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Cancer Genomics & Proteomics 2017Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2 gene. It comprises approximately 15-20% of breast... (Review)
Review
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2 gene. It comprises approximately 15-20% of breast cancers (BCs). Unfortunately, TNBC's treatment continues to be a clinical problem because of its relatively poor prognosis, its aggressiveness and the lack of targeted therapies, leaving chemotherapy as the mainstay of treatment. It is essential to find new therapies against TNBC, in order to surpass the resistance and the invasiveness of already existing therapies. Given the fact that epigenetic processes control both the initiation and progression of TNBC, there is an increasing interest in the mechanisms, molecules and signaling pathways that participate at the epigenetic modulation of genes expressed in carcinogenesis. The acetylation of histone proteins provokes the transcription of genes involved in cell growth, and the expression of histone deacetylases (HDACs) is frequently up-regulated in many malignancies. Unfortunately, in the field of BC, HDAC inhibitors have shown limited effect as single agents. Nevertheless, their use in combination with kinase inhibitors, autophagy inhibitors, ionizing radiation, or two HDAC inhibitors together is currently being evaluated. HDAC inhibitors such as suberoylanilidehydroxamic acid (SAHA), sodium butyrate, mocetinostat, panobinostat, entinostat, YCW1 and N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propylpentanamide have shown promising therapeutic outcomes against TNBC, especially when they are used in combination with other anticancer agents. More studies concerning HDAC inhibitors in breast carcinomas along with a more accurate understanding of the TNBC's pathobiology are required for the possible identification of new therapeutic strategies.
Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Female; Histone Deacetylases; Humans; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms
PubMed: 28870998
DOI: 10.21873/cgp.20041 -
Molecular Cancer Therapeutics Feb 2018As the population ages, more elderly patients require radiotherapy-based treatment for their pelvic malignancies, including muscle-invasive bladder cancer, as they are...
As the population ages, more elderly patients require radiotherapy-based treatment for their pelvic malignancies, including muscle-invasive bladder cancer, as they are unfit for major surgery. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find radiosensitizing agents minimally toxic to normal tissues, including bowel and bladder, for such patients. We developed methods to determine normal tissue toxicity severity in intestine and bladder , using novel radiotherapy techniques on a small animal radiation research platform (SARRP). The effects of panobinostat on tumor growth delay were evaluated using subcutaneous xenografts in athymic nude mice. Panobinostat concentration levels in xenografts, plasma, and normal tissues were measured in CD1-nude mice. CD1-nude mice were treated with drug/irradiation combinations to assess acute normal tissue effects in small intestine using the intestinal crypt assay, and later effects in small and large intestine at 11 weeks by stool assessment and at 12 weeks by histologic examination. effects of panobinostat were assessed by qPCR and of panobinostat, TMP195, and mocetinostat by clonogenic assay, and Western blot analysis. Panobinostat resulted in growth delay in RT112 bladder cancer xenografts but did not significantly increase acute (3.75 days) or 12 weeks' normal tissue radiation toxicity. Radiosensitization by panobinostat was effective in hypoxic bladder cancer cells and associated with class I HDAC inhibition, and protein downregulation of HDAC2 and MRE11. Pan-HDAC inhibition is a promising strategy for radiosensitization, but more selective agents may be more useful radiosensitizers clinically, resulting in fewer systemic side effects.
Topics: Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; Humans; Mice; Mice, Nude; Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; Transfection; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms
PubMed: 28839000
DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-17-0011 -
American Journal of Cancer Research 2017There are 18 lysine deacetylases, also known as histone deacetylases (HDACs), that remove acetyl groups from histone and non-histone proteins, thereby playing critical...
