RESUMO
Immune-checkpoint blockade has revolutionized cancer treatment, but some cancers, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML), do not respond or develop resistance. A potential mode of resistance is immune evasion of T cell immunity involving aberrant major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) antigen presentation (AP). To map such mechanisms of resistance, we identified key MHC-I regulators using specific peptide-MHC-I-guided CRISPR-Cas9 screens in AML. The top-ranked negative regulators were surface protein sushi domain containing 6 (SUSD6), transmembrane protein 127 (TMEM127), and the E3 ubiquitin ligase WWP2. SUSD6 is abundantly expressed in AML and multiple solid cancers, and its ablation enhanced MHC-I AP and reduced tumor growth in a CD8+ T cell-dependent manner. Mechanistically, SUSD6 forms a trimolecular complex with TMEM127 and MHC-I, which recruits WWP2 for MHC-I ubiquitination and lysosomal degradation. Together with the SUSD6/TMEM127/WWP2 gene signature, which negatively correlates with cancer survival, our findings define a membrane-associated MHC-I inhibitory axis as a potential therapeutic target for both leukemia and solid cancers.
Assuntos
Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Classe I , Neoplasias , Evasão Tumoral , Humanos , Apresentação de Antígeno , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Classe I/metabolismo , Antígenos HLA , Neoplasias/imunologia , Ubiquitina-Proteína Ligases/genéticaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: SDHB is one of the major genes predisposing to paraganglioma/pheochromocytoma (PPGL). Identifying pathogenic SDHB variants in patients with PPGL is essential to the management of patients and relatives due to the increased risk of recurrences, metastases and the emergence of non-PPGL tumours. In this context, the 'NGS and PPGL (NGSnPPGL) Study Group' initiated an international effort to collect, annotate and classify SDHB variants and to provide an accurate, expert-curated and freely available SDHB variant database. METHODS: A total of 223 distinct SDHB variants from 737 patients were collected worldwide. Using multiple criteria, each variant was first classified according to a 5-tier grouping based on American College of Medical Genetics and NGSnPPGL standardised recommendations and was then manually reviewed by a panel of experts in the field. RESULTS: This multistep process resulted in 23 benign/likely benign, 149 pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants and 51 variants of unknown significance (VUS). Expert curation reduced by half the number of variants initially classified as VUS. Variant classifications are publicly accessible via the Leiden Open Variation Database system (https://databases.lovd.nl/shared/genes/SDHB). CONCLUSION: This international initiative by a panel of experts allowed us to establish a consensus classification for 223 SDHB variants that should be used as a routine tool by geneticists in charge of PPGL laboratory diagnosis. This accurate classification of SDHB genetic variants will help to clarify the diagnosis of hereditary PPGL and to improve the clinical care of patients and relatives with PPGL.
Assuntos
Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais , Paraganglioma , Feocromocitoma , Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais/genética , Testes Genéticos , Mutação em Linhagem Germinativa/genética , Humanos , Paraganglioma/diagnóstico , Paraganglioma/genética , Paraganglioma/patologia , Feocromocitoma/diagnóstico , Feocromocitoma/genética , Feocromocitoma/patologia , Succinato Desidrogenase/genéticaRESUMO
BACKGROUNDS: The incidence of germline mutations in the newly discovered cryptic exon (E1') of VHL gene in patients with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease and in patients with paraganglioma or pheochromocytoma (PPGL) is not currently known. METHODS: We studied a large international multicentre cohort of 1167 patients with a previous negative genetic testing. Germline DNA from 75 patients with a single tumour of the VHL spectrum ('Single VHL tumour' cohort), 70 patients with multiple tumours of the VHL spectrum ('Multiple VHL tumours' cohort), 76 patients with a VHL disease as described in the literature ('VHL-like' cohort) and 946 patients with a PPGL were screened for E1' genetic variants. RESULTS: Six different genetic variants in E1' were detected in 12 patients. Two were classified as pathogenic, 3 as variants of unknown significance and 1 as benign. The rs139622356 was found in seven unrelated patients but described in only 16 patients out of the 31 390 of the Genome Aggregation Database (p<0.0001) suggesting that this variant might be either a recurrent mutation or a modifier mutation conferring a risk for the development of tumours and cancers of the VHL spectrum. CONCLUSIONS: VHL E1' cryptic exon mutations contribute to 1.32% (1/76) of 'VHL-like' cohort and to 0.11% (1/946) of PPGL cohort and should be screened in patients with clinical suspicion of VHL, and added to panels for Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) diagnostic testing of hereditary PPGL. Our data highlight the importance of studying variants identified in deep intronic sequences, which would have been missed by examining only coding sequences of genes/exomes. These variants will likely be more frequently detected and studied with the upcoming implementation of whole-genome sequencing into clinical practice.
