Aberrant Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Signaling Research Articles

LRIG2 promotes the proliferation and cell cycle progression of glioblastoma cells in vitro and in vivo through enhancing PDGFRβ signaling.

The leucine-rich repeats and immunoglobulin-like domains (LRIG) gene family, comprising LRIG1, 2 and 3, encodes integral membrane proteins. It has been well established that LRIG1 negatively regulates multiple growth factor signaling pathways and is considered to be a tumor suppressor; however, the biological functions of LRIG2 remain largely unexplored. It was previously demonstrated that LRIG2 positively regulates epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling, the most common aberrant receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), which promotes GBM growth. In the present study, the effect of LRIG2 on the proliferation of GBM cells was further addressed, as well as the possible mechanisms underlying the regulatory effect of LRIG2 on platelet-derived growth factor receptor β (PDGFRβ) signaling, another common oncogenic RTK signaling pathway in GBM. First, the expression levels of endogenous LRIG2 and PDGFRβ were found to vary notably in human GBM, and the LRIG2 expression level was positively correlated with the expression level of PDGFRβ. Furthermore, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that LRIG2 promoted the PDGF-BB-induced proliferation of GBM cells in vitro and in vivo through regulating the PDGFRβ signaling-mediated cell cycle progression. Mechanistically, LRIG2 has the ability to physically interact with PDGFRβ, promoting the total expression and the activation of PDGFRβ, and enhancing its downstream signaling pathways of Akt and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 and the effectors of key regulators of cell cycle progression, resulting in increased GBM cell proliferation. Collectively, these data indicated that LRIG2 may serve as a tumor promoter gene in gliomagenesis by positively regulating PDGFRβ signaling, another important oncogenic RTK signaling pathway, in addition to the previously reported EGFR signaling in GBM modulated by LRIG2, and validated LRIG2 as a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of GBM characterized by multiple aberrant RTK signaling.

The Role of EGFR-Met Interactions in the Pathogenesis of Glioblastoma and Resistance to Treatment.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults. It is a devastating and intractable disease with a poor outcome. Aberrant receptor tyrosine kinase signaling is a key driver in gliomagenesis and resistance to treatment. EGFR gene amplification and mutations are an important genetic alteration in GBM resulting in increased expression of EGFR wild type (EGFRwt) as well as mutant oncogenic forms of the EGFR. EGFRvIII is the most common oncogenic mutant in GBM and is usually co-expressed with EGFRwt. EGFRvIII does not bind ligand and is constitutively active. Recent studies have also highlighted a key role for Met in gliomagenesis and the EGFR and Met may act in concert to promote the malignant phenotype. Met is transactivated by EGFRvIII and plays a key role in EGFRvIII-mediated resistance to targeted treatment. HGF, a Met ligand, is highly expressed in GBM. HGF and Met create an important autocrine signaling loop that promotes GBM invasion. In addition, HGF/Met is able to induce EGFR activation, leading to enhanced activation of oncogenic signaling in GBM. In this review, we discuss the evidence for EGFR and Met interaction in GBM and discuss the mechanisms and biological consequences of transactivation between the two kinases. Additionally, we discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting both EGFR and Met signaling for the treatment of GBM.

Abstract 2209: Deregulation of the Ras-Erk signaling axis modulates the enhancer landscape

Abstract Unrestrained activation of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) pathways drives tumorigenesis through the persistent activation of critical signaling pathways, including the Ras-ERK axis. This aberrant signaling is unleashed by mutations in signaling effectors such as Ras, as well as through disruption of feedback control by regulatory proteins such as the Sprouty family. Mutations in epigenetic regulators also commonly occur during cancer progression, modulating chromatin architecture and gene expression. While unrestrained signaling and epigenetic deregulation are root causes of tumorigenesis, the relationship between aberrant RTK signaling and chromatin modifications at cis-regulatory elements remains to be fully elucidated. We establish linkage between these processes by examining the effects of oncogenic HRasG12V or loss of feedback regulation by Sprouty on global changes in gene expression and enhancer-associated chromatin modifications. Using RNA-sequencing and ChIP-sequencing, we demonstrate that aberrant RTK signaling unleashed by oncogenic HRasG12V or Sprouty gene deletion disrupts gene expression programs and remodels histone modifications associated with active enhancers, including histone 3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac). Abolishing persistent Ras-Erk signaling through chemical inhibition of MEK activity reverses the aberrant transcriptional program and H3K27ac remodeling at deregulated enhancers. While both lesions disrupt the Ras-Erk axis, the specific target genes and enhancers modulated upon HRasG12V-transformation or Sprouty deletion are largely distinct. Specifically, oncogenic HRasG12V significantly elevates the expression and H3K27ac levels near key target genes encoding the transcription factor Gata4 and the kinase Prkcb. Gata4 is necessary for the HRasG12V expression program and coordinates H3K27ac marking at enhancers of deregulated target genes. We further show that HRasG12V-driven cells are sensitive to chemical inhibition of Prkcb, which reduces the viability and clonogenicity of HRasG12V-transformed cells. These oncogenic effects upon HRasG12V-transformation are also reduced by chemical inhibition of the chromatin regulators BET bromodomain proteins and p300/CBP, which recognize and deposit H3K27ac, respectively. Taken together, our data support a model in which dynamic reprogramming of the cellular enhancer landscape is a key effect of oncogenic RTK signaling. Furthermore, our study shows that identification of enhancers regulated by oncogenic Ras yields insight into targeting key epigenetic regulators and downstream factors that promote Ras-driven malignancies. Citation Format: Behnam Nabet, Pilib O Broin, Jaime Reyes, Kevin Shieh, Charles Y. Lin, Christine M. Will, Relja Popovic, Teresa Ezponda, James E. Bradner, Aaron A. Golden, Jonathan D. Licht. Deregulation of the Ras-Erk signaling axis modulates the enhancer landscape. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 2209. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2209

