bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Abstract 4740: Molecular effects of histone deacetylase inhibitor Quisinostat on diffuse midline glioma of the pons
Authors: Paine Danyelle , Tang Nanyun , Hao Yue , Biery Matt , Meyers Carrie , Noll Alyssa , Vitanza Nicholas , Berens Michael
Published: April 2023

Diffuse Midline Glioma of the pons (DMG) is a lethal, aggressive heterogeneous brain stem tumor. Median overall survival is less than a year, with radiation as the only standard treatment. Recently, mutations in DMGs have arisen as potential therapeutic targets, specifically a mutation in one of the histone H3 genes, resulting in methionine substituted for lysine at site 27 (H3K27M). H3K27M induces a marked reduction in global acetylation of histone tails, altering chromatin structure and causing aberrant gene expression. Histone deacetylase inhibitors, HDACis, are epigenetic drugs that show anticancer activity. In our studies, Quisinostat (Quis) is used to preserve histone acetylation. Using two H3K27M-DMG treatment-naive preclinical models (PBT22 and PBT29) we detected a 100-fold differential response to the histone deacetylase inhibitor, Quisinostat. PBT-22 harbors mutations in H3F3A, TP53, and ASXL2, while PBT-29 has mutations in H3F3A, TP53, PIK3CA and FGFR1. Following Quis treatment (48 hrs) in both preclinical models, total H3K27ac protein abundance increased 3-fold, suggesting HDACi stabilizes or impedes turnover of K27 acetylated H3 histone. We are pursuing studies to test whether sensitivity to HDACi in DMGs is determined by a shift in relative or total abundance of respective H3wt- and H3K27M- histones. We posit that changes in H3K27ac manifest as shifts in nucleosome integration with genes responsible for cell survival/death. This project will profile differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from Quis-treated PBT22 and PBT29. Additionally, total and relative abundance of H3 proteins (wt and mt, me, me2, me3, and ac) from treated cells will be determined. Gene ontology analysis will focus on pathways accounting for chromatin remodeling, cell death, and growth arrest. RNA (qRT-PCR) and proteins (western blot) from analytes from a larger panel of DMG cell lines and neural stem cells treated with Quis will be used to validate the findings. Overall, the data depicts DMG preclinical models with large differential sensitivity to Quis, which may be partially due to different oncoprints between the models. The markedly different sensitivity of these models enables mechanistic study of the consequences of elevated abundance of histone 3 acetylation. The long term goal is to discover a molecular profile of DMGs indicative of the vulnerability to HDACi.

Citation Format: Danyelle Paine, Nanyun Tang, Yue Hao, Matt Biery, Carrie Meyers, Alyssa Noll, Nicholas Vitanza, Michael Berens. Molecular effects of histone deacetylase inhibitor Quisinostat on diffuse midline glioma of the pons. [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 4740.
Abstract 4754: Investigating the impact of hotspot mutations in a chromatin reader on leukemogenesis
Authors: Liu Yiman , Li Qinglan , Tang Sylvia , Gong Chujie , Wan Liling
Published: April 2023

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is one of the most aggressive forms of hematological malignancies with a low overall 5-year survival rate (< 26%). The mainstay of treatment for AML includes chemotherapy, but the response of a subset of patients to current treatment options remains poor. Thus, new therapeutic approaches are desperately needed. AML often arises from somatic mutations in chromatin regulators that result in uncontrolled proliferation and a block of differentiation in myeloid progenitor cells. As such, investigation of the role and molecular mechanism of chromatin regulator in AML is being actively pursued. Previously, we discovered the eleven-nineteen-leukemia (ENL) protein, a chromatin “reader” and transcription co-activator, as an unrecognized requirement for the survival of AML. We developed a potent and orally bioavailable small-molecule inhibitor of ENL, which displaces ENL from chromatin and blocks AML progression. Hotspot mutations have been found in ENL YEATS domains, both in Wilms tumor and in leukemia, and these mutations confer a gain of condensation property, leading to aberrant gene activation. However, the impact of ENL mutation on tumorigenesis is largely unknown. The over-arching goal of this project is to explore the impact of the hyper-activated ENL pathway (ENL mutation) in AML. Results from this project will elucidate how newly discovered chromatin reader mutations drive tumorigenesis and offer new biology insights that will facilitate both basic mechanistic studies and clinical studies.

Citation Format: Yiman Liu, Qinglan Li, Sylvia Tang, Chujie Gong, Liling Wan. Investigating the impact of hotspot mutations in a chromatin reader on leukemogenesis. [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 4754.
Abstract 4764: The therapeutic potential of lnc-HLX-2-7 in group 3 medulloblastomas in children
Authors: Katsushima Keisuke , Lee Bongyong , Yuan Menglang , Stapleton Stacie , Jallo George , Seal Sudipta , Eberhart Charles G. , Perera Ranjan J.
Published: April 2023

