Oncogene In Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Research Articles

Circ_0000745 regulates NOTCH1-mediated cell proliferation and apoptosis in pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia through adsorbing miR-193b-3p

ABSTRACT Background T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a highly proliferative hematologic malignancy. Circular RNA hsa_circ_0000745 (circ_0000745) has been reported as an oncogene in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, whether circ_0000745 can drive T-ALL progression by controlling notch receptor 1 (NOTCH1) expression is unclear. Methods Relative expression of circ_0000745 and NOTCH1 in bone marrow (BM) samples and T-ALL cells was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Loss- and gain-of-function experiments were executed to evaluate the effects of circ_0000745 and NOTCH1 on T-ALL cell proliferation and apoptosis. The microRNAs (miRs) that might jointly interact with circ_0000745 and NOTCH1 were predicted by bioinformatics analysis and verified by dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays. Results Circ_0000745 and NOTCH1 were overexpressed in T-ALL BM and T-ALL cells. Functionally, both circ_0000745 and NOTCH1 overexpression promoted T-ALL cell proliferation and curbed T-ALL cell apoptosis. In contrast, both circ_0000745 and NOTCH1 silencing restrained T-ALL cell proliferation and induced T-ALL cell apoptosis. Furthermore, circ_0000745 could control T-ALL cell proliferation and apoptosis through regulating NOTCH1 expression. Importantly, circ_0000745 regulated NOTCH1 expression by sponging miR-193b-3p. Conclusion Our findings proposed a novel model in which circ_0000745 promoted cell proliferation and curbed cell apoptosis via upregulating NOTCH1 through serving as a miR-193b-3p sponge in T-ALL.

Abstract 2364: The phosphatase PRL-3 is a pro-survival oncogene in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Abstract PRL-3, phosphatase of regenerating liver 3, is one member of a subfamily of protein tyrosine phosphatases that belongs to the dual-specificity phosphatases (DSPs). Accumulating evidence shows that PRL-3 is a biomarker of tumor progression and metastasis and high PRL-3 expression is associated with reduced overall and disease-free survival in a variety of solid tumors, suggesting it's importance in tumor recurrence. However, the role for PRL-3 in leukemia relapse has not yet been described. We have found that PRL-3 contributes to Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) malignancy by acting as a pro-survival gene, both in vitro and in vivo. Expression of PRL-3 in a MYC-induced zebrafish T-cell ALL model showed that PRL-3 expressing ALL had shorter latency and higher penetrance, compared with the fish injected with rag2:Myc; rag2:GFP alone. Growth after transplantation at low cell number was also significantly faster in the PRL3 expressing T-ALL, suggesting that PRL-3 plays an important role in ALL development and progression. We found PRL-3 to be highly expressed in a majority of human ALL compared to normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC), which suggests clinical relevance. Analysis of gene expression microarray data of 119 patient samples reveals that PRL-3 was highly expressed in 58% of the patients. In addition, PRL-3 had the highest expression in the most aggressive and treatment resistant subgroups of T-ALL, the TAL/LMO and Immature subtypes. PRL-3 is also expressed by human T-ALL cell lines using quantitative RT- PCR and immunoblotting. PRL-3 knockdown leads to significant apoptosis in T-ALL cells. The treatment of T-ALL cells using small molecule drugs including 2-cyano-2-ene-ester compound (Analog 3) and thieno [3,2-b] pyridine 1-oxide (thienopyridone) , also resulted in significant growth inhibition of T-ALL cells in part through >4-fold increase in apoptosis, measured by annexin V staining. In summary, our study provides evidence for a role of PRL-3 in T- ALL malignancy, and suggests that PRL3 may be a useful drug target in the treatment of this disease. Our future studies are focused on identifying the mechanisms by which PRL3 promotes T-ALL progression and survival. Citation Format: Min Wei, Kristin O'Leary, Jinpeng Liu, Chi Wang, Jessica Blackburn. The phosphatase PRL-3 is a pro-survival oncogene in acute lymphoblastic leukemia [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2364.