Assuntos
Predisposição Genética para Doença , Paraganglioma/genética , Proteína Supressora de Tumor Von Hippel-Lindau/genética , Doença de von Hippel-Lindau/genética , Adulto , Idoso , Éxons/genética , Feminino , Testes Genéticos , Mutação em Linhagem Germinativa/genética , Sequenciamento de Nucleotídeos em Larga Escala , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Paraganglioma/epidemiologia , Paraganglioma/patologia , Linhagem , Adulto Jovem , Doença de von Hippel-Lindau/epidemiologia , Doença de von Hippel-Lindau/patologiaRESUMO
The TMEM127 tumor suppressor gene encodes a transmembrane protein of unknown function mutated in pheochromocytomas and, rarely, in renal cancers. Tumors with inactivating TMEM127 mutations have increased mTORC1 signaling by undefined mechanisms. Here we report that TMEM127 interacts with the lysosome-anchored complex comprised of Rag GTPases, the LAMTOR pentamer (or 'ragulator') and vATPase, which controls amino acid-mediated mTORC1 activation. We found that under nutrient-rich conditions TMEM127 expression reduces mTORC1 recruitment to Rags. In addition, TMEM127 interacts with LAMTOR in an amino acid-dependent manner and decreases the LAMTOR1-vATPase association, while TMEM127-vATPase binding requires intact lysosomal acidification but is amino acid independent. Conversely, both murine and human cells lacking TMEM127 accumulate LAMTOR proteins in the lysosome. Consistent with these findings, pheochromocytomas with TMEM127 mutations have increased levels of LAMTOR proteins. These results suggest that TMEM127 interactions with ragulator and vATPase at the lysosome contribute to restrain mTORC1 signaling in response to amino acids, thus explaining the increased mTORC1 activation seen in TMEM127-deficient tumors.
Assuntos
Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais/genética , Proteínas de Transporte/genética , Proteínas de Membrana/genética , Feocromocitoma/genética , Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais/metabolismo , Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais/patologia , Aminoácidos/genética , Animais , Regulação da Expressão Gênica , Genes Supressores de Tumor , Humanos , Peptídeos e Proteínas de Sinalização Intracelular , Lisossomos/genética , Lisossomos/metabolismo , Alvo Mecanístico do Complexo 1 de Rapamicina/genética , Camundongos , Complexos Multiproteicos/genética , Mutação , Feocromocitoma/metabolismo , Feocromocitoma/patologia , Transdução de SinaisAssuntos
Fatores de Transcrição Hélice-Alça-Hélice Básicos/genética , Mutação com Ganho de Função , Cardiopatias Congênitas/genética , Paraganglioma/etiologia , Adolescente , Cianose/complicações , Cardiopatias Congênitas/complicações , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Paraganglioma/genética , Adulto JovemRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Pheochromocytomas (PCCs) develop from the adrenal medulla and are often part of a hereditary syndrome such as von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome. In VHL, only about 30 % of patients with a VHL missense mutation develop PCCs. Thus, additional genetic events leading to formation of such tumors in patients with VHL syndrome are sought. SDHAF2 (previously termed SDH5) and SDHD are both located on chromosome 11q and are required for the function of mitochondrial complex II. While SDHAF2 has been shown to be mutated in patients with paragangliomas (PGLs), SDHD mutations have been found both in patients with PCCs and in patients with PGLs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Because loss of 11q is a common event in VHL-associated PCCs, we aimed to investigate whether SDHAF2 and SDHD are targets. In the present study, 41 VHL-associated PCCs were screened for mutations and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in SDHAF2 or SDHD. Promoter methylation, as well as mRNA expression of SDHAF2 and SDHD, was studied. In addition, immunohistochemistry (IHC) of SDHB, known to be a universal marker for loss of any part the SDH complex, was conducted. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: LOH was found in more than 50 % of the VHL-associated PCCs, and was correlated with a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in both SDHAF2 and SDHD mRNA expression, which may be suggestive of a pathogenic role. However, while SDHB protein expression as determined by IHC in a small cohort of tumors was lower in PCCs than in the surrounding adrenal cortex, there was no obvious correlation with LOH or the level of SDHAF2/SDHD mRNA expression. In addition, the lack of mutations and promoter methylation in the investigated samples indicates that other events on chromosome 11 might be involved in the development of PCCs in association with VHL syndrome.
