CHK1 inhibition in soft-tissue sarcomas: biological and clinical implications.

Background: Inhibition of ChK1 appears as a promising strategy for selectively potentiate the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents in G1 checkpoint-defective tumor cells such as those that lack functional p53 protein. The p53 pathway is commonly dysregulated in soft-tissue sarcomas (STS) through mutations affecting TP53 or MDM2 amplification. GDC-0575 is a selective ATP-competitive inhibitor of CHK1. Methods: We have performed a systematic screening of a panel of 10 STS cell lines by combining the treatment of GDC-0575 with chemotherapy. Cell proliferation, cell death and cell cycle analysis were evaluated with high throughput assay. In vivo experiments were carried out by using TP53-mutated and TP53 wild-type patient-derived xenograft models of STS. Clinical activity of GDC-0575 combined with chemotherapy in patients with TP53-mutated and TP53 wild-type STS was also assessed. Results: We found that GDC-0575 abrogated DNA damage-induced S and G2-M checkpoints, exacerbated DNA double-strand breaks and induced apoptosis in STS cells. Moreover, we observed a synergistic or additive effect of GDC-0575 together with gemcitabine in vitro and in vivo in TP53-proficient but not TP53-deficient sarcoma models. In a phase I study of GDC-0575 in combination with gemcitabine, two patients with metastatic TP53-mutated STS had an exceptional, long-lasting response despite administration of a very low dose of gemcitabine whereas one patient with wild-type TP53 STS had no clinical benefit. Genetic profiling of samples from a patient displaying secondary resistance after 1 year showed loss of one preexisting loss-of-function mutation in the helical domain of DNA2. Conclusion: We provide the first preclinical and clinical evidence that potentiation of chemotherapy activity with a CHK1 inhibitor is a promising strategy in TP53-deficient STS and deserves further investigation in the phase II setting.

BRCA1 haplotype and clinical benefit of trabectedin in soft-tissue sarcoma patients.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine whether the BRCA1 haplotype was associated with trabectedin efficacy in soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) patients. METHODS: We analysed BRCA1 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in tumour specimens from 135 advanced STS patients enrolled in published phase 2 trials or in a compassionate-use programme of trabectedin. Forty-four advanced STS patients treated with doxorubicin and 85 patients with localised STS served as controls. The 6-month nonprogression rate and overall survival (OS) were analysed according to BRCA1 haplotype using log-rank tests. RESULTS: A favourable BRCA1 haplotype (presence of at least one AAAG allele) was significantly associated with an improved 6-month nonprogression rate. It was the only variable significantly associated with OS. No correlations were found between outcomes for patients with localised or advanced STS treated with doxorubicin. CONCLUSIONS: The BRCA1 haplotype represents a potential DNA repair biomarker that can be used for the prediction of response to trabectedin in STS patients.

Identification of SNPs associated with response of breast cancer patients to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the EORTC-10994 randomized phase III trial.

Using cell line panels we identified associations between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and chemosensitivity. To validate these findings in clinics, we genotyped a subset of patients included in a neoadjuvant breast cancer trial to explore the relationship between genotypes and clinical outcome according to treatment received and p53 status. We genotyped 384 selected SNPs in the germline DNA extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded non-invaded lymph nodes of 243 patients. The polymorphisms of five selected genes were first studied, and then all 384 SNPs were considered. Correction for multiple testing was applied. CYP1B1 polymorphism was significantly associated with pathological complete response (pCR) in patients who had received DNA-damaging agents. MDM2, MDM4 and TP53BP1 polymorphisms were significantly associated with pCR in patients harboring a p53-positive tumor. In the complete SNP panel, there was a significant association between overall survival (OS) and a SNP of ADH1C, R272Q (P=0.0023). By multivariate analysis, only ADH1C genotype and p53 status were significantly associated with OS.

Genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 library screening identified ATM signaling network genes as critical drivers for resistance to ATR inhibition in soft-tissue sarcomas: synthetic lethality and therapeutic implications.

Soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) are a heterogeneous group of rare tumors with different biological behavior that are fatal in more than 40% of cases, due to their metastatic evolution and inadequate treatment options. ATR inhibition already showed an activity, even if modest, in broad pre-clinical models of STS. By using genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 library screening, we identified ATM signaling network genes as critical drivers for resistance to the specific ATR inhibitor AZD6738. The role of such genes in resistance to AZD6738 was confirmed by using CRISPR/Cas9 knockout models. More strikingly, the ATM inhibitor AZD0156 works synergistically with AZD6738 in vitro and abolishes STS growth in vivo in our models of most frequent histotypes (such as dedifferentiated liposarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma among others). Moreover, the combination of AZD6738 and AZD0156 induced significantly higher levels of DNA damage than either drug used as single agent alone. In summary, our results demonstrate that targeting ATM is an effective approach to overcome resistance to ATR inhibition in different STS subtypes, including the most frequent histologies.