Expression of aberrantly spliced oncogenic Ikaros isoforms coupled with clonal IKZF1 deletions and chimeric oncogenes in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Expression of aberrantly spliced oncogenic Ikaros isoforms coupled with clonal IKZF1 deletions and chimeric oncogenes in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Abstract PR07: Novel oncogenic mutations in the beta subunit of heteromeric G-proteins identified by functional cDNA library screening.

Abstract Although next-generation sequencing can delineate the genetic alterations within a primary tumor specimen, it can be difficult to distinguish the small number of driver mutations from the large number of passenger mutations. To overcome this issue, we developed a system for identifying oncogenic alterations directly from tumor cells. In this system, retroviral cDNA libraries built from cancer cell lines and directly from primary cancer samples are transduced into BaF3 cells, an IL3-dependent B cell line. Transformation by oncogenes promotes IL3-independent survival, allowing for the isolation of individual transformed clones and sequencing of the integrated cDNA. In the past, we identified CRLF2 as a novel oncogene in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Yoda et al. PNAS 2010). We have improved the method and demonstrated 100% sensitivity for isolating well-characterized oncogenes, including EGFR, HER2, RAS and ALK (Shindoh et al. PLoS One 2012). Recently, we isolated a mutated GNB1 K89E allele from a cDNA library generated from a primary blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN). BPDCN is a rare and aggressive leukemia with a dismal prognosis. GNB1 encodes the beta subunit of the heterotrimeric G-protein, a binding complex that transduces signals from G-protein coupled receptors to multiple downstream pathways. Gain-of-function mutations have been reported in alpha subunits of the G-protein, however, the contributions of beta subunits to cancer remains undefined. To investigate downstream signaling from GNB1 K89E, we performed gene expression profiling and mass spectrometry (MS)-based phosphoproteomics and found significant activation of RAS/MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways in GNB1 K89E-expressing cells compared to isogenic cells expressing wild-type GNB1. To target GNB1 K89E signaling, we screened kinase inhibitors using a multiplex panel of small molecules and found selective sensitivity of GNB1 K89E cells to MEK and pan-PI3-kinase inhibitors. Next, we transduced GNB1 alleles into bone marrow cells from Cdkn2a-deficient mice and transplanted into wild-type recipient mice. Within 4 months after transplantation, all mice (n=10) that received bone marrow transduced with GNB1 K89E developed a lethal dendritic cell malignancy, confirming the transforming effects of GNB1 K89E in vivo. A search of published cancer mutations identified four cases with GNB1 I80T/N in chronic lymphocytic leukemia or B-cell lymphomas, five cases with GNB1 K57E/T in myeloid malignancies, one case of GNB1 K89E in acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and two cases with GNB2 M101T/V in ovarian cancer. All of these alleles promoted GM-CSF-independent growth in human TF1 cells. Interestingly, the mutated codons are all located on the GNB1 molecular surface that is critical for interactions between GNB1 and both alpha subunits and downstream effectors. Immunoprecipitation followed by MS demonstrated that GNB1 K89E and I80T mutants failed to bind inhibitory G alpha subunits GNAI2 and GNAI3 as well as GNA11 that are bound by wild-type GNB1. Thus, gain-of-function mutations in G-protein beta subunits occur across a broad range of malignancies, can drive in vivo transformation, and activate targetable downstream kinases by modifying essential interactions with partner proteins. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):PR07. Citation Format: Akinori Yoda, Guillaume Adelmant, Nobuaki Shindoh, Bjoern Chapuy, Yuka Yoda, Oliver Weigert, Nadja Kopp, Shuo-Chieh Wu, Sunhee S. Kim, Huiyun Liu, Trevor Tivey, Jeffrey W. Tyner, Jason Gotlib, Michael W. Deininger, Shannon Turley, Jarrod A. Marto, Andrew A. Lane, David M. Weinstock. Novel oncogenic mutations in the beta subunit of heteromeric G-proteins identified by functional cDNA library screening. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2013 Oct 19-23; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):Abstract nr PR07.