro and in vivo. Strikingly, RUNX2 expression is upregulated in multiple human carcinomas, including breast cancer. Our study suggests that RUNX2 is a promising potential target for the future treatment strategies of breast cancer.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41418-022-01010-2
  17. Mol Cancer. 2022 May 10. 21(1): 113
    Liquid biopsies to occult brain metastasis.
    Asad Ur Rehman, Parvez Khan, Shailendra Kumar Maurya, Jawed A Siddiqui, Juan A Santamaria-Barria, Surinder K Batra, Mohd Wasim Nasser.
      Brain metastasis (BrM) is a major problem associated with cancer-related mortality, and currently, no specific biomarkers are available in clinical settings for early detection. Liquid biopsy is widely accepted as a non-invasive method for diagnosing cancer and other diseases. We have reviewed the evidence that shows how the molecular alterations are involved in BrM, majorly from breast cancer (BC), lung cancer (LC), and melanoma, with an inception in how they can be employed for biomarker development. We discussed genetic and epigenetic changes that influence cancer cells to breach the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and help to establish metastatic lesions in the uniquely distinct brain microenvironment. Keeping abreast with the recent breakthroughs in the context of various biomolecules detections and identifications, the circulating tumor cells (CTC), cell-free nucleotides, non-coding RNAs, secretory proteins, and metabolites can be pursued in human body fluids such as blood, serum, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and urine to obtain potential candidates for biomarker development. The liquid biopsy-based biomarkers can overlay with current imaging techniques to amplify the signal viable for improving the early detection and treatments of occult BrM.
    Keywords:  Brain microenvironment; CTCs; Cancer diagnostics; Cell-free DNA; Exosomes; microRNA
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-022-01577-x
  18. Mol Cancer. 2022 May 10. 21(1): 111
    N6-methyladenosine-modified TRAF1 promotes sunitinib resistance by regulating apoptosis and angiogenesis in a METTL14-dependent manner in renal cell carcinoma.
    Yuanlei Chen, Zeyi Lu, Chao Qi, Chenhao Yu, Yang Li, Wang Huan, Ruyue Wang, Wenqin Luo, Danyang Shen, Lifeng Ding, Liangliang Ren, Haiyun Xie, Dingwei Xue, Mingchao Wang, Kangxin Ni, Liqun Xia, Jun Qian, Gonghui Li.
       BACKGROUND: Sunitinib resistance can be classified into primary and secondary resistance. While accumulating research has indicated several underlying factors contributing to sunitinib resistance, the precise mechanisms in renal cell carcinoma are still unclear.
    METHODS: RNA sequencing and m6A sequencing were used to screen for functional genes involved in sunitinib resistance. In vitro and in vivo experiments were carried out and patient samples and clinical information were obtained for clinical analysis.
    RESULTS: We identified a tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor, TRAF1, that was significantly increased in sunitinib-resistant cells, resistant cell-derived xenograft (CDX-R) models and clinical patients with sunitinib resistance. Silencing TRAF1 increased sunitinib-induced apoptotic and antiangiogenic effects. Mechanistically, the upregulated level of TRAF1 in sunitinib-resistant cells was derived from increased TRAF1 RNA stability, which was caused by an increased level of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) in a METTL14-dependent manner. Moreover, in vivo adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) -mediated transduction of TRAF1 suppressed the sunitinib-induced apoptotic and antiangiogenic effects in the CDX models, whereas knockdown of TRAF1 effectively resensitized the sunitinib-resistant CDXs to sunitinib treatment.
    CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of TRAF1 promotes sunitinib resistance by modulating apoptotic and angiogenic pathways in a METTL14-dependent manner. Targeting TRAF1 and its pathways may be a novel pharmaceutical intervention for sunitinib-treated patients.
    Keywords:  METTL14; N6-methyladenosine; RCC; Sunitinib-resistance; TRAF1
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-022-01549-1
  19. Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2022 May 09.
