RESUMEN
While Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) establishes a life-long latent infection in apparently healthy human immunocompetent hosts, immunodeficient individuals are at particular risk to develop lymphoproliferative B-cell malignancies caused by EBV. A key EBV protein is the transcription factor EBV nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA2), which initiates B-cell proliferation. Here, we combine biochemical, cellular, and in vivo experiments demonstrating that the mitotic polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) binds to EBNA2, phosphorylates its transactivation domain, and thereby inhibits its biological activity. EBNA2 mutants that impair PLK1 binding or prevent EBNA2 phosphorylation are gain-of-function mutants. They exhibit enhanced transactivation capacities, accelerate the proliferation of infected B cells, and promote the development of monoclonal B-cell lymphomas in infected mice. Thus, PLK1 coordinates the activity of EBNA2 to attenuate the risk of tumor incidences in favor of the establishment of latency in the infected but healthy host.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones por Virus de Epstein-Barr , Herpesvirus Humano 4 , Animales , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular , Infecciones por Virus de Epstein-Barr/complicaciones , Antígenos Nucleares del Virus de Epstein-Barr/genética , Antígenos Nucleares del Virus de Epstein-Barr/metabolismo , Herpesvirus Humano 4/metabolismo , Ratones , Fosforilación , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinasas , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas , Latencia del Virus , Quinasa Tipo Polo 1RESUMEN
Cervical cancer is the fourth most frequently diagnosed and fatal gynecological cancer. 15-61% of all cases metastasize and develop chemoresistance, reducing the 5-year survival of cervical cancer patients to as low as 17%. Therefore, unraveling the mechanisms contributing to metastasis is critical in developing better-targeted therapies against it. Here, we have identified a novel mechanism where nuclear Caspase-8 directly interacts with and inhibits the activity of CDK9, thereby modulating RNAPII-mediated global transcription, including those of cell-migration- and cell-invasion-associated genes. Crucially, low Caspase-8 expression in cervical cancer patients leads to poor prognosis, higher CDK9 phosphorylation at Thr186, and increased RNAPII activity in cervical cancer cell lines and patient biopsies. Caspase-8 knock-out cells were also more resistant to the small-molecule CDK9 inhibitor BAY1251152 in both 2D- and 3D-culture conditions. Combining BAY1251152 with Cisplatin synergistically overcame chemoresistance of Caspase-8-deficient cervical cancer cells. Therefore, Caspase-8 expression could be a marker in chemoresistant cervical tumors, suggesting CDK9 inhibitor treatment for their sensitization to Cisplatin-based chemotherapy.
Asunto(s)
ARN Polimerasa II , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino , Humanos , Femenino , ARN Polimerasa II/metabolismo , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino/genética , Fosforilación , Caspasa 8/genética , Caspasa 8/metabolismo , Cisplatino/farmacología , Inhibidores de Proteínas Quinasas , Quinasa 9 Dependiente de la Ciclina/genética , Quinasa 9 Dependiente de la Ciclina/metabolismoRESUMEN
Caspase-8 is an aspartate-specific cysteine protease, which is best known for its apoptotic functions. Caspase-8 is placed at central nodes of multiple signal pathways, regulating not only the cell cycle but also the invasive and metastatic cell behavior, the immune cell homeostasis and cytokine production, which are the two major components of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Ovarian cancer often has dysregulated caspase-8 expression, leading to imbalance between its apoptotic and non-apoptotic functions within the tumor and the surrounding milieu. The downregulation of caspase-8 in ovarian cancer seems to be linked to high aggressiveness with chronic inflammation, immunoediting, and immune resistance. Caspase-8 plays therefore an essential role not only in the primary tumor cells but also in the TME by regulating the immune response, B and T lymphocyte activation, and macrophage differentiation and polarization. The switch between M1 and M2 macrophages is possibly associated with changes in the caspase-8 expression. In this review, we are discussing the non-apoptotic functions of caspase-8, highlighting this protein as a modulator of the immune response and the cytokine composition in the TME. Considering the low survival rate among ovarian cancer patients, it is urgently necessary to develop new therapeutic strategies to optimize the response to the standard treatment. The TME is highly heterogenous and provides a variety of opportunities for new drug targets. Given the variety of roles of caspase-8 in the TME, we should focus on this protein in the development of new therapeutic strategies against the TME of ovarian cancer.