Assuntos
Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais/genética , Biomarcadores Tumorais/genética , Perda de Heterozigosidade , Proteínas Mitocondriais/genética , Feocromocitoma/genética , Succinato Desidrogenase/genética , Doença de von Hippel-Lindau/complicações , Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais/etiologia , Estudos de Coortes , Metilação de DNA , Marcadores Genéticos , Técnicas de Genotipagem , Humanos , Mutação de Sentido Incorreto , Feocromocitoma/etiologia , Regiões Promotoras Genéticas , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Doença de von Hippel-Lindau/genéticaRESUMO
Carney-Stratakis syndrome, an inherited condition predisposing affected individuals to gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and paraganglioma, is caused by germline mutations in succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) subunits B, C, or D, leading to dysfunction of complex II of the electron transport chain. We evaluated the role of defective cellular respiration in sporadic GIST lacking mutations in KIT or PDGFRA (WT). Thirty-four patients with WT GIST without a personal or family history of paraganglioma were tested for SDH germline mutations. WT GISTs lacking demonstrable SDH genetic inactivation were evaluated for SDHB expression by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting and for complex II activity. For comparison, SDHB expression was also determined in KIT mutant and neurofibromatosis-1-associated GIST, and complex II activity was also measured in SDH-deficient paraganglioma and KIT mutant GIST; 4 of 34 patients (12%) with WT GIST without a personal or family history of paraganglioma had germline mutations in SDHB or SDHC. WT GISTs lacking somatic mutations or deletions in SDH subunits had either complete loss of or substantial reduction in SDHB protein expression, whereas most KIT mutant GISTs had strong SDHB expression. Complex II activity was substantially decreased in WT GISTs. WT GISTs, particularly those in younger patients, have defects in SDH mitochondrial complex II, and in a subset of these patients, GIST seems to arise from germline-inactivating SDH mutations. Testing for germline mutations in SDH is recommended in patients with WT GIST. These findings highlight a potential central role of SDH dysregulation in WT GIST oncogenesis.
Assuntos
Respiração Celular/fisiologia , Tumores do Estroma Gastrointestinal/enzimologia , Predisposição Genética para Doença/genética , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-kit/genética , Receptor alfa de Fator de Crescimento Derivado de Plaquetas/genética , Succinato Desidrogenase/genética , Adolescente , Western Blotting , Respiração Celular/genética , Análise Mutacional de DNA , Complexo II de Transporte de Elétrons/genética , Complexo II de Transporte de Elétrons/metabolismo , Mutação em Linhagem Germinativa/genética , Humanos , Imuno-Histoquímica , Paraganglioma/enzimologia , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único , Subunidades Proteicas/genética , Succinato Desidrogenase/metabolismo , SíndromeRESUMO
Internalization from the cell membrane and endosomal trafficking of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) are important regulators of signaling in normal cells that can frequently be disrupted in cancer. The adrenal tumour pheochromocytoma (PCC) can be caused by activating mutations of the RET receptor tyrosine kinase, or inactivation of TMEM127, a transmembrane tumour suppressor implicated in trafficking of endosomal cargos. However, the role of aberrant receptor trafficking in PCC is not well understood. Here, we show that loss of TMEM127 causes wildtype RET protein accumulation on the cell surface, where increased receptor density facilitates constitutive ligand-independent activity and downstream signaling, driving cell proliferation. Loss of TMEM127 altered normal cell membrane organization and recruitment and stabilization of membrane protein complexes, impaired assembly, and maturation of clathrin coated pits, and reduced internalization and degradation of cell surface RET. In addition to RTKs, TMEM127 depletion also promoted surface accumulation of several other transmembrane proteins, suggesting it may cause global defects in surface protein activity and function. Together, our data identify TMEM127 as an important determinant of membrane organization including membrane protein diffusability, and protein complex assembly and provide a novel paradigm for oncogenesis in PCC where altered membrane dynamics promotes cell surface accumulation and constitutive activity of growth factor receptors to drive aberrant signaling and promote transformation.
