Search

The DNA damage response (DDR) pathway is a promising target for anticancer therapies. The androgen receptor and myeloblastosis transcription factors have been reported to regulate expression of an overlapping set of DDR genes in prostate cancer cells. Here, we found that histone demethylase JMJD1A regulates expression of a different set of DDR genes largely through c-Myc. Inhibition of JMJD1A delayed the resolution of γ-H2AX foci, reduced the formation of foci containing ubiquitin, 53BP1, BRCA1 or Rad51, and inhibited the reporter activity of double-strand break (DSB) repair. Mechanistically, JMJD1A regulated expression of DDR genes by increasing not only the level but also the chromatin recruitment of c-Myc through H3K9 demethylation. Further, we found that ubiquitin ligase HUWE1 induced the K27-/K29-linked noncanonical ubiquitination of JMJD1A at lysine-918. Ablation of the JMJD1A noncanonical ubiquitination lowered DDR gene expression, impaired DSB repair, and sensitized response of prostate cells to irradiation, topoisomerase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors. Thus, development of agents that target JMJD1A or its noncanonical ubiquitination may sensitize the response of prostate cancer to radiotherapy and possibly also genotoxic therapy.

Highlights • PARP1-dependent PARylation post-translationally modifies and regulates STAT5. • Catalytic PARP inhibition reduces STAT5 stability. • PARP1 loss results in reduced STAT5 signaling and activation of downstream targets. • STAT5-activated cancers are sensitive to PARP inhibition. • PARP inhibition overcomes TKI-resistance in FLT3-ITD AML., Signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) signaling plays a pathogenic role in both hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), internal tandem duplications of fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3-ITD) constitutively activate the FLT3 receptor, producing aberrant STAT5 signaling, driving cell survival and proliferation. Understanding STAT5 regulation may aid development of new treatment strategies in STAT5-activated cancers including FLT3-ITD AML. Poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP1), upregulated in FLT3-ITD AML, is primarily known as a DNA repair factor, but also regulates a diverse range of proteins through PARylation. Analysis of STAT5 protein sequence revealed putative PARylation sites and we demonstrate a novel PARP1 interaction and direct PARylation of STAT5 in FLT3-ITD AML. Moreover, PARP1 depletion and PARylation inhibition decreased STAT5 protein expression and activity via increased degradation, suggesting that PARP1 PARylation of STAT5 at least in part potentiates aberrant signaling by stabilizing STAT5 protein in FLT3-ITD AML. Importantly for translational significance, PARPis are cytotoxic in numerous STAT5-activated cancer cells and are synergistic with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in both TKI-sensitive and TKI-resistant FLT3-ITD AML. Therefore, PARPi may have therapeutic benefit in STAT5-activated and therapy-resistant leukemias and solid tumors.

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPis) are clinically effective predominantly for BRCA-mutant tumors. We introduce a mechanism-based strategy to enhance PARPi efficacy based on DNA damage-related binding between DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and PARP1. In acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and breast cancer cells, DNMT inhibitors (DNMTis) alone covalently bind DNMTs into DNA and increase PARP1 tightly bound into chromatin. Low doses of DNMTis plus PARPis, versus each drug alone, increase PARPi efficacy, increasing amplitude and retention of PARP1 directly at laser-induced DNA damage sites. This correlates with increased DNA damage, synergistic tumor cytotoxicity, blunting of self-renewal, and strong anti-tumor responses, in vivo in unfavorable AML subtypes and BRCA wild-type breast cancer cells. Our combinatorial approach introduces a strategy to enhance efficacy of PARPis in treating cancer.

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are reprogrammed from adult or progenitor somatic cells and must make substantial adaptations to ensure genomic stability in order to become “embryonic stem cell- (ESC-) like.” The DNA damage response (DDR) is critical for maintenance of such genomic integrity. Herein, we determined whether cell of origin and reprogramming method influence the DDR of hiPSCs. We demonstrate that hiPSCs derived from cord blood (CB) myeloid progenitors (i.e., CB-iPSC) via an efficient high-fidelity stromal-activated (sa) method closely resembled hESCs in DNA repair gene expression signature and irradiation-induced DDR, relative to hiPSCs generated from CB or fibroblasts via standard methods. Furthermore, sa-CB-iPSCs also more closely resembled hESCs in accuracy of nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ), DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair, and C-MYC transcriptional signatures, relative to standard hiPSCs. Our data suggests that hiPSCs derived via more efficient reprogramming methods possess more hESC-like activated MYC signatures and DDR signaling. Thus, an authentic MYC molecular signature may serve as an important biomarker in characterizing the genomic integrity in hiPSCs.