Asunto(s)
Caspasa 8/fisiología , Neoplasias Ováricas , Microambiente Tumoral , Femenino , Humanos , Macrófagos , Transducción de SeñalRESUMEN
Ovarian cancer (OC) accounts for approximately 4% of cancer deaths in women worldwide and is the deadliest gynecologic malignancy. High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is the most predominant ovarian cancer, in which BRCA1/2 gene mutation ranges from 3 to 27%. PARP inhibitors (PARPi) have shown promising results as a synthetically lethal therapeutic approach for BRCA mutant and recurrent OC in clinical use. However, emerging data indicate that BRCA-deficient cancers may be resistant to PARPi, and the mechanisms of this resistance remain elusive. We found that amplification of KRAS likely underlies PARPi resistance in BRCA2-deficient HGSOC. Our data suggest that PLK1 inhibition restores sensitivity to PARPi in HGSOC with KRAS amplification. The sequential combination of PLK1 inhibitor (PLK1i) and PARPi drastically reduces HGSOC cell survival and increases apoptosis. Furthermore, we were able to show that a sequential combination of PLK1i and PARPi enhanced the cellular apoptotic response to carboplatin-based chemotherapy in KRAS-amplified resistant HGSOC cells and 3D spheroids derived from recurrent ovarian cancer patients. Our results shed new light on the critical role of PLK1 in reversing PARPi resistance in KRAS-amplified HGSOC, and offer a new therapeutic strategy for this class of ovarian cancer patients where only limited options currently exist.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/metabolismo , Cistadenocarcinoma Seroso , Neoplasias Ováricas , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinasas/metabolismo , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas/metabolismo , Proteína BRCA1/genética , Carboplatino/uso terapéutico , Cistadenocarcinoma Seroso/tratamiento farmacológico , Femenino , Humanos , Recurrencia Local de Neoplasia/tratamiento farmacológico , Recurrencia Local de Neoplasia/genética , Neoplasias Ováricas/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Ováricas/genética , Neoplasias Ováricas/patología , Ftalazinas/farmacología , Poli(ADP-Ribosa) Polimerasa-1 , Inhibidores de Poli(ADP-Ribosa) Polimerasas/farmacología , Inhibidores de Poli(ADP-Ribosa) Polimerasas/uso terapéutico , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas p21(ras)/genética , Quinasa Tipo Polo 1RESUMEN
Ovarian cancer exhibits the highest mortality rate among gynecological malignancies. Antimitotic agents, such as paclitaxel, are frontline drugs for the treatment of ovarian cancer. They inhibit microtubule dynamics and their efficiency relies on a prolonged mitotic arrest and the strong activation of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). Although ovarian cancers respond well to paclitaxel, the clinical efficacy is limited due to an early onset of drug resistance, which may rely on a compromised mitosis exit associated with weakend intrinsic apoptosis. Accordingly, we aimed at overcoming SAC silencing that occurs rapidly during paclitaxel-induced mitotic arrest. To do this, we used a specific anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) inhibitor to prevent a premature mitotic exit upon paclitaxel treatment. Furthermore, we investigated the role of the antiapoptotic BCL-2 family member MCL-1 in determining the fate of ovarian cancer cells lines with CCNE1 amplification that are challenged with clinically relevant dose of paclitaxel. Using time-laps microscopy, we demonstrated that APC/C and MCL-1 inhibition under paclitaxel prevents mitotic slippage in ovarian cancer cell lines and restores death in mitosis. Consistent with this, the combinatorial treatment reduced the survival of ovarian cancer cells in 2D and 3D cell models. Since a therapeutic ceiling has been reached with taxanes, it is of utmost importance to develop alternative strategies to improve the patient's survival. Thus, our study provides not only elements to understand the causes of taxane resistance in CCNE1-amplified ovarian cancers but also suggests a new combinatorial strategy that may improve paclitaxel-based efficacy in this highly lethal gynecological disease.