    Third-generation EGFR and ALK inhibitors: mechanisms of resistance and management.
    Alissa J Cooper, Lecia V Sequist, Jessica J Lin.
      The discoveries of EGFR mutations and ALK rearrangements as actionable oncogenic drivers in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has propelled a biomarker-directed treatment paradigm for patients with advanced-stage disease. Numerous EGFR and ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) with demonstrated efficacy in patients with EGFR-mutant and ALK-rearranged NSCLCs have been developed, culminating in the availability of the highly effective third-generation TKIs osimertinib and lorlatinib, respectively. Despite their marked efficacy, resistance to these agents remains an unsolved fundamental challenge. Both 'on-target' mechanisms (largely mediated by acquired resistance mutations in the kinase domains of EGFR or ALK) and 'off-target' mechanisms of resistance (mediated by non-target kinase alterations such as bypass signalling activation or phenotypic transformation) have been identified in patients with disease progression on osimertinib or lorlatinib. A growing understanding of the biology and spectrum of these mechanisms of resistance has already begun to inform the development of more effective therapeutic strategies. In this Review, we discuss the development of third-generation EGFR and ALK inhibitors, predominant mechanisms of resistance, and approaches to tackling resistance in the clinic, ranging from novel fourth-generation TKIs to combination regimens and other investigational therapies.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41571-022-00639-9
  20. Clin Cancer Res. 2022 May 12. pii: clincanres.2563.2021. [Epub ahead of print]
    Translocon-associated protein subunit SSR3 determines and predicts susceptibility to paclitaxel in breast cancer and glioblastoma.
    Crismita Dmello, Aarón Sonabend, Victor A Arrieta, Daniel Y Zhang, Deepak Kanojia, Li Chen, Andrew Gould, Jiangshan Zhang, Seong Jae Kang, Jan Winter, Craig Horbinski, Christina Amidei, Balázs Győrffy, Alex Cordero, Catalina Lee-Chang, Brandyn Castro, Patrick Hsu, Atique U Ahmed, Maciej S Lesniak, Roger Stupp, Adam M Sonabend.
       PURPOSE: Paclitaxel (PTX) is one the most potent and commonly used chemotherapies for breast and pancreatic cancer. Several ongoing clinical trials are investigating means of enhancing delivery of PTX across the blood-brain barrier for glioblastomas (GBMs). Despite the widespread use of PTX for breast cancer, and the initiative to repurpose this drug for gliomas, there are no predictive biomarkers to inform which patients will likely benefit from this therapy.
    EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: To identify predictive biomarkers for susceptibility to PTX, we performed a genome-wide CRISPR knock-out (KO) screen using human glioma cells. The genes whose KO was most enriched in the CRISPR screen underwent further selection based on their correlation with survival in the breast cancer patient cohorts treated with PTX and not in patients treated with other chemotherapies, a finding that was validated on a second independent patient cohort using progression-free survival.
    RESULTS: Combination of CRISPR screen results with outcomes from taxane-treated breast cancer patients led to the discovery of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein SSR3 as a putative predictive biomarker for PTX. SSR3 protein levels showed positive correlation with susceptibility to PTX in breast cancer cells, glioma cells and in multiple intracranial glioma xenografts models. Knockout of SSR3 turned the cells resistant to PTX while its overexpression sensitized the cells to PTX. Mechanistically, SSR3 confers susceptibility to PTX through regulation of phosphorylation of ER stress sensor IRE1α.
    CONCLUSION: Our hypothesis generating study showed SSR3 as a putative biomarker for susceptibility to PTX, warranting its prospective clinical validation.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-21-2563
  21. Cell Rep. 2022 May 10. pii: S2211-1247(22)00584-8. [Epub ahead of print]39(6): 110813
    SRSF3-mediated regulation of N6-methyladenosine modification-related lncRNA ANRIL splicing promotes resistance of pancreatic cancer to gemcitabine.