Medulloblastoma (MB) is an aggressive brain tumor that predominantly affects children. Recent high-throughput sequencing studies suggest that the non-coding RNA genome, in particular long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), contributes to MB formation and tumor progression. Here we report the identification of a novel lncRNA, lnc-HLX-2-7, as a potential therapeutic target in group 3 MBs. In this study, we report that lnc-HLX-2-7 RNA specifically accumulates in the HLX (host gene of lnc-HLX-2-7) promoter region and activates HLX expression by recruiting multiple factors including enhancer elements. RNA sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed that HLX directly binds to the promoters of several tumor-promoting genes, including MYC, and activates their expression. Furthermore, intravenous treatment with antisense oligonucleotides targeting lnc-HLX-2-7 coated with cerium-oxide nanoparticle (CNP-lnc-HLX-2-7) reduced tumor growth (40-50%) in intracranial MB xenograft mouse model (n=10, p<0.01, t-test). We found that the combinatorial therapy of CNP-lnc-HLX-2-7 and cisplatin further inhibits tumor growth and significantly prolongs mouse survival compared to CNP-lnc-HLX-2-7 monotherapy (n=10, p<0.01, t-test) only. We report here the importance of the lnc-HLX-2-7-HLX-MYC axis in regulating group 3 MB progression and provide a strong rationale for using lnc-HLX-2-7 as a specific and potent therapeutic target for the group 3 MBs in children.

Citation Format: Keisuke Katsushima, Bongyong Lee, Menglang Yuan, Stacie Stapleton, George Jallo, Sudipta Seal, Charles G. Eberhart, Ranjan J. Perera. The therapeutic potential of lnc-HLX-2-7 in group 3 medulloblastomas in children. [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 4764.
Abstract 4771: Prevention of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by benfotiamine
Authors: Taylor Justin R. , Harames Kyra
Published: April 2023

Anthracyclines such as daunorubicin and doxorubicin (DOX) are currently used as chemotherapeutic agents in the prevention of various cancers including breast cancer, lung cancer, leukemia, and lymphoma. Although, anthracyclines are successful in controlling various cancers growth, the major drawback is the unwanted cardiotoxicity. Specifically, high doses of DOX used for the therapy of advanced cancers could cause life threating conditions. Therefore, specific interventions are required to decrease the cardiac toxicity associated with the DOX. Benfotiamine, a lipid soluble vitamin B1 derivative has shown be a potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. However, the efficacy of benfotiamine in the prevention of cardiotoxicity associated with the anthracyclines is not known. In this study, we examined the effect of benfotiamine in the prevention of DOX-induced cytotoxicity in the human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). Treatment of HUVECs with DOX caused significant endothelial cells death and benfotiamine in a concentration-dependent manner prevented the dox-induced endothelial cell death. Further, benfotiamine prevents the DOX-induced apoptosis in endothelial cells by preventing the activation of caspase-3. Benfotiamine also prevents DOX-induced reactive oxygen species generation. Our results also indicate that benfotiamine regulates DOX-induced expression of pro-apoptotic mediators such as BAD, phosphor-P53, and pro-caspase-3, and anti-apoptotic mediators such as BCL-2, BCL-x, IAPs, and HSP and others such as FADD, DR5, and SMAC/diablo. We plan to further explore how benfotiamine prevents DOX-induced cardiotoxicity using human cardiac myocytes and mouse models. Thus, based on our cell culture studies, benfotiamine through its potent anti-oxidative property could prevent endothelial cytotoxicity and suggests that it could be further developed as adjuvant therapy in controlling cardiotoxicity associated with the anthracycline chemotherapy.

Citation Format: Justin R. Taylor, Kyra Harames. Prevention of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by benfotiamine. [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 4771.
Abstract 4775: Knockout of Sod2 accelerates KrasG12D-driven formation of pancreatic cancerous lesions
Authors: Fleming Martinez Alicia K. , Edenfield Brandy H. , Esposito Irene , Storz Peter
Published: April 2023

Recent studies demonstrate that mitochondrially-generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) downstream of oncogenic KRAS drive acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM), a key first step in the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) progression model. MnSOD/SOD2 is a mitochondrial enzyme that converts superoxide into hydrogen peroxide. Previous studies have shown that SOD2 is biologically relevant to the study of pancreatic cancer. Some patients with a SOD2 polymorphism resulting in less active MnSOD at the mitochondrial matrix are at increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Additionally, MnSOD is lost in high-grade human PanIN, further suggesting a role in tumor development. To elucidate the role of MnSOD in pancreatic cancer initiation and progression, we crossed Sod2lox/lox mice into the p48Cre;LSL-KrasG12D (KC) mouse model. We found increased ROS, abundantly more abnormal tissue development and presence of flat lesions indicating accelerated early progression. However, Kaplan Meyer survival analysis of KC and KC;Sod2−/− mice did not indicate faster progression to cancer, suggesting that for later steps additional signaling is needed. In summary, we identify MnSOD as a key antioxidant molecule preventing initiation of PDA.