Asunto(s)
Ciclosoma-Complejo Promotor de la Anafase/antagonistas & inhibidores , Ciclina E/genética , Cistadenocarcinoma Seroso/tratamiento farmacológico , Proteína 1 de la Secuencia de Leucemia de Células Mieloides/antagonistas & inhibidores , Proteínas Oncogénicas/genética , Neoplasias Ováricas/tratamiento farmacológico , Paclitaxel/farmacología , Ciclosoma-Complejo Promotor de la Anafase/metabolismo , Antineoplásicos Fitogénicos/farmacología , Apoptosis/efectos de los fármacos , Apoptosis/genética , Línea Celular Tumoral , Ciclina E/metabolismo , Cistadenocarcinoma Seroso/genética , Cistadenocarcinoma Seroso/metabolismo , Cistadenocarcinoma Seroso/patología , Resistencia a Antineoplásicos , Femenino , Amplificación de Genes , Humanos , Mitosis/efectos de los fármacos , Proteína 1 de la Secuencia de Leucemia de Células Mieloides/metabolismo , Clasificación del Tumor , Proteínas Oncogénicas/metabolismo , Neoplasias Ováricas/genética , Neoplasias Ováricas/metabolismo , Neoplasias Ováricas/patologíaRESUMEN
Although essential for T cell function, the identity of the T cell receptor "inside-out" pathway for lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) adhesion has proved elusive. Here, we define the "inside-out" pathway mediated by N-terminal SKAP1 (SKAP-55) domain binding to the C-terminal SARAH domain of RapL. TcR induced Rap1-RapL complex formation and LFA-1 binding failed to occur in Skap1(-/-) primary T cells. SKAP1 generated a SKAP1-RapL-Rap1 complex that bound to LFA-1, whereas a RapL mutation (L224A) that abrogated SKAP1 binding without affecting MST1 disrupted component colocalization in vesicles as well as T cell-dendritic cell (DC) conjugation. RapL expression also "slowed" T cell motility in D011.10 transgenic T cells in lymph nodes (LNs), an effect reversed by the L224A mutation with reduced dwell times between T cells and DCs. Overall, our findings define a TCR "inside-out" pathway via N-SKAP1-C-RapL that regulates T cell adhesion, motility, and arrest times with DCs in LNs.
Asunto(s)
Ganglios Linfáticos/inmunología , Proteínas de Unión al GTP Monoméricas/metabolismo , Fosfoproteínas/inmunología , Fosfoproteínas/metabolismo , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfocitos T/inmunología , Linfocitos T/inmunología , Proteínas de Unión al GTP rap1/metabolismo , Proteínas Adaptadoras Transductoras de Señales , Animales , Proteínas Reguladoras de la Apoptosis , Adhesión Celular , Movimiento Celular , Células Cultivadas , Células Dendríticas/inmunología , Ganglios Linfáticos/citología , Ganglios Linfáticos/metabolismo , Antígeno-1 Asociado a Función de Linfocito/inmunología , Antígeno-1 Asociado a Función de Linfocito/metabolismo , Ratones , Ratones Noqueados , Proteínas de Unión al GTP Monoméricas/genética , Proteínas de Unión al GTP Monoméricas/inmunología , Mutación , Fosfoproteínas/deficiencia , Fosfoproteínas/genética , Unión Proteica , Transporte de Proteínas , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfocitos T/metabolismo , Transducción de Señal , Linfocitos T/citología , Linfocitos T/metabolismo , Proteínas de Unión al GTP rap1/inmunologíaRESUMEN
Human polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is essential during mitosis and in the maintenance of genomic stability. PLK1 is overexpressed in human tumours and has prognostic potential in cancer, indicating its involvement in carcinogenesis and its potential as a therapeutic target. The use of different PLK1 inhibitors has increased our knowledge of mitotic regulation and allowed us to assess their ability to suppress tumour growth in vivo. We address the structural features of the kinase domain and the unique polo-box domain of PLK1 that are most suited for drug development and discuss our current understanding of the therapeutic potential of PLK1.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/antagonistas & inhibidores , Silenciador del Gen , Neoplasias/terapia , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinasas/antagonistas & inhibidores , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas/antagonistas & inhibidores , Animales , Ciclo Celular , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/genética , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/metabolismo , Predicción , Humanos , Mitosis , Neoplasias/enzimología , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinasas/genética , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinasas/metabolismo , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas/genética , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas/metabolismo , Quinasa Tipo Polo 1RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The cellular tumor protein p53 (TP53) is a tumor suppressor gene that is frequently