Aromatase inhibitors are effective drugs that reduce or eliminate hormone-sensitive breast cancer. However, despite their efficacy, resistance to these drugs can occur in some patients. The INrf2 (Keap1):Nrf2 complex serves as a sensor of drug/radiation-induced oxidative/electrophilic stress. INrf2 constitutively suppresses Nrf2 by functioning as an adapter protein for the Cul3/Rbx1-mediated ubiquitination/degradation of Nrf2. Upon stress, Nrf2 dissociates from INrf2, is stabilized, translocates to the nucleus, and coordinately induces a battery of cytoprotective gene expression. Current studies investigated the role of Nrf2 in aromatase inhibitor resistance. RT-PCR and immunoblot assays showed that aromatase inhibitor–resistant breast cancer LTLTCa and AnaR cells express lower INrf2 and higher Nrf2 protein levels, as compared with drug-sensitive MCF-7Ca and AC1 cells, respectively. The increase in Nrf2 was due to lower ubiquitination/degradation of Nrf2 in aromatase inhibitor–resistant cells. Higher Nrf2-mediated levels of biotransformation enzymes, drug transporters, and antiapoptotic proteins contributed to reduced efficacy of drugs and aversion to apoptosis that led to drug resistance. shRNA inhibition of Nrf2 in LTLTCa (LTLTCa-Nrf2KD) cells reduced resistance and sensitized cells to aromatase inhibitor exemestane. Interestingly, LTLTCa-Nrf2KD cells also showed reduced levels of aldehyde dehydrogenase, a marker of tumor-initiating cells and significantly decreased mammosphere formation, as compared with LTLTCa-Vector control cells. The results together suggest that persistent aromatase inhibitor treatment downregulated INrf2 leading to higher expression of Nrf2 and Nrf2-regulated cytoprotective proteins that resulted in increased aromatase inhibitor drug resistance. These findings provide a rationale for the development of Nrf2 inhibitors to overcome resistance and increase efficacy of aromatase inhibitors. Mol Cancer Ther; 14(7); 1728–37. ©2015 AACR.

Leukemias expressing the constitutively activated tyrosine kinases (TK) BCR-ABL1 and FLT3/ITD activate signaling pathways that increase genomic instability through generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA double-strand breaks (DSB), and error-prone repair. The nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathway is a major pathway for DSB repair and is highly aberrant in TK-activated leukemias; an alternative form of NHEJ (ALT-NHEJ) predominates, evidenced by increased expression of DNA ligase IIIα (LIG3) and PARP1, increased frequency of large genomic deletions, and repair using DNA sequence microhomologies. This study, for the first time, demonstrates that the TK target c-MYC plays a role in transcriptional activation and subsequent expression of LIG3 and PARP1 and contributes to the increased error-prone repair observed in TK-activated leukemias. c-MYC negatively regulates microRNAs miR-150 and miR-22, which demonstrate an inverse correlation with LIG3 and PARP1 expression in primary and cultured leukemia cells and chronic myelogenous leukemia human patient samples. Notably, inhibition of c-MYC and overexpression of miR-150 and -22 decreases ALT-NHEJ activity. Thus, BCR-ABL1 or FLT3/ITD induces c-MYC expression, leading to genomic instability via augmented expression of ALT-NHEJ repair factors that generate repair errors. Implications: In the context of TK-activated leukemias, c-MYC contributes to aberrant DNA repair through downstream targets LIG3 and PARP1, which represent viable and attractive therapeutic targets. Mol Cancer Res; 13(4); 699–712. ©2015 AACR.

