The landscape and therapeutic relevance of cancer-associated transcript fusions.

Transcript fusions as a result of chromosomal rearrangements have been a focus of attention in cancer as they provide attractive therapeutic targets. To identify novel fusion transcripts with the potential to be exploited therapeutically, we analyzed RNA sequencing, DNA copy number and gene mutation data from 4366 primary tumor samples. To avoid false positives, we implemented stringent quality criteria that included filtering of fusions detected in RNAseq data from 364 normal tissue samples. Our analysis identified 7887 high confidence fusion transcripts across 13 tumor types. Our fusion prediction was validated by evidence of a genomic rearrangement for 78 of 79 fusions in 48 glioma samples where whole-genome sequencing data were available. Cancers with higher levels of genomic instability showed a corresponding increase in fusion transcript frequency, whereas tumor samples harboring fusions contained statistically significantly fewer driver gene mutations, suggesting an important role for tumorigenesis. We identified at least one in-frame protein kinase fusion in 324 of 4366 samples (7.4%). Potentially druggable kinase fusions involving ALK, ROS, RET, NTRK and FGFR gene families were detected in bladder carcinoma (3.3%), glioblastoma (4.4%), head and neck cancer (1.0%), low-grade glioma (1.5%), lung adenocarcinoma (1.6%), lung squamous cell carcinoma (2.3%) and thyroid carcinoma (8.7%), suggesting a potential for application of kinase inhibitors across tumor types. In-frame fusion transcripts involving histone methyltransferase or histone demethylase genes were detected in 111 samples (2.5%) and may additionally be considered as therapeutic targets. In summary, we described the landscape of transcript fusions detected across a large number of tumor samples and revealed fusion events with clinical relevance that have not been previously recognized. Our results support the concept of basket clinical trials where patients are matched with experimental therapies based on their genomic profile rather than the tissue where the tumor originated.

Elevation of cyclic AMP by prostacyclin is accompanied by relaxation of bovine coronary arteries and contraction of rabbit aortic rings.

The role of cyclic AMP (cAMP) in the control of vascular smooth muscle tension was examined by comparing the effects of prostacyclin (PGI2) on tension and cAMP levels in helical strips of bovine coronary arteries and in rabbit aortic rings, both denuded of endothelium. In bovine coronary arteries, PGI2 elevated cAMP levels and relaxed the muscles. The PGI2-induced cAMP elevation preceded the relaxation and both parameters were altered in a dose-dependent manner by increasing concentrations of PGI2 (0.3, 3 and 30 microM). These results are consistent with a role for cAMP as a mediator of vascular smooth muscle relaxation. Cyclic AMP levels were also elevated by PGI2 in a concentration- and time-dependent manner in rabbit aortic rings. However, in direct contrast to the results in the bovine coronary arteries, PGI2-induced elevation of cAMP in the aortic rings was accompanied by contraction rather than relaxation. Isoproterenol, a drug which is generally believed to relax smooth muscles by virtue of its ability to increase tissue levels of cAMP, relaxed PGI2-contracted aortic rings with no further elevation of cAMP beyond that caused by the PGI2 alone. These results demonstrate that cAMP elevation and relaxation of vascular smooth muscle are not always well correlated. It is possible that some form of functional compartmentalization of cAMP or cAMP-dependent protein kinase exists in these tissues.

Leukotriene D4-induced activation of protein kinase C in rat basophilic leukemia cells.

We studied the subcellular distribution of protein kinase C (PKC) in the particulate and cytosolic fractions of rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-1) cells treated with leukotriene D4 (LTD4) and compared these results with those of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Consistent with the earlier reports, treatment of RBL-1 cells with PMA resulted in a time- and dose-dependent translocation of PKC from cytosolic to the particulate fractions, sustained for at least 10 min. When RBL-1 cells were treated with LTD4, a small, transient decrease in PKC activity in cytosolic fraction was observed within 7.5 s after LTD4 treatment. This was accompanied by a significant increase of PKC in the particulate fraction. However, at 15 and 30 s, both particulate and cytosolic PKC activities were increased with LTD4 treatment. The activation induced by LTD4 was dose- and time-dependent with maximal effects occurring within 30 s, declining at the later time points. Pretreatment of the cells with 2(R)-hydroxy-3(S)-carboxyethylthio-3-[2-(8-phenyloctyl,pheny l]propanoic acid (SK&F 104353), a high affinity specific LTD4 receptor antagonist, and also with staurosporine, a potent inhibitor of PKC, completely inhibited the LTD4-induced activation of PKC both in the particulate and cytosolic fractions. These results suggest that activation of PKC by LTD4 is different from that elicited by PMA. The ability of SK&F 104353 to block LTD4-induced activation of PKC further suggests that stimulation of PKC might be an important intermediate step in the signal transduction mechanism of the LTD4 receptor in RBL-1 cells.