mutated in human cancers. Among various cancer types, the very aggressive high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) exhibits the highest prevalence of TP53 mutations, present in >96% of cases. Despite intensive efforts to reactivate p53, no clinical drug has been approved to rescue p53 function. In this study, our primary objective was to administer in vitro-transcribed (IVT) wild-type (WT) p53-mRNA to HGSOC cell lines, primary cells, and orthotopic mouse models, with the aim of exploring its impact on inhibiting tumor growth and dissemination, both in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: To restore the activity of p53, WT p53 was exogenously expressed in HGSOC cell lines using a mammalian vector system. Moreover, IVT WT p53 mRNA was delivered into different HGSOC model systems (primary cells and patient-derived organoids) using liposomes and studied for proliferation, cell cycle progression, apoptosis, colony formation, and chromosomal instability. Transcriptomic alterations induced by p53 mRNA were analyzed using RNA sequencing in OVCAR-8 and primary HGSOC cells, followed by ingenuity pathway analysis. In vivo effects on tumor growth and metastasis were studied using orthotopic xenografts and metastatic intraperitoneal mouse models. RESULTS: Reactivation of the TP53 tumor suppressor gene was explored in different HGSOC model systems using newly designed IVT mRNA-based methods. The introduction of WT p53 mRNA triggered dose-dependent apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and potent long-lasting inhibition of HGSOC cell proliferation. Transcriptome analysis of OVCAR-8 cells upon mRNA-based p53 reactivation revealed significant alterations in gene expression related to p53 signaling, such as apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, and DNA damage. Restoring p53 function concurrently reduces chromosomal instability within the HGSOC cells, underscoring its crucial contribution in safeguarding genomic integrity by moderating the baseline occurrence of double-strand breaks arising from replication stress. Furthermore, in various mouse models, treatment with p53 mRNA reduced tumor growth and inhibited tumor cell dissemination in the peritoneal cavity in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: The IVT mRNA-based reactivation of p53 holds promise as a potential therapeutic strategy for HGSOC, providing valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying p53 function and its relevance in ovarian cancer treatment.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias Ováricas , Proteína p53 Supresora de Tumor , Animales , Ratones , Humanos , Femenino , Proteína p53 Supresora de Tumor/genética , ARN Mensajero/genética , Clasificación del Tumor , Línea Celular Tumoral , Neoplasias Ováricas/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Ováricas/genética , Inestabilidad Cromosómica , MamíferosRESUMEN
Ovarian cancer is one of the most lethal gynecological cancers worldwide, with approximately 70% of cases diagnosed in advanced stages. This late diagnosis results from the absence of early warning symptoms and is associated with an unfavorable prognosis. A standard treatment entails a combination of primary chemotherapy with platinum and taxane agents. Tumor recurrence following first-line chemotherapy with Carboplatin and Paclitaxel is detected in 80% of advanced ovarian cancer patients, with disease relapse occurring within 2 years of initial treatment. Platinum-resistant ovarian cancer is one of the biggest challenges in treating patients. Second-line treatments involve PARP or VEGF inhibitors. Identifying novel biomarkers and resistance mechanisms is critical to overcoming resistance, developing newer treatment strategies, and improving patient survival. In this study, we have determined that low Caspase-8 expression in ovarian cancer patients leads to poor prognosis. High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer (HGSOC) cells lacking Caspase-8 expression showed an altered composition of the RNA Polymerase II-containing transcriptional elongation complex leading to increased transcriptional activity. Caspase-8 knockout cells display increased BRD4 expression and CDK9 activity and reduced sensitivities to Carboplatin and Paclitaxel. Based on our work, we are proposing three potential therapeutic approaches to treat advanced ovarian cancer patients who exhibit low Caspase-8 expression and resistance to Carboplatin and/or Paclitaxel-combinations of (1) Carboplatin with small-molecule BRD4 inhibitors; (2) Paclitaxel with small-molecule BRD4 inhibitors, and (3) small-molecule BRD4 and CDK9 inhibitors. In addition, we are also proposing two predictive markers of chemoresistance-BRD4 and pCDK9.