The mechanisms underlying tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients lacking explanatory BCR-ABL1 kinase domain mutations are incompletely understood. To identify mechanisms of TKI resistance that are independent of BCR-ABL1 kinase activity, we introduced a lentiviral short hairpin RNA (shRNA) library targeting ∼5000 cell signaling genes into K562(R), a CML cell line with BCR-ABL1 kinase-independent TKI resistance expressing exclusively native BCR-ABL1. A customized algorithm identified genes whose shRNA-mediated knockdown markedly impaired growth of K562(R) cells compared with TKI-sensitive controls. Among the top candidates were 2 components of the nucleocytoplasmic transport complex, RAN and XPO1 (CRM1). shRNA-mediated RAN inhibition or treatment of cells with the XPO1 inhibitor, KPT-330 (Selinexor), increased the imatinib sensitivity of CML cell lines with kinase-independent TKI resistance. Inhibition of either RAN or XPO1 impaired colony formation of CD34(+) cells from newly diagnosed and TKI-resistant CML patients in the presence of imatinib, without effects on CD34(+) cells from normal cord blood or from a patient harboring the BCR-ABL1(T315I) mutant. These data implicate RAN in BCR-ABL1 kinase-independent imatinib resistance and show that shRNA library screens are useful to identify alternative pathways critical to drug resistance in CML.

The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis, dysplasia, and transformation to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Although it has been suggested that additional mutations lead to progression of MDS to AML, the causative agent(s) for such mutations remains unclear. Oxidative stress is a potential cause, therefore, we evaluated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in NUP98-HOXD13 (NHD13) transgenic mice, a murine model for MDS. Increased levels of ROS were detected in bone marrow nucleated cells (BMNC) that express CD71, a marker for cell proliferation, as well as immature, lineage negative bone marrow nucleated cells from NHD13 mice. In addition to the increase in ROS, increased DNA double strand breaks and activation of a G2/M phase cell cycle checkpoint were noted in NHD13 BMNC. Finally, using an in vivo assay for mutation frequency, we detected an increased mutation frequency in NHD13 BMNC. These results suggest that oxidative stress may contribute to disease progression of MDS to AML through ineffective repair of DNA damage and acquisition of oncogenic mutations.

Although hereditary breast cancers have defects in the DNA damage response that result in genomic instability, DNA repair abnormalities in sporadic breast cancers have not been extensively characterized. Recently, we showed that, relative to nontumorigenic breast epithelial MCF10A cells, estrogen receptor–positive (ER+) MCF7 breast cancer cells and progesterone receptor–positive (PR+) MCF7 breast cancer cells have reduced steady-state levels of DNA ligase IV, a component of the major DNA–protein kinase (PK)-dependent nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway, whereas the steady-state level of DNA ligase IIIα, a component of the highly error-prone alternative NHEJ (ALT NHEJ) pathway, is increased. Here, we show that tamoxifen- and aromatase-resistant derivatives of MCF7 cells and ER−/PR− cells have even higher steady-state levels of DNA ligase IIIα and increased levels of PARP1, another ALT NHEJ component. This results in increased dependence upon microhomology-mediated ALT NHEJ to repair DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) and the accumulation of chromosomal deletions. Notably, therapy-resistant derivatives of MCF7 cells and ER−/PR− cells exhibited significantly increased sensitivity to a combination of PARP and DNA ligase III inhibitors that increased the number of DSBs. Biopsies from ER−/PR− tumors had elevated levels of ALT NHEJ and reduced levels of DNA–PK-dependent NHEJ factors. Thus, our results show that ALT NHEJ is a novel therapeutic target in breast cancers that are resistant to frontline therapies and suggest that changes in NHEJ protein levels may serve as biomarkers to identify tumors that are candidates for this therapeutic approach. Mol Cancer Res; 10(1); 96–107. ©2011 AACR.

