Proliferation Of Ewing Sarcoma Cells Research Articles

Chimeric protein EWS::FLI1 drives cell proliferation in Ewing Sarcoma via aberrant expression of KCNN1/SK1 and dysregulation of calcium signaling.

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is characterized by EWS::FLI1 or EWS::ERG fusion proteins. Knowing that ion channels are involved in tumorigenesis, this work aimed to study the involvement of the KCNN1 gene, which encodes the SK1 potassium channel, in ES development. Bioinformatics analyses from databases were used to study KCNN1 expression in patients and cell lines. Molecular approaches and in vitro assays were used to study the transcriptional regulation of KCNN1 and its involvement in the regulation of ES cell proliferation. KCNN1 is overexpressed in ES patient biopsies, and its expression is inversely correlated with patient survival. EWS::FLI1, like EWS::ERG, promotes KCNN1 and SK1 expression, binding to GGAA microsatellites near the promoter of KCNN1 isoforms. KCNN1 is involved in the regulation of ES cell proliferation, with its silencing being associated with a slowing of the cell cycle, and its expression modulates membrane potential and therefore calcium flux. These results highlight that KCNN1 is a direct target of EWS::FLI1 and EWS::ERG and demonstrate that KCNN1 is involved in the regulation of intracellular calcium activity and ES cell proliferation, making it a promising therapeutic target in ES.

Abstract 557: Clofarabine inhibits U87MG glioblastoma cell line proliferation through CD99 signaling pathway

Abstract The present work aimed to test the efficacy of clofarabine in glioblastoma (GBM) cells that express high levels of CD99. GBMs are the most malignant with the poorest prognosis among tumors of the central nervous system. Patients have a median survival of 12 to 15 months despite surgical, radio, and chemotherapy. CD99 is a cell surface receptor overexpressed in several types of tumors, including GBMs, justifying the interest of studies in CD99 as a possible therapeutic target. Our group has previously demonstrated that knockout of CD99 in the U87MG GBM cell line promoted a decrease in cell adhesion, migration, and invasion. Clofarabine is a third-line drug used in the treatment of refractory/relapsed childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It is a purine analog that is transported into intracellular space, phosphorylated, and incorporated into DNA chain, inhibiting DNA synthesis and ultimately inducing cell death by apoptosis. The clofarabine effect has also been demonstrated in cells from solid tumors, such as breast, gastric, and bladder. Clofarabine action on the proliferation of Ewing sarcoma cells in vitro and in vivo was proved to be by direct binding to CD99 and independent of the drug internalization. In addition, clofarabine also had an effect on cells from other tumor types that express CD99. The present work demonstrated the significant action of clofarabine on the high CD99-expressing U87MG cells by inhibiting cell proliferation, adhesion, and migration, and by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. U87MG cells knocked out for CD99 expression were more resistant to clofarabine action on proliferation. RNAseq analysis of U87MG cells treated with clofarabine and compared to control showed downregulated genes involved in cell cycle regulation and mitosis, while upregulated genes were enriched in extracellular proteins, cell adhesion, locomotion, p53 signaling pathway, and apoptosis. Our data indicates clofarabine as a potential CD99 inhibitor to treat GBM patients. Citation Format: Camila Cristina de Souza, Roseli da Silva Soares, Antonio Marcondes Lerario, Suely Kazue Marie, Sueli Mieko Oba-Shinjo. Clofarabine inhibits U87MG glioblastoma cell line proliferation through CD99 signaling pathway [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 557.

Mechanistic Insights into Peptide Binding and Deactivation of an Adhesion G Protein-Coupled Receptor.

Adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (ADGRGs) play critical roles in the reproductive, neurological, cardiovascular, and endocrine systems. In particular, ADGRG2 plays a significant role in Ewing sarcoma cell proliferation, parathyroid cell function, and male fertility. In 2022, a cryo-EM structure was reported for the active ADGRG2 bound by an optimized peptide agonist IP15 and the Gs protein. The IP15 peptide agonist was also modified to antagonists 4PH-E and 4PH-D with mutations of the 4PH residue to Glu and Asp, respectively. However, experimental structures of inactive antagonist-bound ADGRs remain to be resolved, and the activation mechanism of ADGRs such as ADGRG2 is poorly understood. Here, we applied Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics (GaMD) simulations to probe conformational dynamics of the agonist- and antagonist-bound ADGRG2. By performing GaMD simulations, we were able to identify important low-energy conformations of ADGRG2 in the active, intermediate, and inactive states, as well as explore the binding conformations of each peptide. Moreover, our simulations revealed critical peptide-receptor residue interactions during the deactivation of ADGRG2. In conclusion, through GaMD simulations, we uncovered mechanistic insights into peptide (agonist and antagonist) binding and deactivation of the ADGRG2. These findings will potentially facilitate rational design of new peptide modulators of ADGRG2 and other ADGRs.