RESUMEN
Salt-inducible kinases 1-3 (SIK1-3) are key regulators of the LKB1-AMPK pathway and play an important role in cellular homeostasis. Dysregulation of any of the three isoforms has been associated with tumorigenesis in liver, breast, and ovarian cancers. We have recently developed the dual pan-SIK/group I p21-activated kinase (PAK) chemical probe MRIA9. However, inhibition of p21-activated kinases has been associated with cardiotoxicity in vivo, which complicates the use of MRIA9 as a tool compound. Here, we present a structure-based approach involving the back-pocket and gatekeeper residues, for narrowing the selectivity of pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7(8H)-one-based inhibitors towards SIK kinases, eliminating PAK activity. Optimization was guided by high-resolution crystal structure analysis and computational methods, resulting in a pan-SIK inhibitor, MR22, which no longer exhibited activity on STE group kinases and displayed excellent selectivity in a representative kinase panel. MR22-dependent SIK inhibition led to centrosome dissociation and subsequent cell-cycle arrest in ovarian cancer cells, as observed with MRIA9, conclusively linking these phenotypic effects to SIK inhibition. Taken together, MR22 represents a valuable tool compound for studying SIK kinase function in cells.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas Quinasas Activadas por AMP , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinasas , Proteínas Quinasas Activadas por AMP/metabolismo , Hígado/metabolismo , Isoformas de Proteínas , Inhibidores de Proteínas Quinasas/farmacologíaRESUMEN
Although essential for T cell function, the identity of the T cell receptor (TCR) "inside-out" pathway for the activation of lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) is unclear. SKAP1 (SKAP-55) is the upstream regulator needed for TCR-induced RapL-Rap1 complex formation and LFA-1 activation. In this paper, we show that SKAP1 is needed for RapL binding to membranes in a manner dependent on the PH domain of SKAP1 and the PI3K pathway. A SKAP1 PH domain-inactivating mutation (i.e. R131M) markedly impaired RapL translocation to membranes for Rap1 and LFA-1 binding and the up-regulation of LFA-1-intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) binding. Further, N-terminal myr-tagged SKAP1 for membrane binding facilitated constitutive RapL membrane and Rap1 binding and effectively substituted for PI3K and TCR ligation in the activation of LFA-1 in T cells.
Asunto(s)
Antígeno-1 Asociado a Función de Linfocito/biosíntesis , Proteínas de Unión al GTP Monoméricas/metabolismo , Fosfoproteínas/metabolismo , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfocitos T/metabolismo , Linfocitos T/metabolismo , Proteínas de Unión a Telómeros/metabolismo , Proteínas Adaptadoras Transductoras de Señales , Proteínas Reguladoras de la Apoptosis , Membrana Celular/genética , Membrana Celular/metabolismo , Humanos , Molécula 1 de Adhesión Intercelular/genética , Molécula 1 de Adhesión Intercelular/metabolismo , Células Jurkat , Antígeno-1 Asociado a Función de Linfocito/genética , Proteínas de Unión al GTP Monoméricas/genética , Complejos Multiproteicos/genética , Complejos Multiproteicos/metabolismo , Mutación , Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinasas/genética , Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinasas/metabolismo , Fosfoproteínas/genética , Estructura Terciaria de Proteína , Transporte de Proteínas/fisiología , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfocitos T/genética , Complejo Shelterina , Proteínas de Unión a Telómeros/genética , Regulación hacia Arriba/fisiologíaRESUMEN
Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) is widely established as one of the most promising targets in oncology. Although the protein kinase domain of Plk1 is highly conserved, the polo-box domain (PBD) of Plk1 provides a much more compelling site to specifically inhibit the localization and target binding of Plk1. We recently identified, via fluorescence polarization assay, the natural product derivative, Poloxin, as the first small-molecule inhibitor specifically targeting the function of the Plk1 PBD. In this study, we characterized its mitotic phenotype and its function in vitro and in vivo. Poloxin induces centrosome fragmentation and abnormal spindle and chromosome misalignment, which activate the spindle assembly checkpoint and prolong mitosis. Notably, centrosomal fragmentation induced by Poloxin is partially attributable to dysfunctional Kizuna, a key substrate of Plk1 at centrosomes. Moreover, Poloxin strongly inhibits proliferation of a panel of cancer cells by inducing mitotic arrest, followed by a surge of apoptosis. More important, we report, for the first time to our knowledge, that the PBD inhibitor, Poloxin, significantly suppresses tumor growth of cancer cell lines in xenograft mouse models by lowering the proliferation rate and triggering apoptosis in treated tumor tissues. The data highlight that targeting the PBD by Poloxin is a powerful approach for selectively inhibiting Plk1 function in vitro and in vivo.