RESUMO
Internalization from the cell membrane and endosomal trafficking of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are important regulators of signaling in normal cells that can frequently be disrupted in cancer. The adrenal tumor pheochromocytoma (PCC) can be caused by activating mutations of the rearranged during transfection (RET) receptor tyrosine kinase, or inactivation of TMEM127, a transmembrane tumor suppressor implicated in trafficking of endosomal cargos. However, the role of aberrant receptor trafficking in PCC is not well understood. Here, we show that loss of TMEM127 causes wildtype RET protein accumulation on the cell surface, where increased receptor density facilitates constitutive ligand-independent activity and downstream signaling, driving cell proliferation. Loss of TMEM127 altered normal cell membrane organization and recruitment and stabilization of membrane protein complexes, impaired assembly, and maturation of clathrin-coated pits, and reduced internalization and degradation of cell surface RET. In addition to RTKs, TMEM127 depletion also promoted surface accumulation of several other transmembrane proteins, suggesting it may cause global defects in surface protein activity and function. Together, our data identify TMEM127 as an important determinant of membrane organization including membrane protein diffusability and protein complex assembly and provide a novel paradigm for oncogenesis in PCC where altered membrane dynamics promotes cell surface accumulation and constitutive activity of growth factor receptors to drive aberrant signaling and promote transformation.
Assuntos
Membrana Celular , Proteínas de Membrana , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-ret , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-ret/metabolismo , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-ret/genética , Humanos , Proteínas de Membrana/metabolismo , Proteínas de Membrana/genética , Membrana Celular/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais , Transporte Proteico , Transformação Celular Neoplásica/genética , Transformação Celular Neoplásica/metabolismo , Proliferação de Células , Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais/genética , Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais/metabolismo , Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais/patologiaRESUMO
The mechanism by which interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) mutation contributes to lymphomagenesis is unknown. We modeled IRF8 variants in B cell lymphomas and found that they affected the expression of regulators of antigen presentation. Expression of IRF8 mutants in murine B cell lymphomas suppressed CD4, but not CD8, activation elicited by antigen presentation and downmodulated CD74 and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DM, intracellular regulators of antigen peptide processing/loading in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II. Concordantly, mutant IRF8 bound less efficiently to the promoters of these genes. Mice harboring IRF8 mutant lymphomas displayed higher tumor burden and remodeling of the tumor microenvironment, typified by depletion of CD4, CD8, and natural killer cells, increase in regulatory T cells and T follicular helper cells. Deconvolution of bulk RNA sequencing data from IRF8-mutant human diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) recapitulated part of the immune remodeling detected in mice. We concluded that IRF8 mutations contribute to DLBCL biology by facilitating immune escape.
Assuntos
Apresentação de Antígeno , Antígenos de Diferenciação de Linfócitos B , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Classe II , Fatores Reguladores de Interferon , Mutação , Fatores Reguladores de Interferon/genética , Fatores Reguladores de Interferon/metabolismo , Animais , Apresentação de Antígeno/imunologia , Apresentação de Antígeno/genética , Humanos , Camundongos , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Classe II/genética , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Classe II/imunologia , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Classe II/metabolismo , Antígenos de Diferenciação de Linfócitos B/genética , Antígenos de Diferenciação de Linfócitos B/metabolismo , Linfoma de Células B/genética , Linfoma de Células B/imunologia , Microambiente Tumoral/imunologia , Linfoma Difuso de Grandes Células B/genética , Linfoma Difuso de Grandes Células B/imunologia , Linfoma Difuso de Grandes Células B/patologia , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Evasão Tumoral/genética , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão GênicaRESUMO
The mechanisms by which microRNA dysfunction contributes to the pathogenesis of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) are not well established. The identification of the genes and pathways directly targeted by these small regulatory RNAs is a critical step to advance this field. Using unbiased genome-wide approaches in DLBCL, we discovered that the oncogenic microRNA-155 (miR-155) directly targets the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-responsive transcriptional factor SMAD5. Surprisingly, we found that in DLBCL a noncanonical signaling module linking TGF-beta1 signals to SMAD5 is also active. In agreement with these data, miR-155 overexpression rendered DLBCLs resistant to the growth-inhibitory effects of both TGF-beta1 and BMPs, via defective induction of p21 and impaired cell cycle arrest. In confirmatory experiments, RNAi-based SMAD5 knockdown recapitulated in vitro and in vivo the effects miR-155 overexpression. Furthermore, in primary DLBCLs, miR-155 overexpression inhibited SMAD5 expression and disrupted its activity, as defined by individual and global analyses of its transcriptional targets. Together, our data helped explain miR-155 function, highlighted a hitherto unappreciated role of SMAD5 in lymphoma biology, and defined a unique mechanism used by cancer cells to escape TGF-beta's growth-inhibitory effects.