The expression of neuraminidase-1 in Ewing sarcoma and its impact on sarcoma cell proliferation and migration

Objective: To investigate the expression of neuraminidase-1 (NEU1) in Ewing sarcoma (ES) tissue and its effect on the proliferation and migration of ES cells. Methods: To obtain datasets of ES from the National Center for Biotechnology Information's High-Throughput Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) for the analysis of NEU1 expression in ES; to acquire ES patient dataset from the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) database and apply Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to investigate the relationship between NEU1 and the prognosis of ES patients; adopting both univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis to determine whether NEU1 is a prognostic factor for ES; adopting the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) annotation to analyze the potential mechanism of NEU1 in regulating the malignant biological behavior of ES; adopting the real-time fluorescence quantitative polynucleotide chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to verify the expression of NEU1 in the human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSC) and the ES cell line RD-ES; adopting the transfection technology to knock down the expression of NEU1 in ES cell lines and divide them into two groups: shRNA-NEU1 and shRNA-NC to explore the effects of altered NEU1 expression on ES malignant behavior; adopting the cell counting kit (CCK-8) and cell clone formation experiment to detect the proliferation ability of two groups of cells; adopting the scratch healing experiment to test the cell migration ability of the two groups. Results: We retrieved and analyzed data from the GEO database, including GSE17674 (44 ES tissues and 18 normal tissues) and GSE17679 (87 ES tissues and 18 normal tissues), and found that NEU1 expression was significantly higher in ES tissues compared to normal control tissues (P<0.001). The complete gene expression and clinical information of 56 ES patients obtained from the ICGC database revealed that the ES patients with high NEU1 expression (n=28) had a significantly lower overall survival rates at different time points compared to those with low NEU1 expression (n=28) (HR=2.830, 95%CI:1.324-6.051, P=0.005). Univariate analysis indicated that NEU1 could impact ES patient prognosis (HR=1.049, 95%CI: 1.008-1.092, P=0.019), and multivariate analysis further suggested that NEU1 could serve as a risk factor for ES prognosis (HR=1.087, 95%CI: 1.028-1.148, P=0.003). KEGG results show that MAPK signaling pathway and cell adhesion molecule signaling pathway were potential mechanisms regulating the malignant process of ES. The RT-qPCR results showed that the expression level of NEU1 in the RD-ES cell line is significantly higher than that in the control cell hBMSC (2 184.23±527.32 vs 1.00±0.08, P<0.001). The CCK-8 experiment results show that the proliferation of RD-ES cells in the NEU1 knockdown group was lower than that in the control group at 24, 48, and 72 hours (0.494±0.126 vs 0.696±0.118, 0.657±0.096 vs 1.142±0.182, 1.053±0.064 vs 1.980±0.146, all P<0.001). The results of single cell clone formation experiment show that the number of colony formation in the low expression NEU1 group was significantly lower than that in the control group (184.2±123.9 vs 362.8±78.0, P=0.021). The cell scratch healing experiment finds that the average scratch distance of the NEU1 knockdown group was significantly lower than that of the control group (19.6%±5.7% vs 56.0%±7.6%, P<0.001). Conclusion: NEU1 may be a prognostic factor in ES, and its abnormal expression in ES can affect the proliferation and migration ability of the ES cells, leading to poor prognosis in ES patients.

Abstract 3560: Understanding alternative splicing in Ewing sarcoma progression and metastasis to inform novel therapy development

Abstract Introduction: Ewing sarcoma (ES) is the second most common pediatric bone cancer, and patients with metastases have five-year survival rates of &amp;lt;30%. Both local and metastatic ES tumors are characterized by the EWS-FLI1 chromosomal translocation, resulting in an aberrant transcription factor that increases ES cell proliferation and metastasis. EWS-FLI1 activity and ES transformation are reliant upon increased IGF-1 signaling, so initial therapies have centered on IGF-1R inhibition. However, compensatory upregulation of insulin receptor A (IR-A), an oncogenic spliced isoform of IR, provides a viable resistance mechanism to support ES growth and progression. IR has two spliced isoforms formed by the inclusion or exclusion of exon 11 (IR-B and IR-A respectively), and IR-A is differentially expressed in cancers due to its high affinity binding to IGF-II. We hypothesize that the pathogenesis and metastatic potential of ES is driven in part by alternative splicing of IR and other key genes. Furthermore, modulation of this splicing via antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) aided by adeno-associated viral (AAV) delivery may be a novel therapeutic avenue for ES. Results: We performed long-read mRNA sequencing to identify differentially spliced isoforms between the matched ES cell lines CHLA-9 and CHLA-10 (derived from a localized and metastatic ES tumor respectively). Our analysis revealed global differences in alternative splicing between CHLA-9 and CHLA-10 and identified gene isoforms in the insulin receptor/IGF signaling pathway (IGFBP3) that are unique to CHLA-10. Additionally, we detected both previously reported and novel isoforms for CD99, RHOA, RACK1, splicing factors (PTBP1), and eukaryotic initiation factors, among other genes. To further understand IR alternative splicing, our labs have developed an IR ASO targeting the CUG-BP1 regulatory site upstream of exon 11, and we have previously validated its efficacy in HeLa cells transfected with an IR minigene and in pediatric sarcoma cell lines. In ES cell lines, we observed significant IR-A upregulation in a panel of ES cell lines and patient-derived xenografts derived from local and metastatic tumors, highlighting the opportunity for intervention with our ASO. To facilitate delivery, we have explored the use of AAV vectors, a clinically approved option for gene therapy, and shown successful transduction of AAV-8 over a time-course in ES cells. Conclusions: Our results indicate that alternative splicing is differential between local and metastatic ES and produces isoforms unique to the metastatic setting. Additionally, the oncogenic IR-A isoform and other spliced isoforms are viable targets for ASO therapy aided by AAV delivery. By better understanding splicing in ES, we can identify targetable interactions at the transcriptional level and develop innovative therapeutics that can improve the clinical outcomes of ES patients. Citation Format: Akila S. Venkataramany, Safiya Khurshid, Anthony R. Miller, Saranga Wijeratne, Pin-Yi Wang, Timothy P. Cripe, Dawn S. Chandler. Understanding alternative splicing in Ewing sarcoma progression and metastasis to inform novel therapy development. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 3560.

