PDX bank from urothelial cancer to guide precision medicine.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: We developed preclinical PDX models, recapitulating the molecular heterogeneity of MIBCs and UTUC, which will represent an essential tool in therapy development. Pharmacological characterization of the PDXs suggested that upper urinary tract and bladder cancers (UCC/ SCC) with similar molecular characteristics could benefit from the same treatments, and showed a benefit for combined FGFR/EGFR inhibition in FGFR3-mutant PDXs, compared to FGFR inhibition alone.
Project description:Urothelial cell carcinoma of the bladder (UCC) is a common disease characterized by FGFR3 mutation. Whilst upregulation of this oncogene occurs most frequently in low-grade non-invasive tumors, recent data reveal increased FGFR3 expression characterizes a common sub-type of invasive UCC sharing genetic similarities with lobular breast cancer. These similarities include upregulation of the FOXA1 transcription factor and reduced expression of microRNAs-99a/100. We have previously identified direct regulation of FGFR3 by these two microRNAs and now search for further targets. Using a microarray meta-database we find potential FOXA1 regulation by microRNAs-99a/100. We confirm direct targeting of the FOXA1 3âUTR by microRNAs-99a/100 and also potential indirect regulation through microRNA-485-5p/SOX5/JUN-D/FOXL1 and microRNA-486/FOXO1a. In 292 benign and malignant urothelial samples, we find an inverse correlation between the expression of FOXA1 and microRNAs-99a/100 (r=-0.33 to -0.43, p<0.05). As for FGFR3 in UCC, tumors with high FOXA1 expression have lower rates of progression than those with low expression (Log rank p=0.009). Using global gene expression and CpG methylation profiling we find genotypic consequences of FOXA1 upregulation in UCC. These are associated with regional hypomethylation and near FOXA1 binding sites, and mirror patterns previously reported in FGFR3 mutant UCC. These include gene silencing through aberrant hypermethylation (e.g. IGFBP3) and affect genes that characterize lobular breast cancer (e.g. ERBB2, XBP1). In conclusion, we have identified microRNAs-99a/100 mediate a direct relationship between FGFR3 and FOXA1, and potentially facilitate cross talk between these pathways in UCC. Gene expression profiling of EJ Bladder cancer cells transfected with FOXA1 construct or with empty pUC19 vector.
Project description:Urothelial cell carcinoma of the bladder (UCC) is a common disease characterized by FGFR3 mutation. Whilst upregulation of this oncogene occurs most frequently in low-grade non-invasive tumors, recent data reveal increased FGFR3 expression characterizes a common sub-type of invasive UCC sharing genetic similarities with lobular breast cancer. These similarities include upregulation of the FOXA1 transcription factor and reduced expression of microRNAs-99a/100. We have previously identified direct regulation of FGFR3 by these two microRNAs and now search for further targets. Using a microarray meta-database we find potential FOXA1 regulation by microRNAs-99a/100. We confirm direct targeting of the FOXA1 3’UTR by microRNAs-99a/100 and also potential indirect regulation through microRNA-485-5p/SOX5/JUN-D/FOXL1 and microRNA-486/FOXO1a. In 292 benign and malignant urothelial samples, we find an inverse correlation between the expression of FOXA1 and microRNAs-99a/100 (r=-0.33 to -0.43, p<0.05). As for FGFR3 in UCC, tumors with high FOXA1 expression have lower rates of progression than those with low expression (Log rank p=0.009). Using global gene expression and CpG methylation profiling we find genotypic consequences of FOXA1 upregulation in UCC. These are associated with regional hypomethylation and near FOXA1 binding sites, and mirror patterns previously reported in FGFR3 mutant UCC. These include gene silencing through aberrant hypermethylation (e.g. IGFBP3) and affect genes that characterize lobular breast cancer (e.g. ERBB2, XBP1). In conclusion, we have identified microRNAs-99a/100 mediate a direct relationship between FGFR3 and FOXA1, and potentially facilitate cross talk between these pathways in UCC.
Project description:Treatment paradigms for patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) are typically extrapolated from studies of bladder cancer despite their distinct clinical and molecular characteristics. A major hurdle to the advancement of UTUC research is the lack of disease-specific models. Here, we report the establishment of patient derived xenograft (PDX) and cell lines models that reflect the heterogeneity of the human disease. Models demonstrated high genomic concordance with the tumors from which they were derived with muscle-invasive tumors more likely to successfully engraft. Treatment of PDX with chemotherapy recapitulated responses observed in the patients. Analysis of a S310F HER2 mutant PDX suggested that an antibody drug conjugate targeting HER2 would have superior efficacy to HER2-selective kinase inhibitors. In sum, the biologic and phenotypic concordance between patient and PDXs suggests that these models could facilitate studies of intrinsic and acquired resistance and the development of personalized medicine strategies for UTUC patients.