To maintain the integrity of the organism, embryonic stem cells (ESC) need to maintain their genomic integrity in response to DNA damage. DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) are one of the most lethal forms of DNA damage and can have disastrous consequences if not repaired correctly, leading to cell death, genomic instability and cancer. How human ESC (hESC) maintain genomic integrity in response to agents that cause DSBs is relatively unclear. Adult somatic cells can be induced to “dedifferentiate” into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and reprogram into cells of all three germ layers. Whether iPSC have reprogrammed the DNA damage response is a critical question in regenerative medicine. Here, we show that hESC demonstrate high levels of endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) which can contribute to DNA damage and may arise from high levels of metabolic activity. To potentially counter genomic instability caused by DNA damage, we find that hESC employ two strategies: First, these cells have enhanced levels of DNA repair proteins, including those involved in repair of DSBs, and they demonstrate elevated nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) activity and repair efficacy, one of the main pathways for repairing DSBs. Second, they are hypersensitive to DNA damaging agents, as evidenced by a high level of apoptosis upon irradiation. Importantly, iPSC, unlike the parent cells they are derived from, mimic hESC in their ROS levels, cell cycle profiles, repair protein expression and NHEJ repair efficacy, indicating reprogramming of the DNA repair pathways. Human iPSC however show a partial apoptotic response to irradiation, compared to hESC. We suggest that DNA damage responses may constitute important markers for the efficacy of iPSC reprogramming.

Ed William D Foulkes, Shirley V Hodgson Cambridge University Press, £60, pp 471 ISBN 0 521 56340 2 ——————— Rating: ![Graphic][1] ![Graphic][2] ![Graphic][3] As its title suggests, this book comprehensively marries the clinical, predictive, and ethical issues that arise from identifying genes that indicate increased risk of cancer. It also effectively and in an accessible manner conveys the criteria for genetics testing and what is known of the biology underlying most known inherited cancers. The book is timely in its scope. As … [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif [2]: /embed/inline-graphic-2.gif [3]: /embed/inline-graphic-3.gif

Fragile sites are specific regions of chromosomes that are prone to breakage. In cells cultured under conditions that induce fragile site expression, high levels of inter- and intrachromosomal recombination have been observed involving chromosomal bands containing fragile sites. To determine whether expression of specific fragile sites would facilitate preferential integration of exogenous DNA at these recombination hot spots, the vector pSV2Neo was transfected into a Chinese hamster-human somatic cell hybrid containing a derivative chromosome 3 as its only human component. Chromosome 3 contains a common fragile site at band 3p14.2 (FRA3B) that is induced by aphidicolin. Both cells induced to express FRA3B and the uninduced control cells were transfected with the pSV2Neo selectable plasmid. In situ hybridization of a biotin-labeled pSV2Neo probe to metaphase chromosomes revealed one to three integration sites in each stably transfected clone. Four of 13 clones transfected under conditions of FRA3B induction showed integration of pSV2Neo at 3p14; these clones also showed specific integration into hamster chromosome 1 and a rearranged chromosome characteristic of CHO cells (mar2). The 7 control clones, however, showed an apparently random pattern of pSV2Neo integration. Significant hybridization of pSV2Neo to both FRA3B and Chinese hamster chromosomes 1 and mar2 was seen in 100 cells from pooled colonies transfected after treatment with aphidicolin. These results suggest that preferential integration of marker DNA into human and Chinese hamster fragile sites occurs with exposure to aphidicolin. The nature of the DNA sequences at fragile sites is unknown and, despite a number of approaches, these sequences have not yet been isolated; our procedure may represent an approach to the cloning of fragile sites.

Out of 105 Philadelphia (Ph) positive chronic myeloid leukemia patients analyzed, six (5.7%) carried a variant Ph translocation, namely t(6;9;9;10;22)(q24;p13;q34;p15;q11); t(9;13;22)(q34;q21;q11);der(2)(2pter----2q31::9q21---- 9q34::22q11----22qter) and der(9)t(2;9) (9pter----9q21::2q31----2qter);t(7;9;22)(q11;q34 ;q11), 14q + ;t(7;9;22)(q35;q34;q11), and t(9;11;22) (q34;q13;q11), respectively. Five of these patients were analyzed with Southern blotting. Three of them showed an atypical molecular pattern; namely, the patient with t(9;13;22) showed no rearrangement in the breakpoint cluster region (bcr), the patient with t(7;9;22)(q35;q34;q11) showed a 3' deletion, and the patient with t(7;9;22), 14q + showed a bcr rearrangement 3' to the exon 4 of the M-BCR. Chromosome in situ hybridization studies demonstrated that in patient one, a two-step translocation occurred: the first step moved the 3' bcr from chromosome 22 to chromosome 9, and the second moved the terminal part of 22q, carrying the c-sis protooncogene, to 10p. Variant Ph translocations appear to be associated with atypical molecular breakpoints.