Abstract 6267: The potassium channel SK1, a new target of EWS-FLI1, drives Ewing sarcoma cell proliferation

Abstract Ewing sarcoma (ES) is the second most common primary bone tumor among children and teenagers. The survival rate for patients is about 70%, but drops dramatically to less than 30% when metastases are present at diagnostic. The current treatment consists of polychemotherapy, followed by a surgical resection of the tumor. ES is characterized by a chromosomic translocation, leading, in 85% of the cases, to the formation of the EWS-Fli1 fusion protein, which acts like an oncogene. In order to improve the current treatments and increase the survival rate, our goal is to better understand the ES biology, by studying the role of ionic channels in this tumor. Indeed, studies are emerging on their role in tumorigenesis, showing an abnormal expression of potassium channels in cancer cells, where their functions have been highjacked to promote the tumor development. Among these channels, there are different subfamilies, including the calcium-activated potassium ones, classified according to their conductance. One of them, SK3, has already been described as highly expressed in bone metastases from breast or prostate cancer. RNA-seq analyses from 117 patients‘ biopsies and 6 ES cell lines show a high expression of SK1, an other SKCa channel. These data led us to wonder about the role of SK1 in ES development. Thanks to different ES cell lines, and using different molecular approaches and RNA-interference methods, our work aims to study i) SK1 expression in ES cell lines, ii) its regulation by EWS-Fli1, iii) its involvement in one of the key role of tumorigenesis: the cell proliferation. The RNA-Seq results have been confirmed by RT-qPCR on different ES cell lines. We were also able to show a higher expression of SK1 gene in ES cell lines compared to multiple osteosarcoma cell lines. Then, using luciferase assays and ChIP-Seq analyses, we were able to prove that its expression is directly regulated by EWS-Fli1. Moreover, with inducible shRNA and siRNA, we have shown SK1 involvement in proliferation and clonogenicity of different ES cell lines. In order to understand the molecular mechanisms allowing SK1 channel to be part of the regulation of ES cells proliferation, we studied the effects of its extinction on calcium signaling. These experiments indicate a significant reduced Store Operative Calcium Entry (SOCE) and constitutive calcium entry, both linked with the knockdown of SK1 gene. On the other hand and as expected, the drug activation of SK1 channel has an opposite effect on ES cells, promoting these two calcium entries. These results indicate that the regulation of cell proliferation by this SKCa depends on the intracellular calcium signaling. Overall, our results indicate that SK1 is highly expressed in ES cells and that it is involved in ES development. All of these results seem to suggest SK1 as a potential therapeutic target. This project is supported by INCA, Ligue contre le cancer, Cancéropôle Grand Ouest, and Fondation ARC. Citation Format: Maryne Dupuy, Maxime Gueguinou, Mathilde Mullard, Robel Tesfaye, Jerome Amiaud, Sarah Morice, Benjamin Ory, Francoise Redini, Christophe Vandier, Franck Verrecchia. The potassium channel SK1, a new target of EWS-FLI1, drives Ewing sarcoma cell proliferation [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 6267.

Abstract 375: SR-B1-targeted nanoparticle delivery of novel anthracyclines to Ewing's Tumors

