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Cell Oct 2021While prime editing enables precise sequence changes in DNA, cellular determinants of prime editing remain poorly understood. Using pooled CRISPRi screens, we discovered...
While prime editing enables precise sequence changes in DNA, cellular determinants of prime editing remain poorly understood. Using pooled CRISPRi screens, we discovered that DNA mismatch repair (MMR) impedes prime editing and promotes undesired indel byproducts. We developed PE4 and PE5 prime editing systems in which transient expression of an engineered MMR-inhibiting protein enhances the efficiency of substitution, small insertion, and small deletion prime edits by an average 7.7-fold and 2.0-fold compared to PE2 and PE3 systems, respectively, while improving edit/indel ratios by 3.4-fold in MMR-proficient cell types. Strategic installation of silent mutations near the intended edit can enhance prime editing outcomes by evading MMR. Prime editor protein optimization resulted in a PEmax architecture that enhances editing efficacy by 2.8-fold on average in HeLa cells. These findings enrich our understanding of prime editing and establish prime editing systems that show substantial improvement across 191 edits in seven mammalian cell types.
Topics: CRISPR-Cas Systems; Cell Line; DNA; DNA Mismatch Repair; Female; Gene Editing; Genes, Dominant; Genome, Human; Humans; Male; Models, Biological; MutL Protein Homolog 1; Mutation; RNA; Reproducibility of Results
PubMed: 34653350
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.09.018 -
The Journal of Biological Chemistry Oct 2015Highly conserved MutS homologs (MSH) and MutL homologs (MLH/PMS) are the fundamental components of mismatch repair (MMR). After decades of debate, it appears clear that... (Review)
Review
Highly conserved MutS homologs (MSH) and MutL homologs (MLH/PMS) are the fundamental components of mismatch repair (MMR). After decades of debate, it appears clear that the MSH proteins initiate MMR by recognizing a mismatch and forming multiple extremely stable ATP-bound sliding clamps that diffuse without hydrolysis along the adjacent DNA. The function(s) of MLH/PMS proteins is less clear, although they too bind ATP and are targeted to MMR by MSH sliding clamps. Structural analysis combined with recent real-time single molecule and cellular imaging technologies are providing new and detailed insight into the thermal-driven motions that animate the complete MMR mechanism.
Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Animals; DNA; DNA Mismatch Repair; DNA Repair Enzymes; Humans; Nuclear Proteins
PubMed: 26354434
DOI: 10.1074/jbc.R115.660142 -
DNA Repair Feb 2016This review discusses the role of DNA mismatch repair (MMR) in the DNA damage response (DDR) that triggers cell cycle arrest and, in some cases, apoptosis. Although the... (Review)
Review
This review discusses the role of DNA mismatch repair (MMR) in the DNA damage response (DDR) that triggers cell cycle arrest and, in some cases, apoptosis. Although the focus is on findings from mammalian cells, much has been learned from studies in other organisms including bacteria and yeast [1,2]. MMR promotes a DDR mediated by a key signaling kinase, ATM and Rad3-related (ATR), in response to various types of DNA damage including some encountered in widely used chemotherapy regimes. An introduction to the DDR mediated by ATR reveals its immense complexity and highlights the many biological and mechanistic questions that remain. Recent findings and future directions are highlighted.
Topics: Animals; DNA Adducts; DNA Damage; DNA Methylation; DNA Mismatch Repair; Humans; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 26704428
DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2015.11.019 -
American Journal of Human Genetics Jan 2021The lack of functional evidence for the majority of missense variants limits their clinical interpretability and poses a key barrier to the broad utility of carrier...
The lack of functional evidence for the majority of missense variants limits their clinical interpretability and poses a key barrier to the broad utility of carrier screening. In Lynch syndrome (LS), one of the most highly prevalent cancer syndromes, nearly 90% of clinically observed missense variants are deemed "variants of uncertain significance" (VUS). To systematically resolve their functional status, we performed a massively parallel screen in human cells to identify loss-of-function missense variants in the key DNA mismatch repair factor MSH2. The resulting functional effect map is substantially complete, covering 94% of the 17,746 possible variants, and is highly concordant (96%) with existing functional data and expert clinicians' interpretations. The large majority (89%) of missense variants were functionally neutral, perhaps unexpectedly in light of its evolutionary conservation. These data provide ready-to-use functional evidence to resolve the ∼1,300 extant missense VUSs in MSH2 and may facilitate the prospective classification of newly discovered variants in the clinic.
Topics: Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis; DNA Mismatch Repair; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; HEK293 Cells; Humans; MutS Homolog 2 Protein; Mutation, Missense
PubMed: 33357406
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2020.12.003 -
Annals of Oncology : Official Journal... Sep 2022Pembrolizumab demonstrated durable antitumor activity in 233 patients with previously treated advanced microsatellite instability high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair...