Asunto(s)
Benzoatos/farmacología , Benzoquinonas/farmacología , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/antagonistas & inhibidores , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/química , Puntos de Control de la Fase M del Ciclo Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Neoplasias/patología , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinasas/antagonistas & inhibidores , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinasas/química , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas/antagonistas & inhibidores , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas/química , Quinonas/farmacología , Animales , Apoptosis/efectos de los fármacos , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/metabolismo , Línea Celular Tumoral , Proliferación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Centrosoma/efectos de los fármacos , Centrosoma/metabolismo , Cromosomas Humanos/metabolismo , Humanos , Ratones , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinasas/metabolismo , Estructura Terciaria de Proteína , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas/metabolismo , Ensayos Antitumor por Modelo de Xenoinjerto , Quinasa Tipo Polo 1RESUMEN
Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) plays a pivotal role in the regulation of cellular proliferation. Plk1 is overexpressed in approximately 80% of human tumors of diverse origins, and overexpression of Plk1 promotes neoplastic transformation of human cells. A growing body of evidence suggests that deregulation of Plk1 closely correlates with prognosis of various cancers in humans. Thus, accurate assessment of Plk1 deregulation would provide clear clinical advantages. However, because of the limited amount of cancer tissues available, quantification of the Plk1 activity has not been feasible. Here, we report the development of a rapid, highly sensitive, and specific ELISA-based Plk1 assay that can quantify the level of Plk1 activity with a small amount (2-20 microg) of total cellular proteins. Unlike the conventional immunocomplex kinase assay, this assay directly utilizes total cellular lysates and does not require a Plk1 enrichment step such as immunoprecipitation or affinity purification. Using this assay, we demonstrated that Plk1 activity is elevated in tumors but not in the surrounding normal tissues and that the level of Plk1 activity significantly diminishes after an antiproliferative chemotherapy. The method described here may provide an innovative tool for assessing the predisposition for cancer development, monitoring early tumor response after therapy, and estimating the prognosis of patients with cancers from multiple organ sites.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/análisis , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática/métodos , Neoplasias/patología , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinasas/análisis , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas/análisis , Antígenos de Neoplasias/análisis , Antineoplásicos/farmacología , Células/enzimología , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática/normas , Humanos , Neoplasias/diagnóstico , Neoplasias/enzimología , Quinasa Tipo Polo 1RESUMEN
Cervical cancer is one of the most serious health conditions, with nearly 500,000 women developing the disease each year worldwide. At present, the treatment of recurrent cervical cancer remains largely ineffective, and efforts in cancer drug development are currently focused on critical serine/threonine kinases, such as death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) and polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1). In the current study, we aimed at exploring the cell cycle roles of DAPK1 and PLK1 in cervical cancer cells. To achive this goal, we used multiple methods including western blotting and assays for studying kinase activity, apoptosis, cell cycle, cell proliferation, immunofluorescence and proximity ligation. The present study demonstrated that, in cervical cancer cells, the enzymatic activity of DAPK1 was regulated in a cell cycle-specific manner. NIMA-related kinases, CDKs, PLKs and Aurora kinases regulate the function of centrosomes by orchestrating the separation of chromosomes during cell division. The present study added DAPK1 to this group of protein kinases due to its localization at centrosomes during mitosis. It was shown that DAPK1 was autophosphorylated at Ser308 in the G2 phase and during mitosis. From prophase to metaphase, the colocalization of PLK1 and DAPK1 at centrosomes was observed. Furthermore, the interaction of both these kinases could be demonstrated using proximity ligations assays and immunoprecipitations. DAPK1 was found to be a substrate of PLK1. Topotecan is an effective drug used for the treatment of cervical cancer. Therefore, the current study examined the role of DAPK1 in topotecan-induced cervical cancer cell death, and it was identified that RNA interference-based silencing of DAPK1 decreased the apoptotic effect of topotecan. Thus, these findings suggested that DAPK1 could be a biomarker and a potential target for the response to topotecan during the therapy of patients with cervical cancer.