Abstract Purpose: Anthracyclines effectively treat many pediatric cancers, but their use is limited by cardiotoxicity and new approaches to mitigate anthracycline-induced cardiac damage are urgently needed. Nanoparticle drug delivery is one solution to maintain anticancer efficacy while mitigating both acute and long-term cardiac complications. Additionally, novel treatments are needed to improve cure rates in certain cancer diagnoses that have not seen advancements in decades, particularly Ewing Sarcoma (EWS). Experimental Design: We investigated the use of a self-assembling micelle structure composed of myristic acid conjugated to an Apo-A1 mimetic 5A peptide, termed Myr5A nanoparticles (Myr5A NPs). These nanoparticles are transported into cells via the cholesterol scavenger receptor class B type-1 (SR-B1). Doxorubicin (DOX) and the Myr5A NP cannot form a stable micelle due to the hydrophilic nature of DOX, which results in preferential binding to the peptide shell, as opposed to the hydrophobic core. To favor micelle stability, we opted to use the novel, highly hydrophobic anthracyclines valrubicin and AD198 to test the nanoparticle delivery system. The potency of these anthracyclines encapsulated in Myr5A NPs were evaluated in human EWS cell lines with high and low SR-B1 expression via MTT assay. Additionally, 5 mg/kg intraperitoneal injections were administered weekly to 4-week-old wild type C57BL6/J mice and immune compromised homozygous null forkhead box N1 mice (Foxn1null/null mice) over 5 weeks, to assess by echocardiography, acute and long-term cardiac dysfunction. Results: Treatment with Myr5A-encapsulated AD198 and Myr5A-encapsulated valrubicin significantly inhibited EWS cell proliferation at concentrations comparable to conventional anthracyclines. Moreover, compared to unencapsulated valrubicin and AD198, encapsulation resulted in a lower IC50 in EWS lines with higher SR-B1 surface expression. By 19 weeks of age, DOX-treated C57BL6/J mice exhibited significantly decreased ejection fraction (EF) compared to PBS control and Myr5A-encapsulated anthracyclines (p&amp;lt;0.05). Additionally, an increase in Left Ventricular Mass (LVM) was observed in all groups except DOX by 19 weeks (p&amp;lt;0.05). Lastly, DOX-treated Foxn1null/null mice showed diminished survival rate compared to all treatment groups, and similar results to C57BL6/J mice in EF and LVM. Conclusions: Our results indicate that AD198 and valrubicin, when encapsulated in Myr5A NPs, induce minimal cardiac dysfunction while maintaining antitumor efficacy in EWS tumors. Myr5A NP drug delivery may be a viable option for the treatment of high SR-B1 expressing tumors with a decreased risk of acute and long-term cardiac complications. Future studies will evaluate the drug potency in non-cancer cell lines, such as cardiac fibroblasts and myocytes, and the effects of Myr5A-encaspulated anthracyclines on EWS xenografts and other pediatric tumors. Citation Format: Kathryn Crouch, Logan Davis, Nirupama Sabnis, Alexander Pertsemlidis, Laura Rutledge, James Graham, Jason Yustein, Gregory J. Aune. SR-B1-targeted nanoparticle delivery of novel anthracyclines to Ewing's Tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 375.

Abstract 87: EHD1 is required for IGF1R-mediated oncogenic signaling in Ewing Sarcoma

Abstract Background: Ewing Sarcoma (EWS) is the second most common malignant bone tumor of children and adolescents. Patients with metastatic or recurrent disease have very poor outcomes. The receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) has been implicated in EWS tumorigenesis and development of metastatic disease, with anti-IGF1R antibodies and kinase inhibitors in clinical studies. However, with only ~10% of patients achieving objective responses, delineation of novel pathways that facilitate IGF1R-driven oncogenesis in EWS could provide avenues for more effective therapy. Intracellular trafficking plays a central role in regulating RTK expression and signaling, and this pathway is frequently deregulated in cancer cells. The EPS15 homology domain-containing (EHD) proteins regulate intracellular traffic of cell surface receptors, including RTKs. We observed high frequency (67%) of EHD1 overexpression in 266 primary EWS patient tumor tissues and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of publicly available mRNA expression data showed that high EHD1 expression was associated with shorter patient survival. Objective: This study aims to comprehend the underlying role of EHD1 in EWS oncogenesis. Study design: Three EHD1-expressing EWS cell lines, TC71, SKES1, and A673, were engineered with doxycycline-inducible EHD1 shRNAs to assess the impact of EHD1 knockdown (KD) on in vitro oncogenic properties. Stable EHD1-Crispr-KO and mouse EHD1-rescue TC71 and A673 cell line models were developed and characterized. Further, non-targeting control or EHD1-KD TC71 cells engineered with RFP-luciferase reporter were implanted in the tibia of nude mice in an orthotopic xenograft model and tumor growth was monitored by IVIS imaging. Results: EHD1-KD led to a significant impairment of EWS cell proliferation, migration, invasion, soft-agar colony formation, and tumor-sphere formation in vitro and reduced tumor growth in nude mice. Using a phospho-RTK profiling antibody array, we found reduced phospho-IGF1R levels upon EHD1-KD, identifying IGF1R as a potential target of regulation by EHD1. Western blotting showed a reduction in total IGF1R levels, and flow cytometric and immunofluorescence analyses revealed a pronounced decrease in the cell surface IGF1R levels upon EHD1 KD/KO in EWS cell lines. EHD1-KO EWS cell lines also exhibited a defect in IGF1-dependent migration and proliferation, and the phenotypes were restored by mouse EHD1 rescue. IGF1R and EHD1 were found to colocalize intracellularly and to co-immunoprecipitate after IGF1 stimulation. Finally, EHD1 depletion was found to impair the IGF-1R-mediated activation of downstream AKT and MAPK pathways. Conclusion: Our studies indicate a novel requirement of the intracellular traffic regulator EHD1 in sustaining IGF1R mediated oncogenesis in EWS. Future studies will aim to evaluate dual targeting of EHD1 and IGF1R in EWS. Citation Format: Sukanya Chakraborty, Bhopal C. Mohapatra, Sameer Mirza, Aaqib M. Bhat, Matthew D. Storck, Isidro Machado, José Antonio López, Antonio Llomart Bosch, Donald W. Coulter, Gargi Ghosal, Vimla Band, Hamid Band. EHD1 is required for IGF1R-mediated oncogenic signaling in Ewing Sarcoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 87.