Citation Format: Alicia K. Fleming Martinez, Brandy H. Edenfield, Irene Esposito, Peter Storz. Knockout of Sod2 accelerates KrasG12D-driven formation of pancreatic cancerous lesions. [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 4775.
Abstract 4778: Novel bioluminescence approaches for measuring fatty acid β-oxidation and production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species
Authors: Haupt Kim , Larsen Matt , Wang Hui , Karassina Natasha , Valley Mike , Zhou Wenhui , Vidugiriene Jolanta
Published: April 2023

Energy uptake and utilization in eukaryotic cells is a dynamic process regulated by a series of interacting metabolic networks. Interrogation of this complex network relies on rapid, sensitive approaches that do not require extensive sample handling and are easily adaptable to 96- and 384-well plates. Previously, using the Ultra-Glo luciferase reaction we developed a panel of bioluminescent assays that can be used to monitor numerous aspects of cellular metabolism and mitochondrial function including ATP production, glucose and amino acid metabolism, and the TCA cycle. Here, we extend the use of the luciferase reaction and report on the development of novel bioluminescence probes for studying two important metabolic cellular responses: fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) and production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. For studying FAO, we developed a cell permeable probe with caged-luciferin attached to a fatty acid chain. The probe enters the cells and following FAO cycling, free luciferin is released and detected using Luciferin Detection Reagent. We validated the approach using known FAO activators and inhibitors and used it to monitor the changes in FAO during T-cell activation. For measuring reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, highly selective bioluminescence probes were developed. Upon reaction of the probes with their corresponding ROS target, they form the stable D-luciferin reporter molecule, causing luciferin to accumulate. Upon treatment with luciferase in the detection step, the generated light allows for quantification of the superoxide or nitric oxide formed. Both probes are suitable for in vitro and cell-based detection of ROS in an “add and read” format, providing for a simple workflow amenable to high throughput experimentation.

Citation Format: Kim Haupt, Matt Larsen, Hui Wang, Natasha Karassina, Mike Valley, Wenhui Zhou, Jolanta Vidugiriene. Novel bioluminescence approaches for measuring fatty acid β-oxidation and production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. [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 4778.
Abstract 4782: A biflavonoid TY1 induced mitochondrial oxidative stress in 5-fluorouracil-resistant colorectal cancer cells to suppress tumor progression
Authors: Jian Ting-Yan , Sung Shian-Ying , Lin Yu-Ling
Published: April 2023

The high metastasis and drug resistance of colorectal cancer (CRC) cause high mortality and rank third among the top ten cancer deaths. TY1 is a biflavonoid isolated from Taxus x media cv. Hicksii. We have previously reported that TY1 inhibits metastatic behavior by inhibiting F-actin polymerization. However, the biological activities of TY1 to overcome drug resistance remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the pharmacological mechanism of TY1 for inhibiting 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-resistant CRC cells and its therapeutic effect. The 5-FU sensitive (COLO205) and 5-FU resistant (HT-29) CRC cells were used to determine the antitumor activity of TY1. Bioinformatic analysis was conducted to explore the antitumor effects of TY1 in 5-FU resistant HT-29 cells. The effects of TY1 on 5-FU-resistant CRC cells were determined by cell-based analyses, including MTT assay, cellular and mitochondrial ROS-superoxide detection, and confocal images. Finally, the therapeutic effects of TY1 were evaluated in HT-29 xenograft CRC mice. We found TY1 inhibited cell proliferation but did not affect the cell cycle. TEM images showed that TY1 induced vacuole production. Transcriptome data indicated that interferon-related genes specifically mitochondrial interferon alpha-inducible protein (IFIP) were significantly decreased after TY1 treatment. TY1 increased oxidative stress generated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and superoxide. When IFIP was overexpressed, TY1-induced oxidative stress was reduced. In xenograft CRC mouse, TY1 effectively inhibited tumor growth. The anticancer activity of TY1 is attributed to TY1-induced ROS and superoxide by downregulating mitochondrial IFIP expression. Therefore, these data suggest that TY1 may be a promising new compound in the treatment of 5-FU-resistant CRC.

Citation Format: Ting-Yan Jian, Shian-Ying Sung, Yu-Ling Lin. A biflavonoid TY1 induced mitochondrial oxidative stress in 5-fluorouracil-resistant colorectal cancer cells to suppress tumor progression. [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 4782.
Abstract 479: Novel specific PKM2 inhibitor, compound 3h, induces apoptotic and autophagic cell death through Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in prostate cancer cells
Authors: Jiang Chunxue , Zheng Tian , Cha HwaYoung , Kim Hyung Sik
Published: April 2023

Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) is a key enzyme involved in the regulation of glycolysis. Although PKM2 is overexpressed in various tumor tissues, its functional role in cancer chemotherapy remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the anticancer activity of novel PKM2 inhibitors in the regulation of cell metabolism and its associated pathways in prostate cancer cells. To evaluate the molecular basis of specific PKM2 inhibitors, the interactions of compounds 3h and 3K with the PKM2 protein were assessed via molecular docking. We found that, compared to compound 3K, compound 3h exhibited a higher binding affinity for PKM2. Moreover, compound 3h significantly inhibited the pyruvate kinase activity and PKM2 expression. Cytotoxicity and colony formation assays revealed the potent anticancer activity of compound 3h against LNCaP cells. Compound 3h significantly increased the apoptotic and autophagic cell death in LNCaP cells. In addition, compound 3h induced AMPK activation along with the inhibition of mTOR/p70S6K pathway. Furthermore, compound 3h significantly inhibited glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration, as determined by analyzing extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) production. Our results revealed that compound 3h caused apoptotic and autophagic cell death by inhibiting cancer cell metabolism in LNCaP cells. Therefore, blocking glycolytic pathways using specific PKM2 inhibitors can be used to target cancer cell metabolism in PKM2-overexpressed prostate cancer cells.

