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A Mesenchymal Tumor Cell State Confers Increased Dependency on the Bcl-xL Anti-apoptotic Protein in Kidney Cancer

ABSTRACT: Genome-wide genetic screens have identified cellular dependencies in many cancers. Using Novartis’ DRIVE and the Broad Institute’s Achilles shRNA screening datasets, we mined for targetable dependencies in kidney lineage cancer cells. Our studies identified a dependency, preferentially in kidney cancer cells versus cells of other lineages, on the BCL2L1 gene, which encodes the Bcl-xL anti-apoptotic protein. Genetic and pharmacological inactivation of Bcl-xL, but not its paralog BCL2, led to fitness defects in renal cancer cells, and also sensitized them to chemotherapeutics. Expression levels of Bcl-xL, VHL status, and p53 mutation status were insufficient to predict Bcl-xL dependence. Instead, analyzing the transcriptional hallmarks of response to Bcl-xL blockade identified an elevated mesenchymal cell state signature in Bcl-xL dependent lines. Functional studies to address if these cell state differences drive Bcl-xL dependence showed that maintaining mesenchymal characteristics was necessary to confer sensitivity to Bcl-xL loss; and, conversely, that promoting mesenchymal transition was sufficient to increase sensitivity to Bcl-xL inhibition in resistant cells. This mesenchymal signature was also observed in almost a third of human renal tumors, and is associated with worse clinical outcomes. Detachment from an organized epithelium incites protective apoptotic responses in normal cells (e.g. anoikis); however, our findings suggest that, in mesenchymal kidney cancer cells Bcl-xL activity counteracts this protective mechanism and enables tumor cell survival. Altogether, our studies uncover an unexpected link between cellular cell state and dependence on anti-apoptotic proteins, and justify the use of Bcl-xL blockade to target a clinically aggressive subset of human kidney cancers.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE173618 | GEO | 2022/06/15

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Radiotherapy has a critical role in the treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Effectiveness of radiation in SCLC remains limited as resistance results from defects in apoptosis. In the current study, we investigated whether using a Bcl-2/Bcl-XL inhibitor S44563 can enhance radiosensitivity of SCLC cells in vitro and in vivo. In vitro studies confirmed that S44563 induce apoptosis in SCLC cells by inducing hallmarks of apoptosis (cleaved caspase-3, sub-G1 fraction induction and induction of the mitochondrial caspase activation pathway). S44563 markedly enhanced sensitivity of H146 cells and H69 cells to radiation in clonogenic assay. In addition, the combination S44563 and cisplatin-based chemo-radiation showed a dramatic tumor growth delay and increased overall survival in mouse xenograft models. In vitro experiments demonstrated a greater induction of apoptosis (sub-G1 fraction and cleaved caspase-3) with the combination as well as in vivo caspase-3 immunostaining. This positive interaction between S44563 and radiation was greater when S44563 was given after the completion of the radiation, which may be explained by the radiation-induced over expression of anti-apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL) through the NF-?B pathway activation. Taken together, these data underline the critical role of sequence administration of targeted therapies with conventional therapies. SCLC cells which survive to IR highly rely on the induction of anti apoptotic proteins in part through NF- ?B activation for their survival yielding to the concept of 'contextual oncogene addiction' to the Bcl-2/Bcl-XL pathway providing rational for targeting survival pathways to potentiate IR. For transcriptome analysis, 106 cells were seeded in T25 flasks, allowed to growth for 24 h, and then left untreated or treated with 2 Gy radiation. After 24 hours, cells were harvested, lysed for the extraction of RNA, and processed to analyze gene expression.The design of this study consists to 6 hybridizations in dual color with Agilent Human Genome 4x44K (design 014850). The reference is always the untreated condition.

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A Mesenchymal Tumor Cell State Confers Increased Dependency on the Bcl-xL Anti-apoptotic Protein in Kidney Cancer

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