Novel Targeting of DNA Methyltransferase Activity Inhibits Ewing Sarcoma Cell Proliferation and Enhances Tumor Cell Sensitivity to DNA Damaging Drugs by Activating the DNA Damage Response.

DNA methylation is an important component of the epigenetic machinery that regulates the malignancy of Ewing sarcoma (EWS), the second most common primary bone tumor in children and adolescents. Coordination of DNA methylation and DNA replication is critical for maintaining epigenetic programming and the DNMT1 enzyme has been demonstrated to have an important role in both maintaining the epigenome and controlling cell cycle. Here, we showed that the novel nonnucleoside DNMT inhibitor (DNMTi) MC3343 induces a specific depletion of DNMT1 and affects EWS tumor proliferation through a mechanism that is independent on DNA methylation. Depletion of DNMT1 causes perturbation of the cell cycle, with an accumulation of cells in the G1 phase, and DNA damage, as revealed by the induction of γH2AX foci. These effects elicited activation of p53-dependent signaling and apoptosis in p53wt cells, while in p53 mutated cells, persistent micronuclei and increased DNA instability was observed. Treatment with MC3343 potentiates the efficacy of DNA damaging agents such as doxorubicin and PARP-inhibitors (PARPi). This effect correlates with increased DNA damage and synergistic tumor cytotoxicity, supporting the use of the DNMTi MC3343 as an adjuvant agent in treating EWS.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomal LINC00847 inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion of Ewing sarcoma

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is one of the most lethal primary bone tumors with a poor survival rate. Current evidence suggests that extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) loaded with abundant biological functional lncRNAs confer therapeutic benefits against the development of various tumors. This study aimed to investigate the role of exosomal lncRNAs from BMSCs in the pathogenesis of ES. Bioinformatic analysis and quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) experiments were used to detect the expression level of LINC00847 in ES tissues and cells. Cell biology experiments examined the effect of in vitro proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities and the biological function of BMSCs-derived LINC00847. Finally, we constructed a LINC00847-associated competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network by in silico methods. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was conducted to reveal the potential molecular mechanism of LINC00847. We found that LINC00847 was markedly downregulated in ES. Overexpression of LINC00847 inhibited ES cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, BMSCs-derived EVs inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ES cells by delivering LINC00847. We constructed a LINC00847 related-ceRNA network contains five miRNAs (miR-18a-5p, miR-18b-5p, miR-181a-5p, miR-181c-5p, and miR-485-3p) and four mRNAs (GFPT1, HIF1A, NEDD9, and NOTCH2). Overall, this study found that BMSCs-EVs-derived exosomal LINC00847 inhibited ES cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. The ceRNA regulatory mechanism of LINC00847 may participate in the pathogenesis of the malignant phenotype of ES. These findings suggest that BMSCs-derived exosomal lncRNAs may be used for the personalized treatment of tumors, providing a novel theoretical framework for treating ES.

NPM1 is a Novel Therapeutic Target and Prognostic Biomarker for Ewing Sarcoma.

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a cancer that may originate from stem mesenchymal or neural crest cells and is highly prevalent in children and adolescents. In recent years, targeted therapies against immune-related genes have shown good efficacy in a variety of cancers. However, effective targets for immunotherapy in ES are yet to be developed. In our study, we first identified the immune-associated differential hub gene NPM1 by bioinformatics methods as a differentially expressed gene, and then validated it using real time-PCR and western blotting, and found that this gene is not only closely related to the immune infiltration in ES, but also can affect the proliferation and apoptosis of ES cells, and is closely related to the survival of patients. The results of our bioinformatic analysis showed that NPM1 can be a hub gene in ES and an immunotherapeutic target to reactivate immune infiltration in patients with ES. In addition, treatment with NPM1 promoted apoptosis and inhibited the proliferation of ES cells. The NPM1 inhibitor NSC348884 can induce apoptosis of ES cells in a dose-dependent manner and is expected to be a potential therapeutic agent for ES.

Conserved residues in the extracellular loop 2 regulate Stachel-mediated activation of ADGRG2

Cleavage and dissociation of a large N-terminal fragment and the consequent unmasking of a short sequence (Stachel) remaining on the N-terminus have been proposed as mechanisms of activation of some members of the adhesion G protein-coupled receptor (aGPCR) family. However, the identity of residues that play a role in the activation of aGPCRs by the cognate Stachel remains largely unknown. Protein sequence alignments revealed a conserved stretch of residues in the extracellular loop 2 (ECL2) of all 33 members of the aGPCR family. ADGRG2, an orphan aGPCR, plays a major role in male fertility, Ewing sarcoma cell proliferation, and parathyroid cell function. We used ADGRG2 as a model aGPCR and generated mutants of the conserved residues in the ECL2 via site-directed mutagenesis. We show that tryptophan and isoleucine in the ECL2 are essential for receptor stability and surface expression in the HEK293 cells. By adjusting the receptor surface expression levels, we show that mutation of these residues of ECL2 ablates the Stachel-mediated activation of multiple signaling pathways of ADGRG2. This study provides a novel understanding of the role of the ECL2 in Stachel-mediated signaling and degradation of ADGRG2, which may lay the foundation for the rational design of therapeutics to target aGPCRs.