Citation Format: Chunxue Jiang, Tian Zheng, HwaYoung Cha, Hyung Sik Kim. Novel specific PKM2 inhibitor, compound 3h, induces apoptotic and autophagic cell death through Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in prostate cancer cells [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 479.
Abstract 4804: p38 MAPK-dependent regulation of HIF-1 and expression of the hypoxia-inducible gene IGFBP-3 in leiomyosarcoma cells
Authors: Haque Nuha , Shelden Eric
Published: April 2023

Hypoxia is a common feature of tumor microenvironments and stimulates a variety of responses in a cell. Tumor hypoxia is also associated with poor prognosis in soft tissue sarcomas (STS), including leiomyosarcomas. Genes upregulated under hypoxia contribute to the adaptation of tumor cells and promote tumor progression. Using transcriptome-wide gene expression analysis, we identified IGFBP-3 as one of the most highly upregulated genes in SK-LMS-1 leiomyosarcoma cells in hypoxic conditions. IGFBP-3 has been studied in several tumor types, including STS, and is associated with their altered pathogenesis. Mechanisms responsible for the hypoxia-induced expression of IGFBP-3 in STS have not been previously well defined. Hypoxia results in the stabilization of the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor, HIF-1, and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in other cell types. Here, we examined HIF-1 and ROS-dependent mechanisms to determine their roles in the hypoxia-induced expression of IGFBP-3 and other genes in SK-LMS-1 cells. Our data indicate that both ROS production and HIF-1 activation are required for the enhanced IGFBP-3 mRNA expression in hypoxic SK-LMS-1 cells. We also tested the roles of the stress activated protein kinase p38 and the tumor suppressor p53 for their potential to contribute to the regulation of IGFBP-3 expression in these cells. Inhibition of p53 tumor suppressor activity only partially reduced IGFBP-3 expression. We also determined that neither hypoxia nor inhibition of p53 affected the expression of the p53 target gene, CDKN1A (p21), in these cells. In contrast, inhibition of p38 MAPK completely prevented the hypoxia-induced increase in IGFBP-3 expression. Additionally, we found that p38 MAPK inhibition reduced HIF-1 protein accumulation and activity but had no effect on its mRNA expression under hypoxic conditions. Together these results suggest that ROS-dependent activation of p38 MAPK stabilizes HIF-1 and promotes the downstream expression of IGFBP-3. In contrast, p53 appears to have a limited effect on the expression of IGFBP-3 in SK-LMS-1 cells. Our results clarify the signaling pathway involved in the response of soft tissue sarcoma cells to hypoxia and may provide new avenues for intervention in cancer progression.

Citation Format: Nuha Haque, Eric Shelden. p38 MAPK-dependent regulation of HIF-1 and expression of the hypoxia-inducible gene IGFBP-3 in leiomyosarcoma cells. [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 4804.
Abstract 4809: A novel microfluidic platform for PDAC organoid culture and drug screening
Authors: Geyer Marlene , Schreyer Daniel , Gaul Lisa-Marie , Goubert Désiréé , Pfeffer Susanne , Pilarsky Christian , Queiroz Karla S.
Published: April 2023

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common pancreatic cancer type, will become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths by 2030 with mortality rates of up to 93%. Current standard-of-care for patients with PDAC includes chemotherapeutic regimens and pancreatic cancer surgery. However, only 20% of the patients are eligible for surgery due to late diagnosis. Although chemotherapeutic regimens are the leading treatment to PDAC patients, these are still very limited and the development of resistance to treatment is often observed. PDAC tumors are characterized by high-density stroma and hypovascularization, therefore these present high interstitial pressure and hypoxia. These features potentially interfere with the efficiency of chemotherapeutic drugs and highlight the urgent need for novel PDAC screening platforms. Here, we describe the establishment of PDAC organoid cultures in the MIMETAS OrganoPlate®. The aim of this project was to determine the treatment response of PDAC organoids in mono-, and co-culture with pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) under hypoxic and normoxic conditions. To recapitulate in-vivo like conditions, the 2-lane OrganoPlate® from MIMETAS was used to study organoid growth and sensitivity to treatment. Several standard of care (chemo-)therapeutics were tested on PDAC organoids embedded within an extracellular matrix in the Organoplate® 2-lane. These were exposed to chemotherapeutic treatments for 72h. PDAC organoids showed an overall better survival when grown in co-culture with PSCs. Interestingly, organoids grown in co-culture showed a higher survival rate under hypoxic conditions. In contrast, when grown in monoculture cell viability was higher or similar under normoxic conditions than in hypoxia for the different chemotherapeutics. The OrganoPlate® 2-lane provides an excellent platform for (co-) cultivation and high-throughput phenotypic drug screening of PDAC organoids, thereby potentially enabling the development of novel in-vivo like model systems for efficient patient stratification and drug discovery.

