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Functional genomics identifies therapeutic targets for MYC-driven cancer.

ABSTRACT: MYC oncogene family members are broadly implicated in human cancers, yet are considered "undruggable" as they encode transcription factors. MYC also carries out essential functions in proliferative tissues, suggesting that its inhibition could cause severe side effects. We elected to identify synthetic lethal interactions with c-MYC overexpression (MYC-SL) in a collection of ~3,300 druggable genes, using high-throughput siRNA screening. Of 49 genes selected for follow-up, 48 were confirmed by independent retesting and approximately one-third selectively induced accumulation of DNA damage, consistent with enrichment in DNA-repair genes by functional annotation. In addition, genes involved in histone acetylation and transcriptional elongation, such as TRRAP and BRD4, were identified, indicating that the screen revealed known MYC-associated pathways. For in vivo validation we selected CSNK1e, a kinase whose expression correlated with MYCN amplification in neuroblastoma (an established MYC-driven cancer). Using RNAi and available small-molecule inhibitors, we confirmed that inhibition of CSNK1e halted growth of MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma xenografts. CSNK1e had previously been implicated in the regulation of developmental pathways and circadian rhythms, whereas our data provide a previously unknown link with oncogenic MYC. Furthermore, expression of CSNK1e correlated with c-MYC and its transcriptional signature in other human cancers, indicating potential broad therapeutic implications of targeting CSNK1e function. In summary, through a functional genomics approach, pathways essential in the context of oncogenic MYC but not to normal cells were identified, thus revealing a rich therapeutic space linked to a previously "undruggable" oncogene.

SUBMITTER: Toyoshima M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3386069 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Functional genomics identifies therapeutic targets for MYC-driven cancer.

Toyoshima Masafumi M Howie Heather L HL Imakura Maki M Walsh Ryan M RM Annis James E JE Chang Aaron N AN Frazier Jason J Chau B Nelson BN Loboda Andrey A Linsley Peter S PS Cleary Michele A MA Park Julie R JR Grandori Carla C

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20120523 24

MYC oncogene family members are broadly implicated in human cancers, yet are considered "undruggable" as they encode transcription factors. MYC also carries out essential functions in proliferative tissues, suggesting that its inhibition could cause severe side effects. We elected to identify synthetic lethal interactions with c-MYC overexpression (MYC-SL) in a collection of ~3,300 druggable genes, using high-throughput siRNA screening. Of 49 genes selected for follow-up, 48 were confirmed by in ...[more]

PMID: 22623531

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Project description:Burkitt lymphoma (BL) can often be cured by intensive chemotherapy, but the toxicity of such therapy precludes its use in the elderly and in patients with endemic BL (eBL) in developing countries, necessitating new strategies. The normal germinal center B cell is the presumed cell of origin for both BL and diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), yet gene expression analysis suggests that these malignancies may utilize different oncogenic pathways. BL is subdivided into a sporadic subtype (sBL) that is diagnosed in developed countries, the EBV-associated eBL subtype, and an HIV-associated subtype (hivBL), but it is unclear whether these subtypes employ similar or divergent oncogenic mechanisms. Here we used high throughput RNA sequencing and RNA interference screening to discover essential regulatory pathways that cooperate with MYC, the defining oncogene of this cancer. In 70% of sBL cases, mutations affecting the transcription factor TCF3 (E2A) or its negative regulator ID3 fostered TCF3 dependency. TCF3 activated the pro-survival PI(3) kinase pathway in BL, in part by augmenting tonic B cell receptor signaling. In 38% of sBL cases, oncogenic CCND3 mutations produced highly stable cyclin D3 isoforms that drive cell cycle progression. These findings suggest opportunities to improve therapy for patients with BL. Gene expression was analyzed using Agilent human 4X44K oligo gene expression arrays. Cell lines (Namalwa, BL41, Daudi, Defauw, and THOMAS) were infected with control (empty vector, Cy3) paired with ID3 (Cy5) or control (shControl, Cy3) paired with shTCF3 (Cy5) constructs, and changes in gene expression were monitored over time after induction of the constructs with doxycyclin. In Namalwa (n=8) and THOMAS (n=4) cell lines, a four timepoint series (24, 48, 72, 96 hours) of construct induction was analyzed, for a total of 12 arrays. In BL41 (n=4), Daudi (n=4) and Defauw (n=4) cell lines, a two timepoint series (24 and 48 hours) of construct induction was analyzed, for a total of 12 arrays. In addition, two cell lines (Daudi and THOMAS) were treated with Rapamycin (100 pM) and paired with a DMSO control in a four timepoint series (3, 6, 12 and 24 hours) for a total of 8 arrays.

Project description:Purpose: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide, with high mortality and a lack of targeted therapies. To identify and prioritize druggable targets, we performed genome analysis together with genome-scale siRNA and oncology drug profiling using low-passage tumor cells derived from a patient with treatment-resistant HPV-negative HNSCC.Experimental Design: A tumor cell culture was established and subjected to whole-exome sequencing, RNA sequencing, comparative genome hybridization, and high-throughput phenotyping with a siRNA library covering the druggable genome and an oncology drug library. Secondary screens of candidate target genes were performed on the primary tumor cells and two nontumorigenic keratinocyte cell cultures for validation and to assess cancer specificity. siRNA screens of the kinome on two isogenic pairs of p53-mutated HNSCC cell lines were used to determine generalizability. Clinical utility was addressed by performing drug screens on two additional HNSCC cell cultures derived from patients enrolled in a clinical trial.Results: Many of the identified copy number aberrations and somatic mutations in the primary tumor were typical of HPV(-) HNSCC, but none pointed to obvious therapeutic choices. In contrast, siRNA profiling identified 391 candidate target genes, 35 of which were preferentially lethal to cancer cells, most of which were not genomically altered. Chemotherapies and targeted agents with strong tumor-specific activities corroborated the siRNA profiling results and included drugs that targeted the mitotic spindle, the proteasome, and G2-M kinases WEE1 and CHK1 We also show the feasibility of ex vivo drug profiling for patients enrolled in a clinical trial.Conclusions: High-throughput phenotyping with siRNA and drug libraries using patient-derived tumor cells prioritizes mutated driver genes and identifies novel drug targets not revealed by genomic profiling. Functional profiling is a promising adjunct to DNA sequencing for precision oncology. Clin Cancer Res; 24(12); 2828-43. ©2018 AACR.

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Functional genomics identifies therapeutic targets for MYC-driven cancer.

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Functional genomics identifies therapeutic targets for MYC-driven cancer.

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