The miR-146b-5p promotes Ewing's sarcoma cells progression via suppressing the expression of BTG2.

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a malignant tumor that occurs mostly in children. However, the underlying mechanisms of ES are still unknown. Analyzing the results of two previous miRNA array reports, we found that miR-146b-5p might be an onco-miRNA in ES progression. To test this hypothesis, we detected the expression levels of miR-146b-5p by real-time PCR and observed the effects of miR-146b-5p on the progression of ES cells by CCK8 and transwell assays. Bioinformatics and luciferase assays were used to identify the target genes of miR-146b-5p. It showed that the expression levels of miR-146b-5p were upregulated in ES cell lines compared with human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Up- or downregulation of miR-146b-5p in ES cell lines could effectively promote or block the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ES cells, respectively. Furthermore, we demonstrated that BTG2 was one of the target genes and mediated the effects of miR-146b-5p in ES cells. Interestingly, we also found that miR-146b-5p was partly involved in the anticancer effects of pemetrexed in ES cells. Our study revealed that miR-146b-5p affected the progression of ES by suppressing BTG2, which might shed light on anticancer drug development and ES treatment in the future.

LncRNA TUG1 promotes Ewing's sarcoma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via the miR-199a-3p-MSI2 signaling pathway.

The aim of this study was to investigate the roles and potential mechanisms of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) taurine upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) in the proliferation, migration, and invasion of Ewing's sarcoma cells. RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of TUG1, microRNA-199a-3p (miR-199a-3p), and musashi2 (MSI2) in Ewing's sarcoma tissues and cell lines. Kaplan-Meier overall survival curves showed the survival rates of Ewing's sarcoma patients with high and low expression of TUG1. The association between the expressions of TUG1/MSI2 and miR-199a-3p in Ewing's sarcoma tissues was assessed by Pearson's correlation analysis. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were detected by CCK-8 assay and Transwell assay, respectively. The protein level of MSI2 was determined using western blotting. The interaction between TUG1/MSI2 and miR-199a-3p was validated by the dual-luciferase reporter assay. The levels of TUG1 and MSI2 were increased, while the level of miR-199a-3p was decreased in Ewing's sarcoma tissues and cells. High expression of TUG1 or MSI2 indicated a decreased overall survival rate of Ewing's sarcoma patients. TUG1/MSI2 level was negatively correlated with miR-199a-3p level. While TUG1 level was positively correlated with MSI2 level. In Ewing's sarcoma cells, knockdown of TUG1/MSI2 or overexpression of miR-199a-3p inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, whereas the overexpression of TUG1/MSI2 presented the opposite results. TUG1 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA to regulate MSI2 expression by sponging miR-199a-3p. Finally, miR-199a-3p inhibitor or MSI2 overexpression counteracted the TUG1 knockdown-mediated inhibitory effect on Ewing's sarcoma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. TUG1 promotes proliferation, migration, and invasion of Ewing's sarcoma cells via sequestering miR-199a-3p to enhance the MSI2 expression, suggesting that TUG1 might be a potential target for treating Ewing's sarcoma.

Eltrombopag inhibits the proliferation of Ewing sarcoma cells via iron chelation and impaired DNA replication

BackgroundThe treatment of Ewing sarcoma, an aggressive bone and soft tissue sarcoma, is associated with suboptimal outcomes and significant side-effects. Consequently, there is an urgent need to identify novel therapies that will improve outcomes for children and adults with Ewing sarcoma tumors while also decreasing treatment-related toxicities.MethodsWe analyzed data from the PRISM drug repurposing screen, which tested the activity of 4518 drugs across 578 cancer cell lines, to identify drugs that selectively inhibit the growth of Ewing sarcoma cell lines. We then tested the effects of a top hit from the screen on cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and activation of the DNA damage pathway using Ewing sarcoma cell lines. We also used a CRISPR/Cas9 gene knockout approach to investigate the role of Schlafen 11 (SLFN11), a restriction factor for DNA replication stress that is overexpressed in Ewing sarcoma tumors, in mediating the sensitivity of Ewing sarcoma cells to the drug.ResultsWe found that eltrombopag, an FDA-approved thrombopoietin-receptor agonist (TPO-RA) that is currently being evaluated as a treatment for chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia, inhibits the growth of Ewing sarcoma cell lines in vitro in proliferation and colony formation assays. However, from a mechanistic standpoint, the thrombopoietin receptor is not expressed in Ewing sarcoma cells and we show that eltrombopag impairs DNA replication and causes DNA damage in Ewing sarcoma cells by chelating iron, a known “off-target” effect of the drug. We also found that the sensitivity of Ewing sarcoma cells to eltrombopag is mediated, in part, by SLFN11, which regulates the cellular response to DNA replication stress.ConclusionsEwing sarcoma cell lines are sensitive to eltrombopag and this drug could improve outcomes for patients with Ewing sarcoma tumors by both targeting the tumor, via chelation of iron and inhibition of DNA replication, and reducing chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia, via stimulation of the thrombopoietin receptor.