Project description:Analyses of large transcriptomics datasets of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) has led to a consensus classification. Molecular subtypes of upper tract urothelial carcinomas (UTUC) are less known. Our objective was to determine the relevance of consensus classification in UTUCs by characterizing a novel cohort of surgically treated ≥pT1 tumors.Subtype IHC markers GATA3-CK5/6-TUBB2B in multiplex, CK20, p16 and Ki67, MMR proteins, PD-L1 IHC were evaluated. Heterogeneity was assessed morphologically and/or with subtype IHC. FGFR3 mutations were identified by pyrosequencing. We performed 3’RNA-seq, including with multisampling in heterogeneous cases. Consensus classes, unsupervised groups, and microenvironment cell abundance were determined using gene expression.Most of the 66 patients were men (77.3%), with pT1 (n=23, 34.8%) or pT2-4 stage UTUC (n=43, 65.2%). FGFR3 mutations and dMMR status were identified in 40% and 4.7% of cases, respectively. Consensus subtypes robustly classified UTUCs and reflected intrinsic subgroups. All pT1 tumors were classified as Luminal papillary (LumP). Combining our consensus classification results to that of previously published UTUC cohorts, LumP tumors represented 57.2% of ≥pT2 UTUC, which was significantly higher than in MIBC. Ten patients (15.2%) harbored areas of distinct subtypes. Consensus classes were associated with FGFR3 mutations, stage, morphology and IHC. The majority of LumP tumors were characterized by low immune infiltration and PD-L1 expression, in particular if FGFR3 mutated.
Project description:Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) is altered in up to 50% of urothelial cancers (UC), yet its functional impact is not fully understood. We generated a Cre-inducible FGFR3 S249C allele (LSL-FGFR3 S249C) to understand the functional impact of FGFR3 activation on UC biology, the immune microenvironment, and how FGFR inhibition combines with PD1 immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI). Uroplakin3a (Upk3a) driven expression of Trp53 R270H and FGFR3 S249C (UPFL) promoted tumor formation.
Project description:We first verified that erdafitinib is synergistic with quisinostat in vitro and confirmed that the combinational treatment can significantly enhance the inhibition of tumor growth and prolong the survival in vivo for bladder cancers with FGFR3 fusions. Next, in order to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of this synergy, we performed RNA-seq analysis. We revealed that quisinostat can concomitantly inhibit FGFR signaling with erdafitinib by suppressing the translation of FGFR3 fusions. In addition, quisinostat can also sensitize bladder cancer cells to erdafitinib by downregulating HDGF, which is a second mechanism of the synergy independent of FGFR signaling.
Project description:Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) can act as driving oncoproteins in certain cancers due to mutation, over-expression or activating gene fusions and are therefore attractive drug targets. Here we have characterized tumour cell responses to three new inhibitors of FGFR1-3, AZ12576089, AZ12908010 and the clinical candidate AZD4547, making comparisons with the well-characterized FGFR inhibitor PD173074. Using a panel of 16 human tumour cell lines we show that the anti-proliferative activity of AZ12908010 and AZD4547 is strongly linked to the presence of de-regulated FGFR signalling. In contrast, AZ12576089 was also able to inhibit proliferation of cells lacking de-regulated FGFR, suggesting off-target effects. Acquired resistance to targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is a growing problem in the clinic. To assess how FGFR-dependent tumour cells may adapt to long-term exposure to FGFR inhibitors we generated a derivative of the KMS-11 myeloma cell line (FGFRY373C) with acquired resistance to AZ12908010 (KMS-11R cells). Basal P-FGFR3, P-FRS2 and P-ERK1/2 and D-type cyclins were all inhibited by AZ12908010 in parental KMS-11 cells whereas these markers were constitutively elevated and refractory to drug in KMS-11R cells. Sequencing of FGFR3 in KMS-11R cells revealed the presence of a heterozygous mutation at the gatekeeper residue, encoding FGFR3V555M. Consistent with this KMS-11R cells were cross-resistant to AZD4547 and PD173074 but remained fully sensitive to AZ12576089, confirming that the anti-proliferative effects of AZ12576089 are not related to FGFR inhibition. These results define the selectivity and efficacy of two new FGFR inhibitors and identify a secondary gatekeeper mutation as a mechanism of acquired resistance to FGFR inhibitors that should be anticipated as clinical evaluation proceeds.
Project description:<p>In this study, patients with advanced cancer across all histologies were enrolled in our IRB approved clinical sequencing program, called MI-ONCOSEQ, to go through an integrative sequencing which includes whole exome sequencing of the tumor and matched normal, and transcriptome sequencing. Four index cases were identified which harbor gene rearrangements of FGFR2 including two cholangiocarcinoma cases, a metastatic breast cancer case, and a metastatic prostate cancer case. After extending our assessment of FGFR rearrangements across multiple tumor cohorts, including TCGA, we identified FGFR gene fusions with intact kinase domains of FGFR1, FGFR2, or FGFR3 in cholangiocarcinoma, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung squamous cell cancer, bladder cancer, thyroid cancer, oral cancer, glioblastoma, and head and neck squamous cell cancer. All FGFR fusion partners tested exhibit oligomerization capability, suggesting a shared mode of kinase activation. Overexpression of FGFR fusion proteins in vitro induced cell proliferation, and bladder cancer cell lines that harbors FGFR3 fusion proteins exhibited enhanced susceptibility to pharmacologic inhibition in vitro and in vivo. Due to the combinatorial possibilities of FGFR family fusion to a variety of oligomerization partners, clinical sequencing efforts which incorporate transcriptome analysis for gene fusions are poised to identify rare, targetable FGFR fusions across diverse cancer types.</p>
Project description:Researchers collect specimens from advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer (CRC) patients to conduct molecular profiling and establish tumor organoids (PDOs)/ patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). The aim of this study is to identify clinical actionable targets and predict in vivo response of the tumor to targeted drugs by using PDOs/ PDXs. And the above-mentioned studies will provide the patients with potential personalized cancer treatment options.