Similar Datasets
Project description:CIC-DUX4 sarcoma (CDS) is a rare but highly aggressive undifferentiated small round cell sarcoma driven by a fusion between the tumor suppressor Capicua (CIC) and DUX4. Currently, there are no effective treatments and efforts to identify and translate better therapies is limited by the scarcity of tissues and patients. To minimize, we made three genetically engineered mouse models of CDS (Ch7CDS, Ai9CDS, and TOPCDS). Remarkably, chimeric mice from all three models developed spontaneous tumors and widespread metastasis in the absence of Cre-recombinase. The penetrance of spontaneous (Cre-independent) tumor formation was complete irrespective of bi-allelic CIC function and loxP site proximity. Characterization of primary and metastatic mouse tumors showed that they consistently expressed the CIC-DUX4 fusion protein as well as other downstream markers of the disease authenticating them as CDS. Lastly, tumor-derived cell lines were generated and ChIP-seq was preformed to map fusion-gene specific binding using an N-terminal HA epitope tag. These datasets, along with paired H3K27ac ChIP-seq maps, validate CIC-DUX4 as a neomorphic transcriptional activator and point to ETS family transcription factors as cooperative and redundant drivers of the core regulatory circuitry.
2023-10-19 | GSE241370 | GEO
Project description:CIC-DUX4 sarcoma (CDS) is a rare but highly aggressive undifferentiated small round cell sarcoma driven by a fusion between the tumor suppressor Capicua (CIC) and DUX4. Currently, there are no effective treatments and efforts to identify and translate better therapies is limited by the scarcity of tissues and patients. To minimize, we made three genetically engineered mouse models of CDS (Ch7CDS, Ai9CDS, and TOPCDS). Remarkably, chimeric mice from all three models developed spontaneous tumors and widespread metastasis in the absence of Cre-recombinase. The penetrance of spontaneous (Cre-independent) tumor formation was complete irrespective of bi-allelic CIC function and loxP site proximity. Characterization of primary and metastatic mouse tumors showed that they consistently expressed the CIC-DUX4 fusion protein as well as other downstream markers of the disease authenticating them as CDS. Lastly, tumor-derived cell lines were generated and ChIP-seq was preformed to map fusion-gene specific binding using an N-terminal HA epitope tag. These datasets, along with paired H3K27ac ChIP-seq maps, validate CIC-DUX4 as a neomorphic transcriptional activator and point to ETS family transcription factors as cooperative and redundant drivers of the core regulatory circuitry.
2023-10-19 | GSE241369 | GEO
Project description:Transcription factor fusion genes create oncoproteins that drive oncogenesis and represent challenging therapeutic targets. Understanding the molecular targets by which such fusion oncoproteins promote malignancy offers an approach to develop rational treatment strategies to improve clinical outcomes. Capicua-double homeobox 4 (CIC-DUX4) is a transcription factor fusion oncoprotein that defines certain undifferentiated round cell sarcomas with high metastatic propensity and poor clinical outcomes. The molecular targets regulated by the CIC-DUX4 oncoprotein that promote this aggressive malignancy remain largely unknown. We demonstrated that increased expression of ETS variant 4 (ETV4) and cyclin E1 (CCNE1) occurs via neomorphic, direct effects of CIC-DUX4 and drives tumor metastasis and survival, respectively. We uncovered a molecular dependence on the CCNE-CDK2 cell cycle complex that renders CIC-DUX4-expressing tumors sensitive to inhibition of the CCNE-CDK2 complex, suggesting a therapeutic strategy for CIC-DUX4-expressing tumors. Our findings highlight a paradigm of functional diversification of transcriptional repertoires controlled by a genetically aberrant transcriptional regulator, with therapeutic implications.
| S-EPMC6668665 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Transcription factor fusions (TFFs) are present in ∼30% of soft-tissue sarcomas. TFFs are not readily "druggable" in a direct pharmacologic manner and thus have proven difficult to target in the clinic. A prime example is the CIC-DUX4 oncoprotein, which fuses Capicua (CIC) to the double homeobox 4 gene, DUX4. CIC-DUX4 sarcoma is a highly aggressive and lethal subtype of small round cell sarcoma found predominantly in adolescents and young adults. To identify new therapeutic targets in CIC-DUX4 sarcoma, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analysis using patient-derived CIC-DUX4 cells. We uncovered multiple CIC-DUX4 targets that negatively regulate MAPK-ERK signaling. Mechanistically, CIC-DUX4 transcriptionally up-regulates these negative regulators of MAPK to dampen ERK activity, leading to sustained CIC-DUX4 expression. Genetic and pharmacologic MAPK-ERK activation through DUSP6 inhibition leads to CIC-DUX4 degradation and apoptotic induction. Collectively, we reveal a mechanism-based approach to therapeutically degrade the CIC-DUX4 oncoprotein and provide a precision-based strategy to combat this lethal cancer.
| S-EPMC7456153 | biostudies-literature
Project description:CIC-DUX4 sarcoma (CDS) is a highly aggressive and metastatic small round type of predominantly pediatric sarcoma driven by a fusion oncoprotein comprising the transcriptional repressor Capicua (CIC) fused to the C-terminal transcriptional activation domain of DUX4. CDS rapidly develops resistance to chemotherapy, thus novel specific therapies are greatly needed. We demonstrate that CIC-DUX4 requires P300/CBP to induce histone H3 acetylation, activate its targets, and drive oncogenesis. We describe the synthetic route to a selective and highly potent P300/CBP inhibitor named iP300w and related stereoisomers, and find that iP300w efficiently suppresses CIC-DUX4 transcriptional activity and reverses CIC-DUX4 induced acetylation. iP300w is active at 100-fold lower concentrations than related stereoisomers or A-485. At low doses, iP300w shows specificity to CDS cancer cell lines, rapidly inducing cell cycle arrest and preventing growth of established CDS xenograft tumors when delivered in vivo. The effectiveness of iP300w to inactivate CIC-DUX4 highlights a promising therapeutic opportunity for CDS.