Effects of prostaglandin E1, isoproterenol and forskolin on cyclic AMP levels and tension in rabbit aortic rings.

The role of cyclic AMP in the control of vascular smooth muscle tone was studied by monitoring the effects of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), isoproterenol and forskolin on cyclic AMP levels and tension in rabbit aortic rings. PGE1, isoproterenol and forskolin all increased cyclic AMP levels in rabbit aortic rings. Isoproterenol and forskolin relaxed phenylephrine-contracted aortic rings, but PGE1 contracted the rings in the presence or absence of phenylephrine. Isoproterenol relaxed these PGE1-contracted aortic rings without further change in total cyclic AMP levels, which were already elevated by the PGE1 alone. Pretreatment with forskolin potentiated the effects of PGE1 on cyclic AMP levels. PGE1 caused contractions in muscles partially relaxed by forskolin, even though very large increases in cyclic AMP levels (30 fold) were produced by PGE1 in the presence of forskolin. Isoproterenol was able to relax these forskolin-treated, PGE1-contracted muscles with no further increase in cyclic AMP levels. Thus, there does not appear to be a good correlation between total tissue levels of cyclic AMP and tension in these experiments. Our results suggest that, if cyclic AMP is responsible for relaxation of smooth muscle, some form of functional compartmentalization of cyclic AMP must exist in this tissue.

Effects of isoproterenol and forskolin on tension, cyclic AMP levels, and cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase activity in bovine coronary artery.

The effects of isoproterenol and forskolin on tension, cyclic AMP levels, and cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase activity were compared in helical strips of bovine coronary artery. Elevation of cyclic AMP and activation of the protein kinase appeared to be well correlated with relaxation of potassium-contracted arteries by isoproterenol. Forskolin, at 1 microM or higher concentrations, also markedly elevated cyclic AMP levels, activated the kinase, and relaxed the arteries. However, a lower concentration of forskolin (0.1 microM) caused significant increases in both cyclic AMP levels and cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase activity, but did not relax the muscles. Relaxation caused by isoproterenol was accompanied by an apparent translocation of cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase activity from the soluble to the particulate fraction in these preparations. A similar shift in the distribution of the kinase was caused by various concentrations of forskolin, irrespective of whether the arteries were relaxed or not. In contrast to previous results in other tissues, low concentrations of forskolin (less than or equal to 1 microM), which themselves markedly elevated cyclic AMP levels in the arteries, did not potentiate the effects of isoproterenol on cyclic AMP levels or tension in these preparations. These results suggest that either cyclic AMP is not solely responsible for the relaxation caused by these agents, or some form of functional compartmentalization of cyclic AMP and cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase exists in this tissue.

Comparison of the effects of forskolin and isoproterenol on cyclic AMP levels and tension in bovine coronary artery.

The effects of isoproterenol and forskolin on cyclic AMP levels and tension were compared in helical strips of bovine coronary artery. Both compounds produced time- and dose-dependent increases in cyclic AMP levels and both compounds relaxed potassium-contracted arteries. However, in contrast to the results with isoproterenol, cyclic AMP elevation and relaxation were not well correlated at lower concentrations of forskolin. For example, 0.1 microM forskolin increased cyclic AMP levels in the arteries by approximately 5.5-fold but did not relax the muscles. A smaller elevation of cyclic AMP produced by 1.0 microM isoproterenol, on the other hand, was accompanied by an almost complete relaxation of the arteries. These results suggest that either cyclic AMP is not responsible for the relaxation caused by these agents, or some form of functional compartmentalization of cyclic AMP exists in this tissue.

Staurosporine inhibits protein kinase C and prevents phorbol ester-mediated leukotriene D4 receptor desensitization in RBL-1 cells.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of staurosporine on phorbol-myristate acetate (PMA)-induced activation of protein kinase C (PKC) and the desensitization of leukotriene D4 (LTD4)-stimulated Ca2+ mobilization in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-1) cells. Staurosporine, one of the most potent PKC inhibitors known to date, markedly inhibited partially purified PKC from RBL-1 cells with an IC50 of 3 nM. Exposure of RBL-1 cells to PMA resulted in inhibition of LTD4-stimulated Ca2+ mobilization. However, prior treatment of the cells with staurosporine completely prevented PMA-induced desensitization of LTD4-stimulated Ca2+ mobilization. This reversal of Ca2+ desensitization by staurosporine was dose dependent with an IC50 of 0.1 microM. Treatment of RBL-1 cells with PMA resulted in translocation and activation of PKC from the cytosol to the membrane fraction. Pretreatment of RBL-1 cells with staurosporine inhibited the PMA-induced activation of PKC in the membrane fraction. The inhibition of PKC activity by staurosporine was time and dose dependent with an IC50 of 0.9 microM. These results show that PMA-induced heterologous desensitization is mediated by PKC and staurosporine prevented this process by directly inhibiting PKC in intact RBL-1 cells.