EWS-FLI1 regulates and cooperates with core regulatory circuitry in Ewing sarcoma.

Core regulatory circuitry (CRC)-dependent transcriptional network is critical for developmental tumors in children and adolescents carrying few gene mutations. However, whether and how CRC contributes to transcription regulation in Ewing sarcoma is unknown. Here, we identify and functionally validate a CRC ‘trio’ constituted by three transcription factors (TFs): KLF15, TCF4 and NKX2-2, in Ewing sarcoma cells. Epigenomic analyses demonstrate that EWS-FLI1, the primary fusion driver for this cancer, directly establishes super-enhancers of each of these three TFs to activate their transcription. In turn, KLF15, TCF4 and NKX2-2 co-bind to their own and each other's super-enhancers and promoters, forming an inter-connected auto-regulatory loop. Functionally, CRC factors contribute significantly to cell proliferation of Ewing sarcoma both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, CRC factors exhibit prominent capacity of co-regulating the epigenome in cooperation with EWS-FLI1, occupying 77.2% of promoters and 55.6% of enhancers genome-wide. Downstream, CRC TFs coordinately regulate gene expression networks in Ewing sarcoma, controlling important signaling pathways for cancer, such as lipid metabolism pathway, PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling pathways. Together, molecular characterization of the oncogenic CRC model advances our understanding of the biology of Ewing sarcoma. Moreover, CRC-downstream genes and signaling pathways may contain potential therapeutic targets for this malignancy.

Inhibition of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) with OT-82 induces DNA damage, cell death, and suppression of tumor growth in preclinical models of Ewing sarcoma

NAMPT mediates the rate-limiting step of the NAD salvage pathway, which maintains cellular bioenergetics and provides a necessary substrate for functions essential to rapidly proliferating cancer cells. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and mechanisms of action of OT-82, a novel, high-potency NAMPT inhibitor with a favorable toxicity profile, in preclinical models of Ewing sarcoma (EWS), an aggressive pediatric malignancy with previously reported selective sensitivity to NAMPT inhibition. We show that OT-82 decreased NAD concentration and impaired proliferation of EWS cells in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 values in the single-digit nanomolar range. Notably, genetic depletion of NAMPT phenocopied pharmacological inhibition. On-target activity of OT-82 was confirmed with the addition of NMN, the product of NAMPT, which rescued NAD concentration and EWS cellular viability. Mechanistically, OT-82 treatment resulted in impaired DNA damage repair through loss of PARP activity, G2 cell-cycle arrest, and apoptosis in EWS cells. Additional consequences of OT-82 treatment included reduction of glycolytic and mitochondrial activity. In vivo, OT-82 impaired tumor growth and prolonged survival in mice bearing EWS xenografts. Importantly, antitumor effect correlated with pharmacodynamic markers of target engagement. Furthermore, combining low-dose OT-82 with low doses of agents augmenting DNA damage demonstrated enhanced antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo. Thus, OT-82 treatment represents a potential novel targeted approach for the clinical treatment of EWS.

Abstract 5714: Targeting serine metabolism impairs tumor growth in preclinical models of Ewing sarcoma

Abstract Despite a growing body of knowledge about the genomic landscape of Ewing sarcoma (ES), translation of basic discoveries into targeted therapies and significant clinical gains has remained elusive. Recent insights have revealed that the oncogenic transcription factor EWS-FLI1 can impact ES cellular metabolism, raising the possibility of targeting metabolic dependencies as a novel therapeutic strategy. Here, we show that 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH), the first enzyme in de novo serine synthesis, is highly expressed in human ES cells and that EWS-FLI1 regulates PHGDH expression and de novo serine synthesis. PHGDH knockdown resulted in decreased ES cell proliferation, especially under serine limitation, and significantly inhibited xenograft tumorigenesis in preclinical orthotopic models of ES. Additionally, the PHGDH inhibitor NCT-503 caused a dose-dependent decrease in cellular proliferation. Moreover, we report a novel drug combination in which nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) inhibition, which blocks production of the PHGDH substrate NAD+, synergized with NCT-503 to abolish ES cellular proliferation and tumor growth. Furthermore, we show that serine deprivation inhibited ES cell proliferation and tumorigenesis, indicating that ES cells depend on exogenous serine in addition to de novo serine synthesis. Our findings suggest that serine metabolism is critical for ES tumorigenesis, and that targeting serine metabolism should be further investigated as a potential therapeutic strategy for ES. Citation Format: Sameer Issaq, Arnulfo Mendoza, Tracy Rosales, Christine Heske, Craig Thomas, Ralph DeBerardinis, Lee Helman. Targeting serine metabolism impairs tumor growth in preclinical models of Ewing sarcoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 5714.