Assuntos
Proteínas Morfogenéticas Ósseas/metabolismo , Linfoma Difuso de Grandes Células B/metabolismo , MicroRNAs/metabolismo , Proteína Smad5/metabolismo , Fator de Crescimento Transformador beta/metabolismo , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Inibidor de Quinase Dependente de Ciclina p21/metabolismo , Humanos , Linfoma Difuso de Grandes Células B/genética , Interferência de RNA , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase Reversa , Estatísticas não ParamétricasRESUMO
Paragangliomas (PGL) of the adrenal (also known as pheochromocytomas) or extra-adrenal neural crest-derived cells are highly heritable tumors, usually driven by single pathogenic variants that occur mutually exclusively in genes involved in multiple cellular processes, including the response to hypoxia, MAPK/ERK signaling, and WNT signaling. The discovery of driver mutations has led to active clinical surveillance with outcome implications in familial PGL. The spectrum of mutations continues to grow and reveal unique mechanisms of tumorigenesis that inform tumor biology and provide the rationale for targeted therapy. Here we review recent progress in the genetics and molecular pathogenesis of PGLs and discuss new prospects for advancing research with new disease models and ongoing clinical trials presented at the recent International Symposium of Pheochromocytomas and Paragangliomas (ISP2022) held in October 2022 in Prague.
Assuntos
Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais , Paraganglioma , Feocromocitoma , Humanos , Feocromocitoma/genética , Paraganglioma/genética , Mutação , Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais/genéticaRESUMO
Tumors driven by deficiency of the VHL gene product, which is involved in degradation of the hypoxia-inducible factor subunit 2 alpha (HIF2α), are natural candidates for targeted inhibition of this pathway. Belzutifan, a highly specific and well-tolerated HIF2α inhibitor, recently received FDA approval for the treatment of nonmetastatic renal cell carcinomas, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, and central nervous system hemangioblastomas from patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease, who carry VHL germline mutations. Such approval is a milestone in oncology; however, the full potential, and limitations, of HIF2α inhibition in the clinic are just starting to be explored. Here we briefly recapitulate the molecular rationale for HIF2α blockade in tumors and review available preclinical and clinical data, elaborating on mutations that might be particularly sensitive to this approach. We also outline some emerging mechanisms of intrinsic and acquired resistance to HIF2α inhibitors, including acquired mutations of the gatekeeper pocket of HIF2α and its interacting partner ARNT. Lastly, we propose that the high efficacy of belzutifan observed in tumors with genetically driven hypoxia caused by VHL mutations suggests that a focus on other mutations that similarly lead to HIF2α stabilization, such as those occurring in neuroendocrine tumors with disruptions in the tricarboxylic acid cycle (SDHA/B/C/D, FH, MDH2, IDH2), HIF hydroxylases (EGLN/PHDs), and the HIF2α-encoding gene, EPAS1, are warranted.