Citation Format: Marlene Geyer, Daniel Schreyer, Lisa-Marie Gaul, Désiréé Goubert, Susanne Pfeffer, Christian Pilarsky, Karla S. Queiroz. A novel microfluidic platform for PDAC organoid culture and drug screening. [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 4809.
Abstract 4849: PPARγ and FoxO1 expression and activity in aqueous cinnamon extract treated cells
Authors: Mild Sean , Swartz Cole , Aulthouse Amy , Stockert Amy
Published: April 2023

Peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor (PPARγ) has been proven to have inhibitory effects on tumor angiogenesis. Research has demonstrated that natural PPARγ ligands are anti-tumorigenic due to growth inhibition and anti-proliferative effects. Cinnamon is one potential PPARγ ligand tested to explore its effects on PPARγ and FoxO1 expression and activity. Literature also suggests that breast cancer proliferation is increased with obesity and co-cultures of adipocytes with MCF-7 cells have suggested an increase in lipase activity. We therefore sought to explore the effects of cinnamon on these transcription factors and lipase activity in 3T3-L1 cells to determine if cinnamon is a plausible co-therapeutic for breast cancer patients. 3T3-L1 cells were cinnamon treated for 48-96 hours post differentiation. Nuclear protein was extracted for ELISA quantification of PPARγ and FoxO1 binding potential. Cytosolic and nuclear protein extracts were analyzed via Western blot of FoxO1 and PPARγ. Copy DNA was produced from the total RNA and expression levels of PPARγ and FoxO1 were examined by TaqMan real-time PCR assays. A lipase activity assay was performed on freshly extracted protein from cultured cells. Western blot data demonstrates an increase in FoxO1 protein with cinnamon treatment at 96 hours post differentiation. PPARγ data shows no significant changes in protein quantity, however ELISA data suggests increases in binding potential PPARγ as well as FoxO1 transcription factors with cinnamon treatment. Preliminary expression analysis suggests changes in both PPARγ and FoxO1. Lipase activity data suggests a significant increase in cinnamon treated adipocytes. Data from the study suggests that cinnamon activates PPARγ and that it may play a role in decreasing tumorigenic activity. However, with particular concern in breast cancer cells, the activation of PPARγ in adipocytes appears to increase the lipase activity, thus producing more free fatty acids and potentially enhancing energy dependent proliferation.

Citation Format: Sean Mild, Cole Swartz, Amy Aulthouse, Amy Stockert. PPARγ and FoxO1 expression and activity in aqueous cinnamon extract treated cells. [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 4849.
Abstract 4860: PI3K inhibition sensitize cancer cells to tumor treating fields (TTFields)
Authors: Klein-Goldberg Anat , Voloshin Tali , Zemer-Tov Efrat , Paz Rom , Koren Lilach , Wainer-Katsir Kerem , Volodin Alexandra , Koltun Bella , Brant Boris , Barsheshet Yiftah , Kan Tal , David Cfir , Khalil Tharwat Haj , Haber Adi , Giladi Moshe , Weinberg Uri , Palti Yoram
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) are electric fields that disrupt cellular processes critical for cancer cell viability and tumor progression, ultimately leading to cell death. TTFields therapy is approved for treatment of adult patients with glioblastoma (GBM) or unresectable pleural mesothelioma. Clinical trials are underway in other solid tumors, including ovarian cancer and non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). The objective of this study is to identify possible mechanisms involved in reduced sensitivity of cancer cell to TTFields, and explore strategies to circumvent them.

Methods: Ovarian cancer A2780, GBM U-87 MG, and NSCLC H1299 cells with reduced sensitivity to TTFields were generated by continuous long-term application of TTFields. Luminex multiplex assay was employed to examine changes in signaling pathways in these cells, and specific pathway markers were validated by Western blot. In vivo validation was performed by immunohistochemistry of ovarian cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and NSCLC tumor sections from animals treated with TTFields. Next, TTFields concomitant with alpelisib, an isoform specific PI3K inhibitor, was evaluated both in vitro and in an in-vivo model of ovarian cancer.

Results: TTFields inflicted a continuous cytotoxic effect on the different cancer cells albeit sensitivity to treatment was reduced following prolonged duration of application. Luminex analysis revealed activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in treated cells, and kinetics experiments showed that amplitude of AKT signaling increased over time, with significant increases in phosphorylation levels of AKT and focal adhesion kinase (FAK). AKT phosphorylation was also demonstrated in tumor sections of animals treated with TTFields. Experiments performed with concomitant alpelisib sensitized the cells to TTFields and enhanced cytotoxicity in vitro and treatment efficacy in vivo.

Conclusions: The current study demonstrates that the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway is involved in reduced cancer cell sensitivity to TTFields, and that PI3K inhibition can further sensitize cancer cells to TTFields.