Gut microbiome ADP-ribosyltransferases are widespread phage-encoded fitness factors.

Bacterial ADP-ribosyltransferases (ADPRTs) have been described as toxins involved in pathogenesis through the modification of host proteins. Here, we report that ADPRTs are not pathogen restricted but widely prevalent in the human gut microbiome and often associated with phage elements. We validated their biochemical activity in a large clinical isolate collection and further examined Bxa, a highly abundant ADPRT in Bacteroides. Bxa is expressed, secreted, and enzymatically active in Bacteroides and can ADP-ribosylate non-muscle myosin II proteins. Addition of Bxa to epithelial cells remodeled the actin cytoskeleton and induced secretion of inosine. Bxa-encoding B. stercoris can use inosine as a carbon source and colonizes the gut to significantly greater numbers than a bxa-deleted strain in germ-free and altered Schaedler flora (ASF) mice. Colonization correlated with increased inosine concentrations in the feces and tissues. Altogether, our results show that ADPRTs are abundant in the microbiome and act as bacterial fitness factors.

The association between the T309G polymorphism of the MDM2 gene and sensitivity to anticancer drug is dependent on the p53 mutational status in cellular models.

BACKGROUND: We investigated, in the panel of 60 human tumour cell lines of the National Cancer Institute (NCI-60), whether the R72P polymorphism of TP53 and the T309G polymorphism of MDM2 were associated to the in vitro cytotoxicity of anticancer agents, extracted from the NCI database. For validation, the same study was performed independently on a second panel of tumour cell lines, JFCR-45. METHODS: Both SNPs were identified in cell DNA using PCR-RFLP techniques confirmed by direct sequencing and by pyrosequencing. For the analysis of the results, the mutational status of p53 was taken into account. RESULTS: In the NCI-60 panel, the TP53 rare-allele frequency was 32% and the MDM2 rare-allele frequency 39%. The MDM2 alleles were distributed according to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium whereas this was only found, for the TP53 alleles, in p53 non-mutated cell lines. Comparable results were obtained in the JFCR-45 validation set. The TP53 SNP had low impact on anticancer drug cytotoxicity in either panel. In contrast, the MDM2 gene polymorphism had a major impact on anticancer drug cytotoxicity, essentially in p53 non-mutated cell lines. Presence of the rare allele was associated to significantly higher MDM2 protein expression and to increased sensitivity to DNA-interfering drugs. In the JFCR-45 panel, a similar effect of the MDM2 gene polymorphism was observed, but was less dependent on the p53 mutational status. CONCLUSIONS: We hypothesised that cell lines harbouring the MDM2 G allele presented a lower availability of p53 for DNA repair, translating into higher sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents.

French multicentric evaluation of mdr1 gene expression by RT-PCR in leukemia and solid tumours. Standardization of RT-PCR and preliminary comparisons between RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry in solid tumours. French Network of the Drug Resistance Intergroup, and Drug Resistance Network of Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris.

Since there is no consensus on the techniques for multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype evaluation, many discrepancies concerning the importance and frequency of mdr1 gene expression in leukemias and solid tumors are observed in the literature. In order to establish an inter-laboratory consensus in France, a multicenter study was carried out to propose further guidelines for MDR phenotype evaluation. The techniques used by the 38 laboratories participating in the trial were: immunodetection (immunohisto and/or cytochemistry, flow cytometry), functional tests, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or Northern blot. We present the results obtained by 19 laboratories concerning the measurement of mdr1 gene expression assessed by RT-PCR or Northern blot in: (1)19 samples of tumor cells obtained from leukemic patients; (2) six solid tumor samples obtained at surgery; (3) eight cell lines exhibiting variable levels of resistance, and; (4)10 preparations of RNA and of cDNA obtained from solid tumors. Standardization of the RT-PCR technique and preliminary results comparing RT-PCR with immunohistochemistry in solid tumors are also reported.

LHRH inactivation by reconstituted horse and fetal bovine sera: assessment by reduction of immunoreactivity and biological activity in pituitary cell cultures.

Lyophilized horse and fetal bovine sera are commonly incorporated into the growth media used for primary pituitary cell cultures. LHRH degrading activity has been assumed to exist in these preparations but has not actually been demonstrated. During our studies with pituitary cultures, it became necessary to ascertain if LHRH inactivating activity could be demonstrated in these sera. Luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH) was preincubated in either serum-free medium or medium containing fetal bovine and horse serum. Whether LHRH was lost during these incubations was assessed by diminished immunoreactivity as indicated by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and by diminished biological activity as indicated by reduced release of LH from pituitary cell cultures. Both the RIA and bioassay results indicated LHRH inactivating activity; the loss of LHRH could be prevented by inclusion of bacitracin in the incubations.