Deregulation of the Ras-Erk Signaling Axis Modulates the Enhancer Landscape.

Unrestrained receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling and epigenetic deregulation are root causes of tumorigenesis. We establish linkage between these processes by demonstrating that aberrant RTK signaling unleashed by oncogenic HRas(G12V) or loss of negative feedback through Sprouty gene deletion remodels histone modifications associated with active typical and super-enhancers. However, although both lesions disrupt the Ras-Erk axis, theexpression programs, enhancer signatures, andtranscription factor networks modulated upon HRas(G12V) transformation or Sprouty deletion are largely distinct. Oncogenic HRas(G12V) elevates histone 3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) levels at enhancers near the transcription factor Gata4 and the kinase Prkcb, as well as their expression levels. We show that Gata4 is necessary for the aberrant gene expression and H3K27ac marking at enhancers, and Prkcb is required for the oncogenic effects of HRas(G12V)-driven cells. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that dynamic reprogramming of the cellular enhancer landscape is a major effect of oncogenic RTK signaling.

Epithelial mesenchymal transition status is associated with anti-cancer responses towards receptor tyrosine-kinase inhibition by dovitinib in human bladder cancer cells

BackgroundDovitinib (TKI-258) is a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitor targeting fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) and further related RTKs. TKI-258 is under investigation as anticancer drug for the treatment of various cancers including bladder cancer with aberrant RTK signaling. Here, we analyzed the responses of ten human bladder cancer cell lines towards TKI-258 treatment in relation to the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) status of the cells.MethodsExpression of epithelial marker E-cadherin as well as mesenchymal markers N-cadherin and vimentin was determined by quantitative RT-PCR and Western-blot in RNA and protein extracts from the cultured cell lines. The cell responses were analyzed upon addition of TKI-258 by viability/proliferation (XTT assay) and colony formation assay for measurement of cell contact independent growth.ResultsThe investigated bladder cancer cell lines turned out to display quite different EMT patterns as indicated by the abundance of E-cadherin or N-cadherin and vimentin. Protein and mRNA levels of the respective components strongly correlated. Based on E-cadherin and N-cadherin mRNA levels that were expressed approximately mutual exclusively, an EMT-score was calculated for each cell line. A high EMT-score indicated mesenchymal-like cells and a low EMT-score epithelial-like cells. Then, we determined the IC50 values for TKI-258 by dose response curves (0-12 μM TKI-258) in XTT assays for each cell line. Also, we measured the clonogenic survival fraction after adding TKI-258 (1 μM) by colony formation assay. We observed significant correlations between EMT-score and IC50 values (r = 0.637, p = 0.0474) and between EMT-score and clonogenic survival fraction (r = 0.635, p = 0.0483) as analyzed by linear regression analyses.ConclusionsIn sum, we demonstrated that the EMT status based on E-cadherin and N-cadherin mRNA levels may be useful to predict responses towards TKI-258 treatment in bladder cancer.

Clinical Activity, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacodynamics of Sorafenib In Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