There are 18 lysine deacetylases, also known as histone deacetylases (HDACs), that remove acetyl groups from histone and non-histone proteins, thereby playing critical roles in numerous biological processes. In many human cancers, HDACs are dysregulated through mutation, altered expression, or inappropriate recruitment to certain loci. However, knowledge of the genomic and transcriptomic alterations and the clinical significance of most HDACs in breast cancer remain incomplete. We used TCGA and METABRIC datasets to perform comprehensive, integrated genomic and transcriptomic analyses of 18 HDAC genes in approximately 3000 primary breast cancers and identified associations among recurrent copy number alteration, gene expression, clinicopathological features, and patient survival. We found distinct patterns of copy number alteration and expression for each HDAC in breast cancer subtypes. We demonstrated that and were the most commonly amplified/overexpressed, and was most deleted/underexpressed, particularly in aggressive basal-like breast cancer. Overexpression of was significantly correlated with high tumor grade, positive lymph node status, and poor prognosis. The HDAC inhibitor mocetinostat showed anti-tumor effects in HDAC2-overexpressing basal-like breast cancer lines . Furthermore, HDAC2 expression was positively correlated with a set of DNA-damage response genes, notably RAD51. We revealed a potential mechanism by which HDAC2 regulates RAD51 expression-by indirect mediation through microRNAs, e.g., . HDAC inhibitors have emerged as a promising new class of multifunctional anticancer agents. Identifying which breast cancers or patients show HDAC deregulation that contributes to tumor development/progression might enable us to improve target cancer therapy.
PubMed: 28560068
DOI: No ID Found -
British Journal of Haematology Aug 2017Deregulation of histone deacetylase (HDAC) is important in the pathogenesis of follicular lymphoma (FL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Mocetinostat, an...
Deregulation of histone deacetylase (HDAC) is important in the pathogenesis of follicular lymphoma (FL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Mocetinostat, an isotype-selective HDAC inhibitor, induces accumulation of acetylated histones, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in several cancers. This phase 2 study evaluated mocetinostat in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) DLBCL and FL. Seventy-two patients received mocetinostat (starting doses: 70-110 mg TIW, 4-week cycles). The best overall response rate (95% CI) was 18·9% (7·2, 32·2) for the DLBCL cohort (n = 41), and 11·5% (1·7, 20·7) for the FL cohort (n = 31). Responses were durable (≥90 days in 7 of 10 responses). Overall, 54·1% and 73·1% of patients derived clinical benefit (response or stable disease) from mocetinostat in the DLBCL and FL cohorts, respectively. Progression-free survival ranged from 1·8 to 22·8 months and 11·8 to 26·3 months in responders with DLBCL and FL, respectively. The most frequent treatment-related adverse events were fatigue (75·0%), nausea (69·4%) and diarrhoea (61·1%). Although mocetinostat had limited single-agent activity in R/R DLBCL and FL, patients with clinical benefit had long-term disease control. The safety profile was acceptable. This drug class warrants further investigation, including identifying patients more likely to respond to this agent, or in combination with other agents.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Agents; Benzamides; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Lymphoma, Follicular; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse; Male; Middle Aged; Pyrimidines; Recurrence; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 28440559
DOI: 10.1111/bjh.14698 -
Scientific Reports Mar 2017SHH Medulloblastoma (SHH-MB) is a pediatric brain tumor characterized by an inappropriate activation of the developmental Hedgehog (Hh) signaling. SHH-MB patients...
SHH Medulloblastoma (SHH-MB) is a pediatric brain tumor characterized by an inappropriate activation of the developmental Hedgehog (Hh) signaling. SHH-MB patients treated with the FDA-approved vismodegib, an Hh inhibitor that targets the transmembrane activator Smoothened (Smo), have shown the rapid development of drug resistance and tumor relapse due to novel Smo mutations. Moreover, a subset of patients did not respond to vismodegib because mutations were localized downstream of Smo. Thus, targeting downstream Hh components is now considered a preferable approach. We show here that selective inhibition of the downstream Hh effectors HDAC1 and HDAC2 robustly counteracts SHH-MB growth in mouse models. These two deacetylases are upregulated in tumor and their knockdown inhibits Hh signaling and decreases tumor growth. We demonstrate that mocetinostat (MGCD0103), a selective HDAC1/HDAC2 inhibitor, is a potent Hh inhibitor and that its effect is linked to Gli1 acetylation at K518. Of note, we demonstrate that administration of mocetinostat to mouse models of SHH-MB drastically reduces tumor growth, by reducing proliferation and increasing apoptosis of tumor cells and prolongs mouse survival rate. Collectively, these data demonstrate the preclinical efficacy of targeting the downstream HDAC1/2-Gli1 acetylation in the treatment of SHH-MB.