Assuntos
Carcinoma de Células Renais , Neoplasias Renais , Humanos , Hipóxia Tumoral , Carcinoma de Células Renais/tratamento farmacológico , Carcinoma de Células Renais/genética , Carcinoma de Células Renais/metabolismo , Neoplasias Renais/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Renais/genética , Neoplasias Renais/metabolismo , HipóxiaRESUMO
In diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the transcription factor IRF8 is the target of a series of potentially oncogenic events, including, chromosomal translocation, focal amplification, and super-enhancer perturbations. IRF8 is also frequently mutant in DLBCL, but how these variants contribute to lymphomagenesis is unknown. We modeled IRF8 mutations in DLBCL and found that they did not meaningfully impact cell fitness. Instead, IRF8 mutants, mapping either to the DNA-binding domain (DBD) or c-terminal tail, displayed diminished transcription activity towards CIITA, a direct IRF8 target. In primary DLBCL, IRF8 mutations were mutually exclusive with mutations in genes involved in antigen presentation. Concordantly, expression of IRF8 mutants in murine B cell lymphomas uniformly suppressed CD4, but not CD8, activation elicited by antigen presentation. Unexpectedly, IRF8 mutation did not modify MHC CII expression on the cell surface, rather it downmodulated CD74 and HLA- DM, intracellular regulators of antigen peptide processing/loading in the MHC CII complex. These changes were functionally relevant as, in comparison to IRF8 WT, mice harboring IRF8 mutant lymphomas displayed a significantly higher tumor burden, in association with a substantial remodeling of the tumor microenvironment (TME), typified by depletion of CD4, CD8, Th1 and NK cells, and increase in T-regs and Tfh cells. Importantly, the clinical and immune phenotypes of IRF8-mutant lymphomas were rescued in vivo by ectopic expression of CD74. Deconvolution of bulk RNAseq data from primary human DLBCL recapitulated part of the immune remodeling detected in mice and pointed to depletion of dendritic cells as another feature of IRF8 mutant TME. We concluded that IRF8 mutations contribute to DLBCL biology by facilitating immune escape.
RESUMO
The TMEM127 gene encodes a transmembrane protein of poorly known function that is mutated in pheochromocytomas, neural crest-derived tumors of adrenomedullary cells. Here, we report that, at single-nucleus resolution, TMEM127-mutant tumors share precursor cells and transcription regulatory elements with pheochromocytomas carrying mutations of the tyrosine kinase receptor RET. Additionally, TMEM127-mutant pheochromocytomas, human cells, and mouse knockout models of TMEM127 accumulate RET and increase its signaling. TMEM127 contributes to RET cellular positioning, trafficking, and lysosome-mediated degradation. Mechanistically, TMEM127 binds to RET and recruits the NEDD4 E3 ubiquitin ligase for RET ubiquitination and degradation via TMEM127 C-terminal PxxY motifs. Lastly, increased cell proliferation and tumor burden after TMEM127 loss can be reversed by selective RET inhibitors in vitro and in vivo. Our results define TMEM127 as a component of the ubiquitin system and identify aberrant RET stabilization as a likely mechanism through which TMEM127 loss-of-function mutations cause pheochromocytoma.
Assuntos
Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais , Feocromocitoma , Humanos , Animais , Camundongos , Feocromocitoma/genética , Feocromocitoma/metabolismo , Feocromocitoma/patologia , Mutação em Linhagem Germinativa , Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais/genética , Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais/metabolismo , Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais/patologia , Mutação/genética , Ubiquitinação , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-ret/genética , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-ret/metabolismo , Proteínas de Membrana/genética , Proteínas de Membrana/metabolismoRESUMO
Adrenocortical cancers and metastatic pheochromocytomas are the most common malignancies originating in the adrenal glands. Metastatic paragangliomas are extra-adrenal tumors that share similar genetic and molecular profiles with metastatic pheochromocytomas and, subsequently, these tumors are studied together. Adrenocortical cancers and metastatic pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas are orphan diseases with limited therapeutic options worldwide. As in any other cancers, adrenocortical cancers and metastatic pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas avoid the immune system. Hypoxia-pseudohypoxia, activation of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, and/or microsatellite instability suggest that immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors could be a therapeutic option for patients with these tumors. The results of clinical trials with checkpoint inhibitors for adrenocortical carcinoma or metastatic pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma demonstrate limited benefits; nevertheless, these results also suggest interesting mechanisms that might enhance clinical responses to checkpoint inhibitors. These mechanisms include the normalization of tumor vasculature, modification of the hormonal environment, and vaccination with specific tumor antigens. Combinations of checkpoint inhibitors with classical therapies, such as chemotherapy, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, radiopharmaceuticals, and/or novel therapies, such as vaccines, should be evaluated in clinical trials.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Behavior of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) varies among ethnic groups. Recommended management of thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology (TN-IC) is based on molecular analysis from predominantly non-Hispanic white patients. We hypothesized that TN-IC in Hispanic/Latinx patients would have different features, management, and outcomes and that molecular testing might perform differently in Hispanic/Latinx patients. METHODS: Retrospective chart review was performed on 127 TN-IC analyzed with Afirma. Patient characteristics were compared using linear model ANOVA and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Out of 127 TN-IC, 71 (56%) were Hispanic/Latinx. Hispanic/Latinx had a greater prevalence of diabetes, but Afirma results (benign or suspicious) were similar between ethnic groups. Fourteen patients had malignant pathology. Their management and outcomes were similar across groups. The negative predictive value for our cohort (97.9%) was similar to published data. CONCLUSIONS: Data from our predominantly-Hispanic/Latinx cohort suggest that Afirma performs similarly in Hispanic/Latinx and non-Hispanic white patients with TN-IC.