BACKGROUND
Pembrolizumab demonstrated durable antitumor activity in 233 patients with previously treated advanced microsatellite instability high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) advanced solid tumors in the phase II multicohort KEYNOTE-158 (NCT02628067) study. Herein, we report safety and efficacy outcomes with longer follow-up for more patients with previously treated advanced MSI-H/dMMR noncolorectal cancers who were included in cohort K of the KEYNOTE-158 (NCT02628067) study.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Eligible patients with previously treated advanced noncolorectal MSI-H/dMMR solid tumors, measurable disease as per RECIST v1.1, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1 received pembrolizumab 200 mg Q3W for 35 cycles or until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) as per RECIST v1.1 by independent central radiologic review.
RESULTS
Three hundred and fifty-one patients with various tumor types were enrolled in KEYNOTE-158 cohort K. The most common tumor types were endometrial (22.5%), gastric (14.5%), and small intestine (7.4%). Median time from first dose to database cut-off (5 October 2020) was 37.5 months (range, 0.2-55.6 months). ORR among 321 patients in the efficacy population (patients who received ≥1 dose of pembrolizumab enrolled ≥6 months before the data cut-off date) was 30.8% [95% confidence interval (CI) 25.8% to 36.2%]. Median duration of response was 47.5 months (range, 2.1+ to 51.1+ months; '+' indicates no progressive disease by the time of last disease assessment). Median progression-free survival was 3.5 months (95% CI 2.3-4.2 months) and median overall survival was 20.1 months (95% CI 14.1-27.1 months). Treatment-related adverse events (AEs) occurred in 227 patients (64.7%). Grade 3-4 treatment-related AEs occurred in 39 patients (11.1%); 3 (0.9%) had grade 5 treatment-related AEs (myocarditis, pneumonia, and Guillain-Barre syndrome, n = 1 each).
CONCLUSIONS
Pembrolizumab demonstrated clinically meaningful and durable benefit, with a high ORR of 30.8%, long median duration of response of 47.5 months, and manageable safety across a range of heavily pretreated, advanced MSI-H/dMMR noncolorectal cancers, providing support for use of pembrolizumab in this setting.
Topics: Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; DNA Mismatch Repair; Humans; Microsatellite Instability; Neoplasms
PubMed: 35680043
DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2022.05.519 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2022Colorectal cancers (CRCs) with high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) and deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) show molecular and clinicopathological characteristics that... (Review)
Review
Colorectal cancers (CRCs) with high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) and deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) show molecular and clinicopathological characteristics that differ from those of proficient mismatch repair/microsatellite stable CRCs. Despite the importance of MSI-H/dMMR status in clinical decision making, the testing rates for MSI and MMR in clinical practice remain low, even in high-risk populations. Additionally, the real-world prevalence of MSI-H/dMMR CRC may be lower than that reported in the literature. Insufficient MSI and MMR testing fails to identify patients with MSI-H/dMMR CRC, who could benefit from immunotherapy. In this article, we describe the current knowledge of the clinicopathological features, molecular landscape, and radiomic characteristics of MSI-H/dMMR CRCs. A better understanding of the importance of MMR/MSI status in the clinical characteristics and prognosis of CRC may help increase the rates of MMR/MSI testing and guide the development of more effective therapies based on the unique features of these tumors.
Topics: Humans; Microsatellite Instability; DNA Mismatch Repair; Colonic Neoplasms; Colorectal Neoplasms; Prognosis
PubMed: 36618386
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1019582 -
Gastroenterology Apr 2023Lynch syndrome (LS) is one of the most prevalent hereditary cancer syndromes in humans and accounts for some 3% of unselected patients with colorectal or endometrial...
Lynch syndrome (LS) is one of the most prevalent hereditary cancer syndromes in humans and accounts for some 3% of unselected patients with colorectal or endometrial cancer and 10%-15% of those with DNA mismatch repair-deficient tumors. Previous studies have established the genetic basis of LS predisposition, but there have been significant advances recently in the understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of LS tumors, which has important implications in clinical management. At the same time, immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of advanced cancers with DNA mismatch repair defects. We aim to review the recent progress in the LS field and discuss how the accumulating epidemiologic, clinical, and molecular information has contributed to a more accurate and complete picture of LS, resulting in genotype- and immunologic subtype-specific strategies for surveillance, cancer prevention, and treatment.
Topics: Female; Humans; Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis; Colorectal Neoplasms; Endometrial Neoplasms; Genotype; DNA Mismatch Repair; Microsatellite Instability
PubMed: 36706841
DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2022.08.058 -
Cancer Cell Jan 2023Patients affected by colorectal cancer (CRC) with DNA mismatch repair deficiency (MMRd), often respond to immune checkpoint blockade therapies, while those with mismatch...