Topics: Animals; Cell Line, Tumor; Histone Deacetylase 1; Histone Deacetylase 2; Medulloblastoma; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Neoplasms, Experimental; Tumor Suppressor Proteins; Zinc Finger Protein GLI1
PubMed: 28276480
DOI: 10.1038/srep44079 -
Nature Communications Jan 2017The peripheral nervous system (PNS) regenerates after injury. However, regeneration is often compromised in the case of large lesions, and the speed of axon reconnection...
The peripheral nervous system (PNS) regenerates after injury. However, regeneration is often compromised in the case of large lesions, and the speed of axon reconnection to their target is critical for successful functional recovery. After injury, mature Schwann cells (SCs) convert into repair cells that foster axonal regrowth, and redifferentiate to rebuild myelin. These processes require the regulation of several transcription factors, but the driving mechanisms remain partially understood. Here we identify an early response to nerve injury controlled by histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2), which coordinates the action of other chromatin-remodelling enzymes to induce the upregulation of Oct6, a key transcription factor for SC development. Inactivating this mechanism using mouse genetics allows earlier conversion into repair cells and leads to faster axonal regrowth, but impairs remyelination. Consistently, short-term HDAC1/2 inhibitor treatment early after lesion accelerates functional recovery and enhances regeneration, thereby identifying a new therapeutic strategy to improve PNS regeneration after lesion.
Topics: Animals; Axons; Benzamides; Early Growth Response Protein 2; Gene Expression Regulation; Genes, Reporter; Histone Deacetylase 1; Histone Deacetylase 2; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Luciferases; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Nerve Regeneration; PAX3 Transcription Factor; Peripheral Nerve Injuries; Pyrimidines; Recovery of Function; SOXB1 Transcription Factors; Schwann Cells; Signal Transduction; Transcription Factors
PubMed: 28139683
DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14272 -
Oncotarget Feb 2017The triple-negative breast cancer subtype is highly aggressive and has no defined therapeutic target. Fyn-related kinase (FRK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase,...
The triple-negative breast cancer subtype is highly aggressive and has no defined therapeutic target. Fyn-related kinase (FRK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase, reported to be downregulated in breast cancer and gliomas, where it is suggested to have tumor suppressor activity. We examined the expression profile of FRK in a panel of 40 breast cancer cells representing all the major subtypes, as well as in 4 non-malignant mammary epithelial cell lines. We found that FRK expression was significantly repressed in a proportion of basal B breast cancer cell lines. We then determined the mechanism of suppression of FRK in FRK-low or negative cell lines. In silico analyses of the FRK promoter region led to the identification of at least 17 CpG sites. Bisulphite sequencing of the promoter region revealed that two of these sites were consistently methylated in FRK-low/negative cell lines and especially in the basal B breast cancer subtype. We further show that treatment of these cells with histone deacetylase inhibitors, Entinostat and Mocetinostat' promoted re-expression of FRK mRNA and protein. Further, using luciferase reporter assays, we show that both GATA3-binding protein FOG1 and constitutively active STAT5A increased the activity of FRK promoter. Together, our results present the first evidence that site-specific promoter methylation contributes to the repression of FRK more so in basal B breast cancers. Our study also highlights the potential clinical significance of targeting FRK using epigenetic drugs specifically in basal B breast cancers which are usually triple negative and very aggressive.
Topics: Breast Neoplasms; Cell Line, Tumor; CpG Islands; DNA Methylation; Epigenesis, Genetic; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Gene Knockdown Techniques; Humans; Immunoblotting; Neoplasm Proteins; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms
PubMed: 28077797
DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.14546 -
ACS Omega Nov 2016Prostate cancer cells overexpress the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) receptors on the surface. Targeting the PSMA receptor creates a unique opportunity for...