Doxorubicin-induced alterations of c-myc and c-jun gene expression in rat glioblastoma cells: role of c-jun in drug resistance and cell death.

We studied the effect of doxorubicin on the expression of c-myc and c-jun in the rat glioblastoma cell line C6 and its doxorubicin-resistant variant C6 0.5, at equitoxic exposures. For quantitation, the mRNA levels of these oncogenes were related to those of two domestic genes, beta-actin and glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase. After a transient overexpression of the genes during the first hour of incubation, there was a selective, dose-dependent down-regulation of both genes by doxorubicin in the sensitive cells. In the resistant cell line, c-myc expression was also decreased in response to doxorubicin incubation, but the expression of c-jun remained unchanged over the whole range of concentrations. In contrast, vincristine had no effect on the amounts of c-myc and c-jun mRNAs in either line. The effect of doxorubicin on the mRNA levels of c-jun was also observed on the JUN proteins by immunoblotting, but the MYC protein levels remained unchanged upon doxorubicin treatment. There was a significant correlation between the levels of c-myc and c-jun gene expression and the degree of growth inhibition induced by doxorubicin. In addition, doxorubicin induced a fragmentation of DNA in sensitive cells, but not in resistant cells, thus revealing a resistance to apoptosis in this line. Doxorubicin-induced cell death did not appear to be mediated by p53 in either cell line.

Down-regulation of bcr-abl and bcl-x(L) expression in a leukemia cell line and its doxorubicin-resistant variant by topoisomerase II inhibitors.

K562 cells are usually resistant to apoptosis induction, probably because of the expression of bcr-abl, the hybrid gene characteristic of the Philadelphia chromosome (t 9;22). However, we have previously shown that amsacrine and, to a lesser extent, doxorubicin, could induce apoptosis in the doxorubicin-resistant variant of this cell line. In order to elucidate the role of bcr-abl in triggering apoptosis, we investigated the effect of the topoisomerase II inhibitors doxorubicin, amsacrine, and etoposide on the expression of several genes that may be related to apoptosis induction in both cell lines. This was done using a technique of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction coupled with HPLC of the amplified fragments to obtain semiquantitative evaluations. We showed that amsacrine, at pharmacologically relevant concentrations, was able to decrease the expression of bcr-abl down to 20% of the basal value in the doxorubicin-resistant variant only, whereas doxorubicin and etoposide were unable to do so. No effect of these drugs was seen on the expression of the normal abl gene. In addition, there was an effect of amsacrine on the expression of bcl-x(L) in the resistant cell line only, but at concentrations higher than the IC(50) of this drug. Our results emphasize the role of bcr-abl in protecting cells from apoptosis and the possible involvement of specific topoisomerase II inhibitors in overcoming resistance to apoptosis.

Superfused pituitary cell cultures: comparative responsiveness of cells derived from various stages of the estrous cycle to LHRH stimulation administered as short duration pulses.

We have reinvestigated the question of maintenance of differential LHRH sensitivity in culture and further investigated the role of pulsatile LHRH in the in vitro release of pulsatile LH and FSH at different stages of the estrous cycle. Pituitaries were collected on each day of the 4 day cycle at 0800. In addition, pituitaries were also collected at 1500 and 1900 on proestrous. The cells were dispersed and exposed 48 hrs later to short duration 4 ng LHRH pulses; this dose was optimized for LH release and was applied at a frequency of 1 pulse/60 min. In terms of absolute magnitude of LH response, observed responsiveness was ranked in the following order: proestrous 1900 greater than estrous 0800 greater than diestrous 1 0800 greater than proestrous 1500 greater than diestrous 2 0800. Responsiveness was significantly greater at proestrous 1900 (p greater than 0.01), estrous 0800 (p greater than 0.05) and diestrous 1 0800 (p greater than 0.05) when compared to either of the other stages tested. The heightened LHRH sensitivity of proestrous was therefore maintained in cell culture indicating that the system should be valid for conducting studies on the control of gonadotropin secretion during this period. FSH did not respond in pulsatile manner to the LHRH levels employed further substantiating recent evidence that LHRH seems to function somehow less directly in FSH as compared to LH secretion.

Superfused pituitary cell cultures: effects of culture conditions on apparent responsiveness to LHRH stimulation administered as short duration pulses.

We wished to study estrous cycle related differences in LH and FSH responsiveness to pulsatile LHRH. Such studies are very difficult to perform in vivo under controlled conditions; therefore, an in vitro superfused anterior pituitary cell culture system was evaluated for its capacity to support differences in estrous stage associated LHRH responsiveness. Three vital culture system parameters were evaluated; these parameters were (1) culture medium composition, (2) duration allowed for cell attachment to microcarrier beads and (3) superfusion flow rate utilized during pulsatile LHRH stimulation. It was found that a culture system which utilized 10% Nu Serum in DMEM (final protein concentration of 1.8 mg/ml; final serum concentration of 2.5%), an attachment time of 48 hrs and a flow rate of 0.125 ml/min most successfully maximized LH responsiveness at the lowest serum concentration. These studies indicated that although one may be able to observe LHRH responsiveness under a wide range of culture conditions, responsiveness may nonetheless be maximized by judicious adjustment of culture conditions.