Citation Format: Anat Klein-Goldberg, Tali Voloshin, Efrat Zemer-Tov, Rom Paz, Lilach Koren, Kerem Wainer-Katsir, Alexandra Volodin, Bella Koltun, Boris Brant, Yiftah Barsheshet, Tal Kan, Cfir David, Tharwat Haj Khalil, Adi Haber, Moshe Giladi, Uri Weinberg, Yoram Palti. PI3K inhibition sensitize cancer cells to tumor treating fields (TTFields). [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 4860.
Abstract 4873: Pimavanserin suppresses glioblastoma progression by modulating the Akt/FOXO/Bim signaling axis
Authors: Agrawal Manas Yogendra , Ramachandran Sharavan , Zabel Carson , Srivastava Sanjay K.
Published: April 2023

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly aggressive grade IV malignant brain tumor with an average survival time of around 15 months; and a 5-year survival rate of 5%. Drug resistance, blood brain barrier (BBB) impermeability, and drug toxicity are some caveats in treating this malignancy. Current chemotherapeutic agents fail to address these challenges. In this study, we aim to repurpose an FDA-approved anti-psychotic agent Pimavanserin Tartrate (PVT), for the treatment of GBM and further delineate its mechanism. To unravel the oncolytic effects of PVT, cytotoxicity assay on several human (SF268, SF188, SF295, U251) and murine (CT2A-Luc) GBM cell lines was performed. Our results demonstrate that PVT inhibited the growth of various GBM cells with IC50 ranging 5 to 8 µM, contrary to Temozolomide (TMZ), a standard care therapy which has an IC50 ranging 600 to 1,300 µM after 48- and 72-hours of treatment. Moreover, PVT treatment enhanced the activity of TMZ when given in combination. Pro-apoptotic proteins such as cleaved caspase-3 and Bax were upregulated by PVT treatment as evaluated confirming apoptosis to be the mode of cell death. The apoptotic cell population increased in a dose-dependent fashion, for example, 10µM PVT exhibited 70% increase in apoptosis as observed in the annexin assay. PVT treatment suppressed the phosphorylation of PI3K and Akt, and increased the expression of FOXO proteins, which are the negative downstream regulators of Akt. FOXO proteins translocate to the nucleus leading to the enhanced transcription of Bim, a pro-apoptotic protein resulting in apoptosis. Oral administration of 10mg/kg PVT significantly suppressed the growth of intracranially implanted GBM tumors without any other organ toxicity. Our observations provide a robust foundation for PVT’s anti-cancer efficacy against GBM by modulating Akt/FOXO/Bim pathway.

Citation Format: Manas Yogendra Agrawal, Sharavan Ramachandran, Carson Zabel, Sanjay K. Srivastava. Pimavanserin suppresses glioblastoma progression by modulating the Akt/FOXO/Bim signaling axis. [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 4873.
Abstract 490: Discovery of novel, potent and orally available MAT2A inhibitors
Authors: Chen Xuxing , Li Jing , Chen Yanhong
Published: April 2023

The methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) gene is co-deleted with CDKN2A in approximately 15% of all cancers, but targeting a loss of function mutant is not trivial due to the lack of a target protein. The metabolic enzyme methionine adenosyltransferase 2A (MAT2A) was identified as a synthetic lethal target in MTAP-deleted cancers. We describe here potent and orally bioavailable MAT2A inhibitors (“Euregen MAT2Ais”) with superior potency and selectivity compared to AG-270. Euregen MAT2Ais bind at the interface of two MAT2A subunits and exhibit low nanomolar IC50s in biochemical assay. These compounds demonstrated more than 20-fold selective for MTAP−/− cell lines over isogenic MTAP WT. Oral administration of Euregen MAT2Ais drived dose-dependent antitumor activity without meaningful body weight loss in HCT116 MTAP−/− xenograft model. Furthermore, Euregen MAT2Ais revealed excellent oral bioavailability and PK properties in pre-clinical species. We are optimizing multiple MAT2A inhibitors that exhibit activity across a wide range of cancers with MTAP-deletion.

Citation Format: Xuxing Chen, Jing Li, Yanhong Chen. Discovery of novel, potent and orally available MAT2A inhibitors [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 490.
Abstract 4904: Glutamine antagonist DRP-104 enhances anti-tumor responses in KEAP1 mutant lung cancer
Authors: Pillai Ray , LeBoeuf Sarah , Rashidfarrokhi Ali , Huang Shih Ming , Karakousi Triantafyllia , Zavitsanou Anastasia-Maria , Wu Warren , Sayin Volkan , Wild Robert , Koralov Sergei , Papagiannakopoulos Thales
Published: April 2023

KEAP1 is mutated in approximately 20% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and is associated with poor response rates to checkpoint blockade. Given the therapeutic challenge presented by KEAP1 mutant tumors and the great potential held by immunotherapeutic approaches, there is an urgent need to identify the mechanisms that mediate immune evasion in patients with KEAP1 mutant lung adenocarcinoma.

We previously demonstrated that metabolic rewiring in KEAP1 mutant tumors leads to increased dependency on glutamine as a substrate for multiple anabolic pathways. DRP-104 (Sirpiglenastat) is a novel glutamine antagonist which inhibits all glutamine consuming reactions. Using pre-clinical mouse models and patient derived xenograft models we demonstrate that DRP-104 robustly impairs the growth of KEAP1 mutant tumors. Furthermore, using an immunocompetent orthotopic lung adenocarcinoma mouse model we find that treatment with DRP-104 increases survival of Keap1 mutant tumor bearing mice treated with anti-PD1 therapy.