Prostate cancer cells overexpress the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) receptors on the surface. Targeting the PSMA receptor creates a unique opportunity for drug delivery. Docetaxel is a Food and Drug Administration-approved drug for treating metastatic and androgen-independent prostate cancer, and mocetinostat is a potent inhibitor of class I histone deacetylases. In this study, we prepared reduction-sensitive polymersomes presenting folic acid on the surface and encapsulating either docetaxel or mocetinostat. The presence of folic acid allowed efficient targeting of the PSMA receptor and subsequent internalization of the polymeric vesicles in cultured LNCaP prostate cancer cell spheroids. The intracellular reducing agents efficiently released docetaxel and mocetinostat from the polymersomes. The combination of the two drug-encapsulated polymersome formulations significantly ( < 0.05) decreased the viability of the LNCaP cells (compared to free drugs or control) in three-dimensional spheroid cultures. The calculated combination index value indicated a synergistic effect for the combination of mocetinostat and docetaxel. Thus, our PSMA-targeted drug-encapsulated polymersomes has the potential to lead to a new direction in prostate cancer therapy that decreases the toxicity and increases the efficacy of the drug delivery systems.
PubMed: 27917408
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.6b00126 -
Journal of Cardiology Feb 2017In cardiac fibrosis, following an injury or a stress, non-functional fibrotic tissue substitutes normal myocardium, thus leading to progressive heart failure. Activated... (Review)
Review
In cardiac fibrosis, following an injury or a stress, non-functional fibrotic tissue substitutes normal myocardium, thus leading to progressive heart failure. Activated fibroblasts are principal determinants of cardiac fibrosis by producing excessive fibrotic extracellular matrix and causing hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes. Epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and miRNAs have been involved in these mechanisms. Therefore, there is a strong interest in reverting such epigenetic transformations in order to arrest myocardial fibrotic degeneration. Demethylating agents, such as 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, 5-azacytidine, some selective histone deacetylase inhibitors, including mocetinostat, trichostatin A, and MPT0E014, have a direct action on important inducers of cardiac fibrosis. Also dietary compounds, such as resveratrol, can suppress the differentiation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts. Although in vivo and in vitro studies suggest specific epigenetic therapies to treat cardiac fibrosis, the related clinical trials are still lacking. A better understanding of the epigenetic effects of dietary compounds (e.g. curcumin and green tea catechins) on the onset and progression of cardiac fibrosis, will allow the identification of protective dietary patterns and/or the generation of novel potential epidrugs.
Topics: Animals; Cardiomyopathies; Cell Differentiation; DNA Methylation; Diet; Disease Progression; Enzyme Inhibitors; Epigenesis, Genetic; Fibroblasts; Fibrosis; Genetic Markers; Histone Deacetylases; Humans; MicroRNAs; Myocardium; Myofibroblasts; RNA, Long Noncoding; Up-Regulation
PubMed: 27863907
DOI: 10.1016/j.jjcc.2016.10.004 -
Cell Death Discovery 2016Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a crucial mechanism in development, mediates aggressiveness during carcinoma progression and therapeutic refractoriness. The...
An epithelial marker promoter induction screen identifies histone deacetylase inhibitors to restore epithelial differentiation and abolishes anchorage independence growth in cancers.
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a crucial mechanism in development, mediates aggressiveness during carcinoma progression and therapeutic refractoriness. The reversibility of EMT makes it an attractive strategy in designing novel therapeutic approaches. Therefore, drug discovery pipelines for EMT reversal are in need to discover emerging classes of compounds. Here, we outline a pre-clinical drug screening platform for EMT reversal that consists of three phases of drug discovery and validation. From the Phase 1 epithelial marker promoter induction (EpI) screen on a library consisting of compounds being approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Vorinostat (SAHA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi), is identified to exert EMT reversal effects by restoring the expression of an epithelial marker, E-cadherin. An expanded screen on 41 HDACi further identifies 28 compounds, such as class I-specific HDACi Mocetinosat, Entinostat and CI994, to restore E-cadherin and ErbB3 expressions in ovarian, pancreatic and bladder carcinoma cells. Mocetinostat is the most potent HDACi to restore epithelial differentiation with the lowest concentration required for 50% induction of epithelial promoter activity (EpIC-50).The HDACi exerts paradoxical effects on EMT transcriptional factors such as SNAI and ZEB family and the effects are context-dependent in epithelial- and mesenchymal-like cells. In vitro functional studies further show that HDACi induced significant increase in anoikis and decrease in spheroid formation in ovarian and bladder carcinoma cells with mesenchymal features. This study demonstrates a robust drug screening pipeline for the discovery of compounds capable of restoring epithelial differentiation that lead to significant functional lethality.
PubMed: 27551531
DOI: 10.1038/cddiscovery.2016.41