miR-515-5p controls cancer cell migration through MARK4 regulation.

Here, we show that miR-515-5p inhibits cancer cell migration and metastasis. RNA-seq analyses of both oestrogen receptor receptor-positive and receptor-negative breast cancer cells overexpressing miR-515-5p reveal down-regulation of NRAS, FZD4, CDC42BPA, PIK3C2B and MARK4 mRNAs. We demonstrate that miR-515-5p inhibits MARK4 directly 3' UTR interaction and that MARK4 knock-down mimics the effect of miR-515-5p on breast and lung cancer cell migration. MARK4 overexpression rescues the inhibitory effects of miR-515-5p, suggesting miR-515-5p mediates this process through MARK4 down-regulation. Furthermore, miR-515-5p expression is reduced in metastases compared to primary tumours derived from both in vivo xenografts and samples from patients with breast cancer. Conversely, miR-515-5p overexpression prevents tumour cell dissemination in a mouse metastatic model. Moreover, high miR-515-5p and low MARK4 expression correlate with increased breast and lung cancer patients' survival, respectively. Taken together, these data demonstrate the importance of miR-515-5p/MARK4 regulation in cell migration and metastasis across two common cancers.

Repurposed floxacins targeting RSK4 prevent chemoresistance and metastasis in lung and bladder cancer.

Lung and bladder cancers are mostly incurable because of the early development of drug resistance and metastatic dissemination. Hence, improved therapies that tackle these two processes are urgently needed to improve clinical outcome. We have identified RSK4 as a promoter of drug resistance and metastasis in lung and bladder cancer cells. Silencing this kinase, through either RNA interference or CRISPR, sensitized tumor cells to chemotherapy and hindered metastasis in vitro and in vivo in a tail vein injection model. Drug screening revealed several floxacin antibiotics as potent RSK4 activation inhibitors, and trovafloxacin reproduced all effects of RSK4 silencing in vitro and in/ex vivo using lung cancer xenograft and genetically engineered mouse models and bladder tumor explants. Through x-ray structure determination and Markov transient and Deuterium exchange analyses, we identified the allosteric binding site and revealed how this compound blocks RSK4 kinase activation through binding to an allosteric site and mimicking a kinase autoinhibitory mechanism involving the RSK4's hydrophobic motif. Last, we show that patients undergoing chemotherapy and adhering to prophylactic levofloxacin in the large placebo-controlled randomized phase 3 SIGNIFICANT trial had significantly increased (P = 0.048) long-term overall survival times. Hence, we suggest that RSK4 inhibition may represent an effective therapeutic strategy for treating lung and bladder cancer.

P2X7 in Cancer: From Molecular Mechanisms to Therapeutics.

P2X7 is a transmembrane receptor expressed in multiple cell types including neurons, dendritic cells, macrophages, monocytes, B and T cells where it can drive a wide range of physiological responses from pain transduction to immune response. Upon activation by its main ligand, extracellular ATP, P2X7 can form a nonselective channel for cations to enter the cell. Prolonged activation of P2X7, via high levels of extracellular ATP over an extended time period can lead to the formation of a macropore, leading to depolarization of the plasma membrane and ultimately to cell death. Thus, dependent on its activation state, P2X7 can either drive cell survival and proliferation, or induce cell death. In cancer, P2X7 has been shown to have a broad range of functions, including playing key roles in the development and spread of tumor cells. It is therefore unsurprising that P2X7 has been reported to be upregulated in several malignancies. Critically, ATP is present at high extracellular concentrations in the tumor microenvironment (TME) compared to levels observed in normal tissues. These high levels of ATP should present a survival challenge for cancer cells, potentially leading to constitutive receptor activation, prolonged macropore formation and ultimately to cell death. Therefore, to deliver the proven advantages for P2X7 in driving tumor survival and metastatic potential, the P2X7 macropore must be tightly controlled while retaining other functions. Studies have shown that commonly expressed P2X7 splice variants, distinct SNPs and post-translational receptor modifications can impair the capacity of P2X7 to open the macropore. These receptor modifications and potentially others may ultimately protect cancer cells from the negative consequences associated with constitutive activation of P2X7. Significantly, the effects of both P2X7 agonists and antagonists in preclinical tumor models of cancer demonstrate the potential for agents modifying P2X7 function, to provide innovative cancer therapies. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding of the structure and functions of P2X7 and how these impact P2X7 roles in cancer progression. We also review potential therapeutic approaches directed against P2X7.

[Gas-6 and protein S: vitamin K-dependent factors and ligands for the TAM tyrosine kinase receptors family]. / Fonctions nouvelles de Gas-6 et de la protéine S: facteurs vitamine K-dépendants et ligands des récepteurs tyrosine kinase de la famille TAM.

The gamma-carboxyglutamate-containing proteins are a family of secreted vitamin K-dependent proteins in which some glutamyl residues are post-translationally modified to gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues. A vitamin K-dependent gamma-glutamyl carboxylase enzyme catalyses this post-translational modification. The gamma-carboxylase reaction requires vitamin K in its reduced form, vitamin K hydroquinone, and generates gamma-carboxyglutamate and vitamin K 2,3,-epoxide which is then recycled back to the hydroquinone form by a vitamin K reductase system. Warfarin blocks the vitamin K cycle and hence inhibits the gamma-carboxylase reaction, and this property of Warfarin has led to its wide use in anticoagulant therapy. Until recently, interest in vitamin K-dependent proteins was mostly restricted to the field of hematology. However, the discovery that the anti-coagulant factor protein S and its structural homologue Gas6 (growth arrest-specific gene 6), two vitamin K-dependent proteins, are ligands for the Tyro3/Axl/Mer family of related tyrosine kinase receptors has opened up a new area of research. Moreover, the phenotypes associated with the invalidation of genes encoding vitamin K-dependent proteins or their receptors revealed their implication in regulating phagocytosis during many cell differentiation phenomena such as retinogenesis, neurogenesis, osteogenesis, and spermatogenesis. Additionally, protein S was identified as the major factor responsible for serum-stimulated phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. Therefore, the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of vitamin K-dependent proteins in regulating apoptotic cell phagocytosis may lead to a better understanding of the physiopathology of cell differentiation and could form the framework of new therapeutic strategies aiming at a selective targeting of cell phagocytosis associated pathologies.

The p90 RSK family members: common functions and isoform specificity.

The p90 ribosomal S6 kinases (RSK) are implicated in various cellular processes, including cell proliferation, survival, migration, and invasion. In cancer, RSKs modulate cell transformation, tumorigenesis, and metastasis. Indeed, changes in the expression of RSK isoforms have been reported in several malignancies, including breast, prostate, and lung cancers. Four RSK isoforms have been identified in humans on the basis of their high degree of sequence homology. Although this similarity suggests some functional redundancy between these proteins, an increasing body of evidence supports the existence of isoform-based specificity among RSKs in mediating particular cellular processes. This review briefly presents the similarities between RSK family members before focusing on the specific function of each of the isoforms and their involvement in cancer progression.