We have dissected the mechanism by which DRP-104 impacts KEAP1 mutant tumors and the surrounding immune microenvironment. Notably, DRP-104 impairs nucleotide synthesis in KEAP1 mutant tumors and thereby inhibits cancer cell growth. In addition, DRP-104 reduces exhausted T cell and T regulatory populations within the tumor microenvironment as well as increases effector T cell function. Overall, we find that DRP-104 impairs the growth of KEAP1 mutant tumors through both targeting of tumor intrinsic metabolic vulnerabilities and through tumor extrinsic immunostimulatory mechanisms such as promoting the expansion of functional anti-tumor T cell populations. This data provides additional rationale for the ongoing phase I/II clinical trial (NCT04471415) using DRP-104 in NSCLC with mutations in KEAP1 as well as for combining DRP-104 with checkpoint blockade.

Citation Format: Ray Pillai, Sarah LeBoeuf, Ali Rashidfarrokhi, Shih Ming Huang, Triantafyllia Karakousi, Anastasia-Maria Zavitsanou, Warren Wu, Volkan Sayin, Robert Wild, Sergei Koralov, Thales Papagiannakopoulos. Glutamine antagonist DRP-104 enhances anti-tumor responses in KEAP1 mutant lung cancer. [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 4904.
Abstract 491: Tankyrase-selective inhibitor STP1002 reverses resistance to MEK inhibitors in colorectal cancer with KRAS mutations
Authors: Kwon Young-Ju , Kim Dong Young , Kim Uk-Il , Meng Xue , Lee Ho Kyun , Bang Hyung Tae , Kim Jae-Sung , Kim Kyungjin
Published: April 2023

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibitors have shown promising results in KRAS-mutated cancers with constitutive activation of the RAS/RAF/MEK pathway. However, the intrinsic and acquired resistance to MEK inhibitors is frequently observed in clinical trials. Wnt/β-catenin signaling hyper-activation is reported to be responsible for such resistance in colorectal cancer (CRC). Herein, we introduce a novel tankyrase inhibitor STP1002 to revert the intrinsic and acquired resistance to MEK inhibitors in KRAS-mutated CRC. Dual combination of STP1002 and MEK inhibitor synergistically reduced the oncogenic activity of KRAS (G12V or G12D)-mutated CRC cell lines. Data also showed that concomitant treatment with STP1002 and MEK inhibitor dramatically inhibited tumor growth of KRAS (G12V)-mutated CRC xenograft animal models. Moreover, the combination treatment sensitized the acquired MEK inhibitor-resistant CRC cells and suppressed the Wnt/YAP pathway which is the bypass mechanism of MEK inhibitor resistance. Dual combination of STP1002 and MEK inhibitor is a promising candidate to overcome resistance to MEK inhibitors in colorectal cancer with KRAS-G12V/G12D mutations. The phase 1 clinical trial study is ongoing in order to show safety margin.

Citation Format: Young-Ju Kwon, Dong Young Kim, Uk-Il Kim, Xue Meng, Ho Kyun Lee, Hyung Tae Bang, Jae-Sung Kim, Kyungjin Kim. Tankyrase-selective inhibitor STP1002 reverses resistance to MEK inhibitors in colorectal cancer with KRAS mutations [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 491.
Abstract 4915: Sensitivity to NAMPT inhibition: In vitro and in vivo characterization in ovarian cancer
Authors: Hong Jenny J. , McDermott Martina S. , O'Brien Neil A. , Guandique Enrique , Luo Tong , Slamon Dennis J.
Published: April 2023

Previous in vitro work on determining the unique sensitivities of various cancers to nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase inhibitors (NAMPTis) has demonstrated promising effects of treating cancer cells with NAMPTis such as FK866 and KPT9274. These inhibitors act by disrupting cellular energy metabolism and reducing intracellular NAD+ levels. NAMPT inhibition thereby suppresses the proliferation of cancer cells which depend more heavily on the NAMPT enzyme to produce NAD+ than noncancerous cells. Using pan-cancer in vitro screens in a large panel of molecularly characterized cell lines (n = 496) we identified a subset of ovarian cancer, a cancer with a high unmet need due to lack of diverse targeted therapies, as being extremely sensitive to NAMPT inhibition. Subsequent in vivo work using CD-1 nude mice demonstrate that NAMPT inhibitors can successfully reduce the ovarian tumor burden and may be an effective treatment option of some ovarian cancers.

Moreover, NAD+’s function as a substrate to the poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) enzyme makes NAMPTis rational candidates for including in combination therapies with PARP inhibitors, several of which are approved for maintenance therapy for ovarian cancer. By using NAMPTis to disrupt the cellular metabolic process while simultaneously inhibiting PARP activity, an essential DNA damage repair enzyme, it is possible to exploit the dependence of ovarian cancer cells on functional PARP activity. This is particularly important in homologous recombination deficient subtypes. In addition to a synergistic growth inhibitory response in ovarian cancer cells, preclinical combination studies of NAMPTis with olaparib, an approved PARP inhibitor, exhibited higher levels of DNA damage accumulation than with single drug treatments. Our in vitro and in vivo characterizations of NAMPT inhibition suggest that NAMPTis as either single agents or in combination treatments with PARP inhibitors should be investigated further as potential treatment options for ovarian cancer patient populations.