Patients affected by colorectal cancer (CRC) with DNA mismatch repair deficiency (MMRd), often respond to immune checkpoint blockade therapies, while those with mismatch repair-proficient (MMRp) tumors generally do not. Interestingly, a subset of MMRp CRCs contains variable fractions of MMRd cells, but it is unknown how their presence impacts immune surveillance. We asked whether modulation of the MMRd fraction in MMR heterogeneous tumors acts as an endogenous cancer vaccine by promoting immune surveillance. To test this hypothesis, we use isogenic MMRp (Mlh1) and MMRd (Mlh1) mouse CRC cells. MMRp/MMRd cells mixed at different ratios are injected in immunocompetent mice and tumor rejection is observed when at least 50% of cells are MMRd. To enrich the MMRd fraction, MMRp/MMRd tumors are treated with 6-thioguanine, which leads to tumor rejection. These results suggest that genetic and pharmacological modulation of the DNA mismatch repair machinery potentiate the immunogenicity of MMR heterogeneous tumors.
Topics: Animals; Mice; DNA Mismatch Repair; Colorectal Neoplasms; Brain Neoplasms; Microsatellite Instability
PubMed: 36584674
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2022.12.003 -
Annals of Oncology : Official Journal... Jan 2017Mismatch repair (MMR)-deficiency analysis is increasingly recommended for all endometrial cancers, as it identifies Lynch syndrome patients, and is emerging as a...
BACKGROUND
Mismatch repair (MMR)-deficiency analysis is increasingly recommended for all endometrial cancers, as it identifies Lynch syndrome patients, and is emerging as a prognostic classifier to guide adjuvant treatment. The aim of this study was to define the optimal approach for MMR-deficiency testing and to clarify discrepancies between microsatellite instability (MSI) analysis and immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis of MMR protein expression.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Six hundred ninety- six endometrial cancers were analyzed for MSI (pentaplex panel) and MMR protein expression (IHC). Agreement between methodologies was calculated using Cohen's Kappa. MLH1 promoter hypermethylation, dinucleotide microsatellite markers and somatic MMR and POLE exonuclease domain (EDM) gene variants (using next-generation/Sanger sequencing) were analyzed in discordant cases.
RESULTS
MSI was found in 180 patients. Complete loss of expression of one or more MMR proteins was observed in 196 cases. A PMS2- and MSH6-antibody panel detected all cases with loss of MMR protein expression. The results of MSI and MMR protein expression were concordant in 655/696 cases (kappa = 0.854, P < 0.001). Ambiguous cases (n = 41, 6%) included: subclonal loss of MMR protein expression (n = 18), microsatellite stable or MSI-low cases with loss of MMR protein expression (n = 20), and MSI-low or MSI-high cases with retained MMR protein expression (n = 3). Most of these cases could be explained by MLH1 promoter hypermethylation. Five of seven cases with solitary loss of PMS2 or MSH6 protein expression carried somatic gene variants. Two MSI-high cases with retained MMR protein expression carried a POLE-EDM variant.
CONCLUSION
MSI and IHC analysis are highly concordant in endometrial cancer. This holds true for cases with subclonal loss of MMR protein expression. Discordant MMR-proficient/MSI-high cases (<1%), may be explained by POLE-EDM variants.
Topics: Brain Neoplasms; Colorectal Neoplasms; DNA Mismatch Repair; Endometrial Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Microsatellite Instability; Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary; Polymerase Chain Reaction
PubMed: 27742654
DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdw542 -
Archives of Pathology & Laboratory... Oct 2022The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for patients with advanced solid tumors that have DNA mismatch repair defects or...
Mismatch Repair and Microsatellite Instability Testing for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy: Guideline From the College of American Pathologists in Collaboration With the Association for Molecular Pathology and Fight Colorectal Cancer.
CONTEXT.—
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for patients with advanced solid tumors that have DNA mismatch repair defects or high levels of microsatellite instability; however, the FDA provided no guidance on which specific clinical assays should be used to determine mismatch repair status.
OBJECTIVE.—
To develop an evidence-based guideline to identify the optimal clinical laboratory test to identify defects in DNA mismatch repair in patients with solid tumor malignancies who are being considered for immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
DESIGN.—
The College of American Pathologists convened an expert panel to perform a systematic review of the literature and develop recommendations. Using the National Academy of Medicine-endorsed Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach, the recommendations were derived from available evidence, strength of that evidence, open comment feedback, and expert panel consensus. Mismatch repair immunohistochemistry, microsatellite instability derived from both polymerase chain reaction and next-generation sequencing, and tumor mutation burden derived from large panel next-generation sequencing were within scope.
RESULTS.—
Six recommendations and 3 good practice statements were developed. More evidence and evidence of higher quality were identified for colorectal cancer and other cancers of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract than for cancers arising outside the GI tract.
CONCLUSIONS.—
An optimal assay depends on cancer type. For most cancer types outside of the GI tract and the endometrium, there was insufficient published evidence to recommend a specific clinical assay. Absent published evidence, immunohistochemistry is an acceptable approach readily available in most clinical laboratories.
Topics: Female; Humans; Colorectal Neoplasms; DNA Mismatch Repair; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors; Microsatellite Instability; Pathologists; Pathology, Molecular; Systematic Reviews as Topic
PubMed: 35920830
DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2021-0632-CP