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Persister state-directed transitioning and vulnerability in melanoma

ABSTRACT: Phenotypic heterogeneity and plasticity represent major drivers of tumor relapse in melanoma. Expression of the H3K4 demethylase and pRB-binding protein JARID1B/KDM5B follows a dynamic continuum across melanoma cells. Highly JARID1B-expressing cells are enriched after short-term drug treatment. However, under persistent drug-exposure, JARID1B heterogeneity is reconstituted. Using a doxycycline-titratable system and a novel chemical enhancer of JARID1B-expression, we found that JARID1Bhigh cells are transiently 'pseudo-differentiated'. Melanoma cells use this JARID1Bhigh growth-arrested state to survive drugs, but must decrease JARID1B expression again to re-enter cell cycling for long-term tumor repopulation. Overcoming the reversion to phenotypic heterogeneity by exogenous homogenization of the JARID1Bhigh phenotype causes tumor growth arrest, also in MAPKi-resistant melanoma. Mechanistically, JARID1B represents an integral checkpoint for coordinating cell differentiation via transcriptional control, stabilization of hypophosphorylated pRB, and attenuation of cytokinetic abscission. Thus, the plasticity among tumor differentiation states per se represents a novel therapeutic target, which can be chemically overcome.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE138068 | GEO | 2022/03/14

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Summary: Melanoma spheroids grown under neural crest cell conditions are highly plastic migratory/invasive tumor cells endowed with immunomodulator function Background: The aggressiveness of melanoma tumors is likely to rely on their well-recognized heterogeneity and plasticity. Melanoma comprises multi subpopulations of cancer cells some of which may possess stem cell-like properties supporting the notion of plasticity. Although useful for certain tumors, the use of the sphere-formation assay to identify stem cell-like or tumor initiating cells subpopulations in human melanoma has been recently challenged. Our study reveals that this assay predicts a functional phenotype associated with aggressive behavior of tumor cells. Methodology/Principal Findings: We analyzed the molecular and functional phenotypes of melanoma spheroids formed in neural crest cell medium. Whether from metastatic (SLM8) or advanced primary (Mela1) tumors, spheroid cells expressed melanoma-associated markers. They displayed higher capacity to differentiate along mesenchymal lineages, and showed enhanced expression of SOX2, NANOG, KLF4, and/or OCT4 transcription factors, but not extensive self-renewal or enhanced tumorigenicity when compared to their adherent counterparts. To determine whether melanoma spheroids in our model could predict a molecular or functional phenotype, we performed gene expression profiling experiments using Affymetrix microarrays. Gene expression profiling attributed a neural crest cell signature to these spheroids and indicated that a migratory/invasive and immune-function modulating program could be associated with these cells. In vitro assays confirmed that these spheroids are endowed with enhanced migratory/invasive capacities. In immune activation assays, spheroid cells elicited a poorer allogenic response from immune cells and inhibited mitogen-dependent T cells activation and proliferation more efficiently than their adherent counterparts. Thus, our findings reveal novel immune-modulator function of melanoma spheroid cells and suggest specific roles for these spheroids in invasion and in evasion of antitumor immunity. Conclusion/Significance: The association of a more plastic, invasive and evasive, thus a more aggressive tumor phenotype with melanoma spheroid cells reveals a previously unrecognized aspect of tumor cells expanded as spheroid cultures. While of limited efficiency for melanoma initiating cell identification, our melanoma spheroid model predicted aggressive phenotype and could therefore, be constructive to investigate melanoma aggressiveness, relevant to patients and clinical transferability. 12 Total samples were analyzed: SLM8 adherent (SLMA) and spheroids (SLMS) cells, and Mela1 adherent (MelaA) and spheroid (MelaS) cells, all performed in triplicates. Paired statistical analyses were performed using Student's paired t-test on the gene signal intensities (gene level) and results were considered statistically significant at p-values <=0.05 and fold-change >=1.5.

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Persister state-directed transitioning and vulnerability in melanoma

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