RESUMEN
Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is a crucial regulator of cell cycle progression. It is established that the activation of PLK1 depends on the coordinated action of Aurora-A and Bora. Nevertheless, very little is known about the spatiotemporal regulation of PLK1 during G2, specifically, the mechanisms that keep cytoplasmic PLK1 inactive until shortly before mitosis onset. Here, we describe PLK1 dimerization as a new mechanism that controls PLK1 activation. During the early G2 phase, Bora supports transient PLK1 dimerization, thus fine-tuning the timely regulated activation of PLK1 and modulating its nuclear entry. At late G2, the phosphorylation of T210 by Aurora-A triggers dimer dissociation and generates active PLK1 monomers that support entry into mitosis. Interfering with this critical PLK1 dimer/monomer switch prevents the association of PLK1 with importins, limiting its nuclear shuttling, and causes nuclear PLK1 mislocalization during the G2-M transition. Our results suggest a novel conformational space for the design of a new generation of PLK1 inhibitors.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/metabolismo , Activación Enzimática/genética , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinasas/metabolismo , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas/metabolismo , Técnicas de Cultivo de Célula , Dimerización , Humanos , Transfección , Quinasa Tipo Polo 1RESUMEN
Introduction: After primary platinum-based chemoradiation of locally advanced uterine cervical cancer, a substantial proportion of women present with persistent, recurrent or metastatic disease, indicating an unmet need for biomarker development. Methods: We evaluated the clinical records of 69 cervical cancer patients (Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, FIGO Stage > IB3) who were subjected to definitive CRT. Immunohistochemical scoring of caspase-8, cyclin dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) and phosphorylated (phospho-)CDK9 (threonine (Thr) 186) was performed on pretreatment samples and correlated with the histopathological and clinical endpoints, including relapse-free survival (RFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS). Results: Lower levels of caspase-8 were more prevalent in patients with a higher T-stage (p = 0.002) and a higher FIGO stage (p = 0.003), and were significantly correlated with CDK9 expression (p = 0.018) and inversely with pCDK9 detection (p = 0.014). Increased caspase-8 levels corresponded to improved RFS (p = 0.005), DMFS (p = 0.038) and CSS (p = 0.017) in the univariate analyses. Low CDK9 expression was associated with worse RFS (p = 0.008), CSS (p = 0.015) and OS (p = 0.007), but not DMFS (p = 0.083), and remained a significant prognosticator for RFS (p = 0.003) and CSS (p = 0.009) in the multivariate analyses. Furthermore, low pCDK9 staining was significantly associated with superior RFS (p = 0.004) and DMFS (p = 0.001), and increased CSS (p = 0.022), and remained significant for these endpoints in the multivariate analyses. Conclusion: Increased caspase-8 and CDK9 levels correlate with improved disease-related outcomes in cervical cancer patients treated with CRT, whereas elevated pCDK9 levels predict worse survival in this patient population.
RESUMEN
Detection of disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) in bone marrow is an independent prognostic factor in primary breast cancer. Here, we conducted a proof-of-principle study to evaluate whether this tumor cell spread occurs already in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). After preoperative screening by stereotactic core biopsy, 30 consecutive women with DCIS were included. Bone marrow aspirates, taken at the time of primary surgery, were subjected to DTC detection by a standardized immunoassay using the established monoclonal anti-cytokeratin antibodies A45-B/B3 and AE1/AE3. DTCs were detected in 4 of 19 cases of pure DCIS (21.1%) and in four of seven cases of DCIS with microinvasion (57.1%). After a median follow-up time of 22 months, two initially DTC-positive patients suffered from contralateral carcinoma and contralateral DCIS at months 12 and 30, respectively, whereas the remaining patients were relapse free. Thus, hematogenous tumor cell dissemination into bone marrow is an early event in breast cancer development.