Enzymatic tracer damage during the gonadotropin releasing hormone radioimmunoassay: analytical and immunological assessment.

Hypothalamic supernatants from 60 day female rats were fractionated from Sephadex G-200 columns. The radioimmunoassay (RIA) for gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) detected an apparently cross-reacting high molecular weight substance. The substance caused apparent displacement of iodinated GnRH binding in dose response fashion; however, no biological activity was observed in pituitary cell cultures. In order to determine whether the depressed binding might be caused by enzymatic degradation of iodinated GnRH during the RIA incubation, iodinated GnRH was preincubated under RIA conditions with either buffer or increasing concentrations of the GnRH cross-reacting material. Aliquots were subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and the gels slices counted. Identical aliquots were subsequently used as iodinated hormone in the RIA of known quantities of synthetic GnRH. Tracer damage during the RIA-like preincubation period was reflected in the subsequent PAGE studies as decreased counts per minute in the intact GnRH peak and in the RIA studies as over-estimated quantification of the GnRH standards. This report describes such damage during the GnRH RIA and the data misinterpretations which result.

Fast-responding automated airway temperature probe.

Rapid changes occur in the thermal profiles of asthmatic subjects following the cessation of hyperpnea, which include temperature increases of the order of 0.25 degrees C s-1 in the trachea. These thermal events could indicate abnormal blood flow in the airway wall of these patients, a factor which may be linked to the instability of their airway geometry. To monitor these events a series of fast-responding thermistors and associated electronics have been developed. The apparatus uses temperature sensors of very small mass and the interrupt processing capability of the IBM-AT compatible computer to achieve a system response time that is in an order of magnitude greater than previous devices. Stable, reproducible and easily calibrated, this device shows no hysteresis over a required operating range of 15-35 degrees C. It exceeds all standards for electrical safety of the American Hospital Association. This device can be used to monitor the thermal transients which are seen in the airways of asthmatic patients as their airways rewarm following hyperpnea.

Transcriptional down-regulation of c-myc expression in an erythroleukemic cell line, K562, and its doxorubicin-resistant variant by two topoisomerase II inhibitors, doxorubicin and amsacrine.

We have evaluated the effect of two topoisomerase II (Topo II) poisons, amsacrine and doxorubicin, on the expression of the c-myc oncogene, both at the mRNA and protein levels, in the leukemia cell line, K562, and its doxorubicin-resistant counterpart, K562 DoxR. We report in this study a concentration-dependent decrease in c-myc mRNA levels upon exposure of both cell lines to amsacrine and doxorubicin, with a more pronounced effect for amsacrine in the resistant line. In either case, c-myc down-regulation closely paralleled the drug-induced growth inhibition. We have also used the technique of PCR stop-assay to detect the occurrence of DNA breaks within the P2 promoter of the c-myc gene. We have shown that Topo II-mediated breaks induced by amsacrine are probably responsible for the down-regulation of c-myc in the resistant line. In addition, amsacrine induced apoptosis only in the resistant line while doxorubicin did not induce apoptosis in any cell line. These results suggest that c-myc is not involved in the resistance of K562 DoxR cells, but can induce the apoptosis pathway in these cells, while no drug-induced apoptosis could be detected in the sensitive line.

Alpha thalassemia and stroke risk in sickle cell anemia.

In an effort to identify possible risk factors for stroke in Sickle Cell Anemia (Hb SS), we analyzed the distribution of alpha-globin gene deletions in a group of Hb SS patients with and without stroke. The group with stroke consisted of 44 patients, (27 male, 17 female) with a mean of 7.5 years at time of stroke. The control group (non-stroke) had 256 Hb SS patients (126 male, 130 female) with a mean age of 7.7 years. There were 9 patients with heterozygous alpha-thalassemia in the stroke group (20.5%). In the control group, there were 93 patients with heterozygous alpha-thalassemia and 5 with homozygous alpha-thalassemia. The incidence of alpha-thalassemia in Hb SS patients without stroke (38%) was comparable to that reported for the African-American population in general. The incidence in the stroke population (20.5%) was significantly lower (P = 0.02) These results indicate that alpha-thalassemia is associated with a lower risk of stroke in Hb SS. This observation should be confirmed in studies involving larger numbers of patients. Possible protective effects of alpha-thalassemia are unknown but may be related to decreased hemolysis and more favorable rheologic properties of red blood cells.