AbstractAbstract 1073 Background:Aberrant receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling arising from genetic abnormalities, such as FLT3-internal tandem duplications (FLT3-ITD), is an important mechanism in the development and growth of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is often associated with a poor outcome. Hence, inhibition of RTK signaling is an attractive novel treatment option, particularly for disease that is resistant to conventional chemotherapy. We evaluated the clinical activity of the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib in children with de novo FLT3-ITD–positive AML or relapsed/refractory AML. Methods:Fourteen patients were treated. Six patients with newly diagnosed FLT3- ITD–positive AML (aged 9–16 years; median, 12 years) received 2 cycles of remission induction therapy and then started sorafenib (200 mg/m2 twice daily for 20 days) the day after completing induction II (low-dose cytarabine, daunorubicin, and etoposide). Nine patients (aged 6–17 years; median, 9 years) with relapsed AML (including one treated on the above regimen) received sorafenib alone (2 dose levels; 200 and 150 mg/m2) twice daily for the first week of therapy, concurrently with clofarabine and cytarabine on days 8–12, and then alone from days 13 to 28. Sorafenib pharmacokinetics were analyzed at steady-state on day 8 of sorafenib in patients with newly diagnosed AML and on day 7 in patients with relapsed AML. In patients with relapsed AML, the effect of sorafenib on signaling pathways in AML cells was assessed by flow cytometry. Results:All 6 newly diagnosed patients, including 2 whose AML was refractory to induction I, achieved a complete remission (CR) after induction II; 5 had negative minimal residual disease (MRD; <0.1% AML cells in bone marrow) after induction II. Both patients in this group who relapsed achieved second remissions, one with sorafenib alone and one on the relapse regimen described above. Of the 9 patients with relapsed AML, 6 (4 with FLT3-ITD) were treated with sorafenib 200 mg/m2. All 6 had a >50% decrease in blast percentage and/or bone marrow cellularity after 1 week of sorafenib. After concurrent sorafenib and chemotherapy, 5 of the 9 patients with relapsed AML achieved CR (2 had negative MRD) and 2 achieved a partial remission (PR; 5%-25% AML cells in bone marrow); all 4 patients with FLT3-ITD had a CR or PR. After sorafenib treatment, 6 patients underwent HSCT while 2 with FLT3-ITD who could not receive HSCT were treated with single-agent sorafenib and have maintained CR for up to 8 months. Hand-foot skin reaction (HFSR) or rash occurred in all patients and improved with cessation of sorafenib. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT, grade 3 HFSR and/or rash) was observed in 3 of the 6 patients with relapsed AML treated with 200 mg/m2 of sorafenib; no DLT was observed at 150 mg/m2. The effect of sorafenib on downstream RTK signaling was tested in the leukemic cells of 4 patients: in most samples, phosphorylation of S6 ribosomal protein and 4E-BP1 was inhibited. The mean (± SD) steady-state concentration (Css) of sorafenib was 3.3 ± 1.2 mg/L in the newly diagnosed group and 6.5 ± 3.6 mg/L (200 mg/m2) and 7.3 ± 3.6 mg/L (150 mg/m2) in those with relapsed AML. In both groups, the mean conversion of sorafenib to sorafenib N-oxide was 27%-35% (approximately 3 times greater than previously reported), and mean sorafenib N-oxide Css was 1.0–3.2 mg/L (2.1-6.7 μM). In a 442-kinase screen, the inhibitory profiles of sorafenib N-oxide and sorafenib were similar, and FLT3-ITD phosphorylation was potently inhibited by both forms (sorafenib N-oxide Kd = 0.070 μM; sorafenib Kd = 0.094 μM). Sorafenib N-oxide inhibited the growth of an AML cell line with FLT3-ITD (IC50 = 0.026 μM) and 4 AML cell lines with wild-type FLT3 (IC50 = 3.9–13.3 μM) at approximately half the potency of sorafenib. Conclusion:In children with de novo FLT3-ITD and relapsed/refractory AML, sorafenib given alone or with chemotherapy induced dramatic responses and inhibited aberrant RTK signaling in leukemic cells. Sorafenib and its active metabolite (sorafenib N-oxide) likely contribute to both efficacy and toxicity. These results warrant the incorporation of sorafenib into future pediatric AML trials. Disclosures:Inaba:Bayer/Onyx: Research Funding. Off Label Use: Sorafenib and clofarabine: both used for treatment of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia.

A human brain tumor-derived PDGFR-alpha deletion mutant is transforming.

Aberrant receptor tyrosine kinase signaling plays an important role in the molecular pathogenesis of brain tumors. We have been studying a previously identified human glioblastoma-derived PDGFR-alpha mutant that has an in-frame deletion in the extracellular domain, causing loss of exons 8 and 9 (PDGFR-alpha(delta8,9)). In the primary tumor, this deletion mutant receptor was shown to be amplified and overexpressed. The purpose of this study was to determine the expression, activity, localization, and transformation properties of this deletion mutant. In the absence of serum, or PDGF-AA, PDGFR-alpha(delta8,9) was phosphorylated on tyrosine residues, indicating ligand-independent autoactivation. Localization by staining and cell surface biotinylation studies revealed expression of the deletion mutant predominantly in the cytoplasm, with very little present on the cell surface. To determine if PDGFR-alpha(delta8,9) was oncogenic, we transfected wild-type and mutant receptors into Rat1 cells and performed analyses of cell growth, in vitro transformation, and subcutaneous growth in the nude mouse. PDGFR-alpha(delta8,9)-expressing cells displayed enhanced cell growth and survival in low serum, and formed foci in monolayer cultures. PDGFR-alpha(delta8,9)-expressing Rat1 cells were also tumorigenic when injected subcutaneously into nude mice. Expression of PDGFR-alpha(delta8,9) was also associated with increased c-Jun phosphorylation in the absence of PDGF ligand, demonstrating also that the mutant receptor is associated with altered intracellular signaling. These data demonstrate that PDGFR-alpha(delta8,9) is transforming, and it is the first demonstration of a naturally occurring tumor-derived mutant PDGFR-alpha with oncogenic properties.