Asunto(s)
Médula Ósea/patología , Neoplasias de la Mama/patología , Carcinoma Intraductal no Infiltrante/patología , Células Neoplásicas Circulantes/patología , Adulto , Anciano , Femenino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , PronósticoRESUMEN
The ability to predict tumor sensitivity toward radiotherapy may significantly impact the selection of patients for preoperative combined-modality therapy. The aim of the present study was to test the predictive value of Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) in rectal cancer patients and to investigate whether PLK1 plays a direct role in mediating radiation sensitivity. PLK1 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry (n = 76) or Affymetrix HG133 microarray (n = 20) on pretreatment biopsies of patients with advanced rectal cancer. Expression was correlated with both tumor regression in the resected specimen and long-term clinical outcome. Furthermore, we used small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to down-regulate PLK1 expression in colorectal cancer cells and analyzed the effects of PLK1-specific siRNAs by Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR analysis, FACScan analysis, caspase 3/7 assays, and colony-forming assays. We observed that increased PLK1 protein expression was significantly related to a poorer tumor regression and a higher risk of local recurrence in uni- and multivariate analysis. A significant decrease of PLK1 expression by siRNAs in combination with ionizing radiation induced an increased percentage of apoptotic cells and increased caspase 3/7 activity. Furthermore, enhanced G(2)-M levels, decreased cellular viability, and reduced clonogenic survival were demonstrated, indicating a radiosensitizing effect of PLK1 depletion. Therefore, PLK1 may be a novel predictive marker for radiation response as well as a promising therapeutic target in rectal cancer patients.
Asunto(s)
Biomarcadores de Tumor/metabolismo , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/metabolismo , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinasas/metabolismo , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas/metabolismo , Tolerancia a Radiación/fisiología , Neoplasias del Recto , Línea Celular Tumoral , Humanos , Análisis por Micromatrices , ARN Interferente Pequeño/genética , ARN Interferente Pequeño/metabolismo , ARN Interferente Pequeño/uso terapéutico , Neoplasias del Recto/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias del Recto/metabolismo , Neoplasias del Recto/radioterapia , Quinasa Tipo Polo 1RESUMEN
Cyclin Dependent Kinase 9 (CDK9) is one of the most important transcription regulatory members of the CDK family. In conjunction with its main cyclin partner-Cyclin T1, it forms the Positive Transcription Elongation Factor b (P-TEFb) whose primary function in eukaryotic cells is to mediate the positive transcription elongation of nascent mRNA strands, by phosphorylating the S2 residues of the YSPTSPS tandem repeats at the C-terminus domain (CTD) of RNA Polymerase II (RNAP II). To aid in this process, P-TEFb also simultaneously phosphorylates and inactivates a number of negative transcription regulators like 5,6-dichloro-1-ß-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB) Sensitivity-Inducing Factor (DSIF) and Negative Elongation Factor (NELF). Significantly enhanced activity of CDK9 is observed in multiple cancer types, which is universally associated with significantly shortened Overall Survival (OS) of the patients. In these cancer types, CDK9 regulates a plethora of cellular functions including proliferation, survival, cell cycle regulation, DNA damage repair and metastasis. Due to the extremely critical role of CDK9 in cancer cells, inhibiting its functions has been the subject of intense research, resulting the development of multiple, increasingly specific small-molecule inhibitors, some of which are presently in clinical trials. The search for newer generation CDK9 inhibitors with higher specificity and lower potential toxicities and suitable combination therapies continues. In fact, the Phase I clinical trials of the latest, highly specific CDK9 inhibitor BAY1251152, against different solid tumors have shown good anti-tumor and on-target activities and pharmacokinetics, combined with manageable safety profile while the phase I and II clinical trials of another inhibitor AT-7519 have been undertaken or are undergoing. To enhance the effectiveness and target diversity and reduce potential drug-resistance, the future of CDK9 inhibition would likely involve combining CDK9 inhibitors with inhibitors like those against BRD4, SEC, MYC, MCL-1 and HSP90.