    Zu-Wei Wang, Jing-Jing Pan, Jian-Fei Hu, Jia-Qiang Zhang, Long Huang, Yi Huang, Cheng-Yu Liao, Can Yang, Zhi-Wen Chen, Yao-Dong Wang, Bai-Yong Shen, Yi-Feng Tian, Shi Chen.
      Serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 3 (SRSF3) regulates mRNA alternative splicing of more than 90% of protein-coding genes, providing an essential source for biological versatility. This study finds that SRSF3 expression is associated with drug resistance and poor prognosis in pancreatic cancer. We also find that SRSF3 regulates ANRIL splicing and m6A modification of ANRIL in pancreatic cancer cells. More importantly, we demonstrate that m6A methylation on lncRNA ANRIL is essential for the splicing. Moreover, our results show that SRSF3 promotes gemcitabine resistance by regulating ANRIL's splicing and ANRIL-208 (one of the ANRIL spliceosomes) can enhance DNA homologous recombination repair (HR) capacity by forming a complex with Ring1b and EZH2. In conclusion, this study establishes a link between SRSF3, m6A modification, lncRNA splicing, and DNA HR in pancreatic cancer and demonstrates that abnormal alternative splicing and m6A modification are closely related to chemotherapy resistance in pancreatic cancer.
    Keywords:  ANRIL; CP: Cancer; CP: Molecular biology; DNA repair; N6-methyladenosine; SRSF3; chemoresistance; pancreatic cancer
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110813
  22. Cancer Discov. 2022 May 13. OF1
    Tumor-Resilient T-cell Signature Predicts Immunotherapy Response.
      A computational model of resilient T cells predicts immunotherapy response via transcriptomic data.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1158/2159-8290.CD-RW2022-089
  23. Nat Commun. 2022 May 10. 13(1): 2549
    Environmental cues from neural crest derivatives act as metastatic triggers in an embryonic neuroblastoma model.
    Dounia Ben Amar, Karine Thoinet, Benjamin Villalard, Olivier Imbaud, Clélia Costechareyre, Loraine Jarrosson, Florie Reynaud, Julia Novion Ducassou, Yohann Couté, Jean-François Brunet, Valérie Combaret, Nadège Corradini, Céline Delloye-Bourgeois, Valérie Castellani.
      Embryonic malignant transformation is concomitant to organogenesis, often affecting multipotent and migratory progenitors. While lineage relationships between malignant cells and their physiological counterparts are extensively investigated, the contribution of exogenous embryonic signals is not fully known. Neuroblastoma (NB) is a childhood malignancy of the peripheral nervous system arising from the embryonic trunk neural crest (NC) and characterized by heterogeneous and interconvertible tumor cell identities. Here, using experimental models mimicking the embryonic context coupled to proteomic and transcriptomic analyses, we show that signals released by embryonic sympathetic ganglia, including Olfactomedin-1, induce NB cells to shift from a noradrenergic to mesenchymal identity, and to activate a gene program promoting NB metastatic onset and dissemination. From this gene program, we extract a core signature specifically shared by metastatic cancers with NC origin. This reveals non-cell autonomous embryonic contributions regulating the plasticity of NB identities and setting pro-dissemination gene programs common to NC-derived cancers.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-30237-3
  24. Clin Cancer Res. 2022 May 12. pii: clincanres.4289.2021. [Epub ahead of print]
    Therapeutic Implications for Intrinsic Phenotype Classification of Metastatic Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer.
    Ilsa M Coleman, Navonil DeSarkar, Colm Morrissey, Li Xin, Martine P Roudier, Erolcan Sayar, Dapei Li, Eva Corey, Michael C Haffner, Peter S Nelson.
       PURPOSE: To determine if metastatic castration resistant prostate cancers (mCRPCs) partition into molecular phenotypes corresponding to intrinsic differentiation states and ascertain whether these subtypes exhibit specific druggable features and associate with treatment outcomes.
    EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We used RNAseq, digital spatial profiling, and histological assessments from metastatic biopsies and patient derived xenografts to segregate mCRPCs into subtypes defined by the PAM50 breast cancer classification algorithm. Subtype associations with treatment responses in preclinical models and patients were determined.
    RESULTS: Using the PAM50 algorithm we partitioned 270 mCRPC tumors into LumA (42%), LumB (24%) and Basal (34%) subtypes with classification largely driven by proliferation rates and androgen receptor (AR) activity. Most neuroendocrine tumors classified as Basal. Pathways enriched in the LumA subtype include TGFß and NOTCH signaling. LumB subtype tumors were notable for elevated MYC activity. Basal subtype tumors exhibited elevated IL6-STAT3 signaling and features of adult stem cell states. In patients where multiple tumors were evaluated, the majority had concordant PAM50 subtype determination, though a subset exhibited marked inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity including divergent classifications between primary and metastatic sites. In preclinical models, LumA subtype tumors were responsive to androgen deprivation and docetaxel chemotherapy whereas Basal tumors were largely resistant. In clinical cohorts patients with Basal tumors demonstrated a shorter time on treatment with AR signaling inhibitors and docetaxel relative to patients with luminal subtypes.
    CONCLUSIONS: Subtyping of mCRPC based on cell differentiation states has potential clinical utility for identifying patients with divergent expression of treatment targets and responses to systemic therapy.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-21-4289
  25. Cancer Res. 2022 May 10. pii: canres.0668.2022. [Epub ahead of print]
    Computational identification of preneoplastic cells displaying high stemness and risk of cancer progression.
    Tianyuan Liu, Xuan Zhao, Yuan Lin, Qi Luo, Shaosen Zhang, Yiyi Xi, Yamei Chen, Lin Lin, Wenyi Fan, Jie Yang, Yuling Ma, Alok K Maity, Yanyi Huang, Jianbin Wang, Jiang Chang, Dongxin Lin, Andrew E Teschendorff, Chen Wu.
      Evidence points towards the differentiation state of cells as a marker of cancer risk and progression. Measuring the differentiation state of single cells in a preneoplastic population could thus enable novel strategies for early detection and risk prediction. Recent maps of somatic mutagenesis in normal tissues from young healthy individuals have revealed cancer driver mutations, indicating that these do not correlate well with differentiation state and that other molecular events also contribute to cancer development. We hypothesized that the differentiation state of single cells can be measured by estimating the regulatory activity of the transcription factors (TFs) that control differentiation within that cell lineage. To this end, we present a novel computational method called CancerStemID that estimates a stemness index of cells from single-cell RNA-Seq data. CancerStemID is validated in two human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cohorts, demonstrating how it can identify undifferentiated preneoplastic cells whose transcriptomic state is overrepresented in invasive cancer. Spatial transcriptomics and whole-genome bisulfite sequencing demonstrated that differentiation activity of tissue-specific TFs was decreased in cancer cells compared to the basal cell-of-origin layer and established that differentiation state correlated with differential DNA methylation at the promoters of these TFs, independently of underlying NOTCH1 and TP53 mutations. The findings were replicated in a mouse model of ESCC development, and the broad applicability of CancerStemID to other cancer-types was demonstrated. In summary, these data support an epigenetic stem-cell model of oncogenesis and highlight a novel computational strategy to identify stem-like preneoplastic cells that undergo positive selection.
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-22-0668
  26. Cancer Discov. 2022 May 13. OF1
    Colorectal Cancer Growth Is Reduced by the Ketone Body β-Hydroxybutyrate.
      The ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) mediates the growth inhibitory effects of the ketogenic diet (KD).
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1158/2159-8290.CD-RW2022-084
  27. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2022 May 10.
    Bispecific antibodies pin down cancer stem cells.
    M Teresa Villanueva.
      
    Keywords:  Biotechnology; Cancer; Drug discovery; Stem cells
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1038/d41573-022-00086-2
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