Citation Format: Jenny J. Hong, Martina S. McDermott, Neil A. O'Brien, Enrique Guandique, Tong Luo, Dennis J. Slamon. Sensitivity to NAMPT inhibition: In vitro and in vivo characterization in ovarian cancer. [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 4915.
Abstract 4925: Cannabidiol and Cannabis Sativa as a potential treatment in vitro prostate cancer cells silenced with RBBp6 and PC3 xenograft
Authors: Motadi Lesetja Raymond , Jantjies Zodwa E.
Published: April 2023

Background: Prostate cancer is the second most frequently occurring carcinoma in males worldwide and one of the leading causes of death in men around the world. Recent studies estimate that over 1.4 million males are diagnosed with prostate cancer on an annual basis, with approximately 375 000 succumbing to the disease annually. With current treatments continuing to show severe side effects, there is a need for new treatments. In this study we looked at the effect of cannabis sativa extract, cannabidiol and cisplatin on prostate cancer cells, PC3.

Methods: In addressing the above questions, we employed the MTT assay to measure the antiproliferative effect on PC3 cells following treatment with varying concentrations of Cannabis sativa extract, cisplatin and cannabidiol. xCELLigence was also used to confirm the IC50 activity in which cells were grown in a 16 well plate coated with gold and monitor cell attachment. Caspase 3/7 activity was also measured using 96 well-plate following treatment. Western-blot and qRT-PCR was also used to measure the gene expression of tumor suppressor genes, p53, Bax and Bcl2. Animal studies were employed to measure the growth of PC3-mouse derived cancer to evaluate the effect of compounds in vivo.

Results: From the treatment with varying concentrations of Cannabis sativa extract, cannabidiol and cisplatin, we have observed that the three compounds induced antiproliferation of PC3 cancer cell lines through the activation of caspase 3/7 activity. We also observed induction of apoptosis in these cells following silencing of retinoblastoma binding protein 6 (RBBP6), with upregulation of p53 and bax mRNA expression, and a reduction in Bcl2 gene expression. The growth of tumors in the mouse models were reduced following treatment with cisplatin and cannabidiol.

Conclusion: We demonstrated that cannabidiol is a viable therapy to treat prostate cancer cells, in combination with silencing of RBBP6. This suggests that cannabidiol rather Cannabis sativa extract may play an important role in reducing cancer progression.

Citation Format: Lesetja Raymond Motadi, Zodwa E. Jantjies. Cannabidiol and Cannabis Sativa as a potential treatment in vitro prostate cancer cells silenced with RBBp6 and PC3 xenograft. [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 4925.
Abstract 4940: Proteasome and survivin inhibitors synergize to inhibit the growth of oral cancer organoids
Authors: Furqan Muhammad , Aleem Iffat , Tahseen Muhammad , Hussain Raza , Loya Asif , Mahmood Muhammad Tariq , Gautier Philippe , Myant Kevin , Saleem Saira , Faisal Amir
Published: April 2023

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most prevalent subtype of head and neck cancers that has a disproportionately high incidence and mortality in developing countries in South-Central Asia, including Pakistan. The standard treatment for OSCC generally consists of surgery combined with radiotherapy or chemotherapy; however, the overall survival rates have not improved, and only ~50% of patients survive the disease. Therefore, identifying and validating new drug targets can provide new therapeutic options for improved treatment and better prognosis for OSCC patients. The present study aimed to develop an organoid model from patient-isolated primary tumour cells and determine their drug sensitivity profile coupled with mutational analysis. New combinations of targeted drugs with synergistic activity in oral cancer cells were identified through high-throughput screening followed by validation of their activity in oral cancer cells in 2D monolayer and 3D organoid cultures. Results indicate a synergistic activity of proteasome (PR-171) and survivin (YM155) inhibitors in all tested patient-derived tumour cells and four oral cancer cell lines. Moreover, chitosan-based nanocapsules harboring these drugs showed therapeutic efficacy comparable to free drug combinations, indicating a potential for efficient and targeted delivery. Next-generation sequencing data identified missense mutations in eleven cancer-related genes that encode BRAF, EGFR, KRAS, NRAS, HRAS, MEK1, PIK3CA, PTEN, NOTCH1, TP53 and TERT. The ongoing research aims to correlate the drug sensitivity data with the mutational profile of patient-derived tumour cells to find novel targets. In conclusion, we have developed 3D organoids from patient-derived primary tumours and utilized them to validate the synergistic combination between screen-identified proteasome and survivin inhibitors. Our preclinical study provides a rationale for further evaluation of the novel drug combination in vivo and in clinical settings.

Citation Format: Muhammad Furqan, Iffat Aleem, Muhammad Tahseen, Raza Hussain, Asif Loya, Muhammad Tariq Mahmood, Philippe Gautier, Kevin Myant, Saira Saleem, Amir Faisal. Proteasome and survivin inhibitors synergize to inhibit the growth of oral cancer organoids. [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 4940.