The NF1 tumor suppressor encodes a RAS GTPase-Activating Protein (RasGAP). Accordingly, deregulated RAS signaling underlies the pathogenesis of NF1-mutant cancers. However, while various RAS effector pathways have been shown to function in these tumors, it is currently unclear which specific proteins within these broad signaling pathways represent optimal therapeutic targets. Here we identify mTORC1 as the key PI3K pathway component in NF1-mutant nervous system malignancies and conversely show that mTORC2 and AKT are dispensable. We also report that combined mTORC1/MEK inhibition is required to promote tumor regression in animal models, but only when the inhibition of both pathways is sustained. Transcriptional profiling studies were also used to establish a predictive signature of effective mTORC1/MEK inhibition in vivo. Within this signature, we unexpectedly found that the glucose transporter gene, GLUT1, was potently suppressed but only when both pathways were effectively inhibited. Moreover, unlike VHL and LKB1 mutant cancers, reduction of 18F-FDG uptake measured by FDG-PET required the effective suppression of both mTORC1 and MEK. Together these studies identify optimal and sub-optimal therapeutic targets in NF1-mutant malignancies and define a non-invasive means of measuring combined mTORC1/MEK inhibition in vivo, which can be readily incorporated into clinical trials.
Defining key signaling nodes and therapeutic biomarkers in NF1-mutant cancers.
Specimen part
View SamplesmTOR and HDAC inhibitors induce cell death of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) in vitro, and in vivo
mTOR and HDAC Inhibitors Converge on the TXNIP/Thioredoxin Pathway to Cause Catastrophic Oxidative Stress and Regression of RAS-Driven Tumors.
Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
PRC2 loss amplifies Ras-driven transcription and confers sensitivity to BRD4-based therapies.
Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesThe polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) exerts oncogenic effects in many tumour types1. However, loss-of-function mutations in PRC2 components occur in a subset of haematopoietic malignancies, sug- gesting that this complex plays a dichotomous and poorly understood role in cancer2,3. Here we provide genomic, cellular, and mouse mod- elling data demonstrating that the polycomb group gene SUZ12 func- tions as tumour suppressor in PNS tumours, high-grade gliomas and melanomas by cooperating with mutations in NF1. NF1 encodes a Ras GTPase-activating protein (RasGAP) and its loss drives cancer by activating Ras4. We show that SUZ12 loss potentiates the effects of NF1 mutations by amplifying Ras-driven transcription through effects on chromatin. Importantly, however, SUZ12 inactivation also triggers an epigenetic switch that sensitizes these cancers to bromodomain inhib- itors. Collectively, these studies not only reveal an unexpected con- nection between the PRC2 complex, NF1 and Ras, but also identify a promising epigenetic-based therapeutic strategy that may be exploited for a variety of cancers.
PRC2 loss amplifies Ras-driven transcription and confers sensitivity to BRD4-based therapies.
Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive cancer with limited treatment options. Familial predisposition to PDAC occurs in ~10% of cases, but causative genes have not been identified in most families. Uncovering the genetic basis for PDAC susceptibility has immediate prognostic implications for families and can provide mechanistic clues to PDAC pathogenesis. Here, we perform whole-genome sequence analysis in a family with multiple cases of PDAC and identify a germline nonsense mutation in the member of RAS oncogene family-like 3 (RABL3) gene never before directly associated with hereditary cancer. The truncated mutant allele (RABL3_p.S36*) co-segregates with cancer occurrence. To evaluate the contribution of the RABL3 mutant allele in hereditary cancer, we generated rabl3 heterozygous mutant zebrafish and found increased susceptibility to cancer formation in two independent cancer models. Unbiased approaches implicate RABL3 in RAS pathway regulation: the transcriptome of juvenile rabl3 mutants reveals a KRAS upregulation signature, and affinity-purification mass spectrometry for proteins associated with RABL3 or RABL3_p.S36* identifies Rap1 GTPase-GDP Dissociation Stimulator 1 (RAP1GDS1, SmgGDS), a chaperone that regulates prenylation of RAS GTPases. Indeed, we find that RABL3_p.S36* accelerates KRAS prenylation and requires RAS proteins to promote cell proliferation. Furthermore, rabl3 homozygous mutant zebrafish develop severe craniofacial, skeletal, and growth defects consistent with human RASopathies, and these defects are partially rescued with the MEK inhibitor trametinib. Finally, we identify additional germline mutations in RABL3 that impact RAS activity in vivo and have a significant burden in a cohort of patients with developmental disorders, suggesting a role in undiagnosed RASopathies. Moreover, RABL3 is upregulated in multiple human PDAC cell lines and knockdown abrogates proliferation, consistent with a broader role for RABL3 in PDAC. Our studies identify the RABL3 mutation as a new target for genetic testing in cancer families and uncover a novel mechanism for dysregulated RAS activity in development and cancer. Overall design: WT (4 replicates) and homozygous rabl3-TR41 mutant (3 replicates) larval zebrafish at 21 days of age.
Mutations in RABL3 alter KRAS prenylation and are associated with hereditary pancreatic cancer.
Age, Specimen part, Cell line, Subject
View SamplesResponse of mouse mammary epithelial cells to treatment with MMP3
ROS-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in mammary epithelial cells is mediated by NF-kB-dependent activation of Snail.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesThis SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer cells by cell contact and adhesion.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesResponse of mouse mammary epithelial cells to different cell densities and treatment with MMP3
Regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer cells by cell contact and adhesion.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesResponse of mammary epithelial cells to different cell densities
Regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer cells by cell contact and adhesion.
Specimen part, Cell line
View SamplesPurpose: We investigated the tetrachloroethylene associated changes in kidney transcriptomes among healthy mice, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease mice, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis mice. Overall design: Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a low-fat diet (4% fat), high-fat diet (31% fat), or methionine/choline/folate deficient diet. Following an 8-week diet, mice were administered either a single dose of tetrachloroethylene (PERC, 300 mg/kg/d in 5% Alkamuls-EL620 in saline, 5 mL/kg) and euthanized at 24 hours post dose, or five consecutive daily doses of PERC or vehicle (n=8/diet/treatment) and euthanized at 4hours post dose. The harvested kidneys were subjected to mRNA sequencing using Illumina Hiseq 2500. Jac-NASH-063 was excluded from analysis because it did not have a good yield.
Modulation of Tetrachloroethylene-Associated Kidney Effects by Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver or Steatohepatitis in Male C57BL/6J Mice.
Cell line, Treatment, Subject
View Samples