Abstract PR02: Generation of the first genetically defined tumorigenic model of Ewing sarcoma expressing EWS-FLI1

Abstract Background: Ewing sarcoma (ES) is an undifferentiated cancer of the bone and soft tissue canonically defined by expression of EWS-FLI1 or similar fusion proteins. The cell of origin remains undefined but is likely either a human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) or neural crest stem cell. The ES cells are depending on EWS-FLI1 for viability, but paradoxically exogenous EWS-FLI1 expression causes cell death in virtually all other cells. Expression of EWS-FLI1 in hMSCs has been variably successful and unreliable, and the two prior reports of stable expression did not elucidate why those efforts were successful, preventing reproducibility. Our work has shown that expression of the lncRNA HOTAIR allows for subsequent stable expression of EWS-FLI1 in hTERT-immortalized hMSCs and primary hMSCs but without induction of tumorigenesis in vivo. Methods: We used established ES cell lines, hTERT-hMSCs and primary hMSCS, to evaluate mRNA and protein expression at baseline and in the context of modulation of expression of HOTAIR, EWS-FLI1, MYC, and MYCN. Results: We demonstrated by RT-qPCR that HOTAIR is highly expressed across all ES cell lines as compared to hTERT-hMSCs and primary hMSCS. We also found that MYC is highly expressed in most ES cells lines and hMSCs. In contrast, MYCN is overexpressed in ES cell lines as compared to hMSCs. Repression of MYC in ES cell lines had no significant effect on proliferation of ES cells in vitro; repression of MYCN by shRNA in ES cell lines decreased proliferation in vitro and slowed tumor growth in vivo. Exogenous expression of HOTAIR in hMSCs allowed for viable subsequent expression of EWS-FLI1 in those cells, but without tumorigenesis in vivo (0/10 for hTERT- or primary hMSCs). Overexpression of MYC (0/6) or MYCN (1/6) in hMSCs expression HOTAIR did not reliably induce tumorigenesis. Overexpression of MYC or MYCN in hMSCs did not allow for viable EWS-FLI1 expression. Overexpression of HOTAIR, then EWS-FLI1 and MYCN, to levels comparable with ES cell lines, induced tumorigenesis from hTERT-hMSCS and primary hMSCs (6/6 for each), when cells were implanted subcutaneously into SCID mice with Matrigel. The resultant tumors were positive by immunohistochemistry for CD99 and NKX2.2, clinical markers of ES. RNA-Seq demonstrated the HOTAIR-EWS-FLI1-MYCN expressing hMSCs had gene expression profiles comparable to ES tumors. Conclusions: We have generated the first genetically defined tumorigenic models of ES from non-neoplastic human cells. This model can be used to elucidate the biology of EWS-FLI1 in malignant transformation and tumor formation. This work supports our prior data demonstrating a necessary role for HOTAIR in ES biology and suggests that MYCN may also be a driver of tumorigenesis in ES. Additional work is needed to define the underlying factors that induce HOTAIR and MYCN expression in ES (i.e., are they basally or aberrantly expressed in the cell of origin?) and if they are therapeutically targetable. This abstract is also being presented as Poster B77. Citation Format: Joshua Felgenhauer, Laura Tomino, Hasan Siddiqui, Emily Bopp, Julia Selich-Anderson, Jessica Mormol, Cenny Taslim, Nilay Shah. Generation of the first genetically defined tumorigenic model of Ewing sarcoma expressing EWS-FLI1 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on the Advances in Pediatric Cancer Research; 2019 Sep 17-20; Montreal, QC, Canada. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(14 Suppl):Abstract nr PR02.

EWS-FLI1-regulated Serine Synthesis and Exogenous Serine are Necessary for Ewing Sarcoma Cellular Proliferation and Tumor Growth.

Despite a growing body of knowledge about the genomic landscape of Ewing sarcoma, translation of basic discoveries into targeted therapies and significant clinical gains has remained elusive. Recent insights have revealed that the oncogenic transcription factor EWS-FLI1 can impact Ewing sarcoma cellular metabolism, regulating expression of 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH), the first enzyme in de novo serine synthesis. Here, we have examined the importance of serine metabolism in Ewing sarcoma tumorigenesis and evaluated the therapeutic potential of targeting serine metabolism in preclinical models of Ewing sarcoma. We show that PHGDH knockdown resulted in decreased Ewing sarcoma cell proliferation, especially under serine limitation, and significantly inhibited xenograft tumorigenesis in preclinical orthotopic models of Ewing sarcoma. In addition, the PHGDH inhibitor NCT-503 caused a dose-dependent decrease in cellular proliferation. Moreover, we report a novel drug combination in which nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) inhibition, which blocks production of the PHGDH substrate NAD+, synergized with NCT-503 to abolish Ewing sarcoma cell proliferation and tumor growth. Furthermore, we show that serine deprivation inhibited Ewing sarcoma cell proliferation and tumorigenesis, indicating that Ewing sarcoma cells depend on exogenous serine in addition to de novo serine synthesis. Our findings suggest that serine metabolism is critical for Ewing sarcoma tumorigenesis, and that targeting metabolic dependencies should be further investigated as a potential therapeutic strategy for Ewing sarcoma. In addition, the combination strategy presented herein may have broader clinical applications in other PHGDH-overexpressing cancers as well.