Assuntos
Neoplasias da Glândula Tireoide , Nódulo da Glândula Tireoide , Biópsia por Agulha Fina , Citodiagnóstico , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica/métodos , Humanos , Estudos Retrospectivos , Neoplasias da Glândula Tireoide/patologia , Neoplasias da Glândula Tireoide/terapia , Nódulo da Glândula Tireoide/patologiaRESUMO
Genetic testing has become the standard of care for many disease states. As a result, physicians treating patients who have tumors often rely on germline genetic testing results for making clinical decisions. Cases of two sisters carrying a germline CHEK2 variant are highlighted whereby possible other genetic drivers were discovered on tumor analysis. CHEK2 (also referred to as CHK2) loss of function has been firmly associated with breast cancer development. In this case report, two siblings with a germline CHEK2 mutation also had distinct endocrine tumors. Pituitary adenoma and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PNET) was found in the first sibling and pheochromocytoma (PCC) discovered in the second sibling. Although pituitary adenomas, PNETs, and PCC have been associated with NF1 gene mutations, the second sister with a PCC did have proven germline CHEK2 with a pathogenic somatic NF1 mutation. We highlight the clinical point that unless the tumor is sequenced, the real driver mutation that is causing the patient's tumor may remain unknown.
Assuntos
Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais , Feocromocitoma , Neoplasias Hipofisárias , Humanos , Feminino , Irmãos , Quinase do Ponto de Checagem 2/genéticaRESUMO
Pheochromocytomas (PC) and paragangliomas (PG) are rare neuroendocrine tumors associated with autonomic nerves. Here we use single-nuclei RNA-seq and bulk-tissue gene-expression data to characterize the cellular composition of PCPG and normal adrenal tissues, refine tumor gene-expression subtypes and make clinical and genotypic associations. We confirm seven PCPG gene-expression subtypes with significant genotype and clinical associations. Tumors with mutations in VHL, SDH-encoding genes (SDHx) or MAML3-fusions are characterized by hypoxia-inducible factor signaling and neoangiogenesis. PCPG have few infiltrating lymphocytes but abundant macrophages. While neoplastic cells transcriptionally resemble mature chromaffin cells, early chromaffin and neuroblast markers are also features of some PCPG subtypes. The gene-expression profile of metastatic SDHx-related PCPG indicates these tumors have elevated cellular proliferation and a lower number of non-neoplastic Schwann-cell-like cells, while GPR139 is a potential theranostic target. Our findings therefore clarify the diverse transcriptional programs and cellular composition of PCPG and identify biomarkers of potential clinical significance.
Assuntos
Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais , Paraganglioma , Feocromocitoma , Humanos , Feocromocitoma/genética , Microambiente Tumoral/genética , Paraganglioma/genética , Paraganglioma/patologia , Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais/genética , Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais/patologia , Succinato Desidrogenase/genéticaRESUMO
The RET kinase receptor is a target of mutations in neural crest tumors, including pheochromocytomas, and of oncogenic fusions in epithelial cancers. We report a RET::GRB2 fusion in a pheochromocytoma in which RET, functioning as the upstream partner, retains its kinase domain but loses critical C-terminal motifs and is fused to GRB2, a physiological RET interacting protein. RET::GRB2 is an oncogenic driver that leads to constitutive, ligand-independent RET signaling; has transforming capability dependent on RET catalytic function; and is sensitive to RET inhibitors. These observations highlight a new driver event in pheochromocytomas potentially amenable for RET-driven therapy.