| S-EPMC8511258 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Primitive round- or spindle-cell EWSR1-negative undifferentiated sarcomas harboring CIC-DUX4 gene fusion are the most common form of Ewing-like sarcomas. These tumors primarily occur in peripheral soft tissues, but examples have been described within viscera and the brain. As far as we are aware, CIC-DUX4 positive primary epidural spinal sarcoma has not been reported. Herein, we describe a T5-T6 epidural tumor in a 15-year-old girl in which many neoplastic cells had moderate and focally abundant cytoplasm, including plasmacytoid or rhabdoid cells, rather than the more common Ewing-like morphology described in the majority of such tumors. The diagnosis was confirmed by fluorescent in situ hybridization after the tumor was found to be WT-1 positive, and comprehensive genomic profiling demonstrated breakpoints in exon 20 and exon 1 of the CIC and DUX4 genes, respectively. After treatment with local radiation and systemic chemotherapy, resected recurrent tumor demonstrated more pleomorphic neoplastic cells as well as intracytoplasmic eosinophilic globules and nuclear pseudoinclusions which may reflect therapy-related changes. Unfortunately, there was further progression of tumor including the development of intracranial lesions, and the patient succumbed to her tumor 22 months after the original resection.
| S-EPMC5575979 | biostudies-literature
Project description:CIC-DUX4 sarcoma (CDS) or CIC-rearranged sarcoma is a subcategory of small round cell sarcoma resembling the morphological phenotypes of Ewing sarcoma (ES). However, recent clinicopathologic and molecular genetic analyses indicate that CDS is an independent disease entity from ES. Few ancillary markers have been used in the differential diagnosis of CDS, and additional CDS-specific biomarkers are needed for more definitive classification. Here, we report the generation of an ex vivo mouse model for CDS by transducing embryonic mesenchymal cells (eMC) with human CIC-DUX4 cDNA. Recipient mice transplanted with eMC-expressing CIC-DUX4 rapidly developed an aggressive, undifferentiated sarcoma composed of small round to short spindle cells. Gene-expression profiles of CDS and eMC revealed upregulation of CIC-DUX4 downstream genes such as PEA3 family genes, Ccnd2, Crh, and Zic1 IHC analyses for both mouse and human tumors showed that CCND2 and MUC5AC are reliable biomarkers to distinguish CDS from ES. Gene silencing of CIC-DUX4 as well as Ccnd2, Ret, and Bcl2 effectively inhibited CDS tumor growth in vitro The CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib and the soft tissue sarcoma drug trabectedin also blocked the growth of mouse CDS. In summary, our mouse model provides important biological information about CDS and provides a useful platform to explore biomarkers and therapeutic agents for CDS. Cancer Res; 77(11); 2927-37. ©2017 AACR.
| S-EPMC5488331 | biostudies-literature
Project description:CIC-DUX4 sarcoma (CDS) or CIC-rearranged sarcoma is a subcategory of small round cell sarcoma resembling the morphological phenotypes of Ewing sarcoma (ES). Recent clinicopathologic and molecular genetic analyses indicate that CDS is an independent disease entity from ES. Although a few ancillary markers have been used in the differential diagnosis of CDS, additional CDS-specific biomarkers are needed in challenging diagnosis for a more definitive classification. Here we have generated an ex vivo mouse model for CDS by transducing embryonic mesenchymal cells (eMCs) with human CIC-DUX4 cDNA. The recipient mice transplanted with eMCs expressing CIC-DUX4 rapidly developed an aggressive, undifferentiated sarcoma composed of small round to short spindle cells. Gene expression profiles of CDS and eMCs revealed upregulation of CIC-DUX4 downstream genes such as PEA3 family genes, Ccnd2, Crh and Zic1. Immunohistochemical analyses for both mouse and human tumors showed that CCND2 and MUC5AC are reliable biomarkers to distinguish CDS from ES. Gene silencing of CIC-DUX4 as well as Ccnd2, Ret, and Bcl2, that are upregulated in CDS, effectively inhibited tumor growth in vitro. Palbociclib, a CDK4/6 inhibitor, also showed growth inhibition of mouse CDS cells in vitro, while trabectedin induced tumor suppressive effects both in vitro and in vivo. In summary, the CDS mouse model provides important biological information of CDS and is a useful platform to explore novel biomarkers and therapeutic agents for CDS. We used microarrays to detail the global program of gene expression in mouse CDS.
2017-06-21 | GSE90978 | GEO
Project description:CIC-DUX4 sarcoma (CDS) is a group of rare, mesenchymal, small round cell tumours that harbour the unique CIC-DUX4 translocation, which causes aberrant gene expression. CDS exhibits an aggressive course and poor clinical outcome, thus novel therapeutic approaches are needed for CDS treatment. Although patient-derived cancer models are an essential modality to develop novel therapies, none currently exist for CDS. Thus, the present study successfully established CDS patient-derived xenografts and subsequently generated two CDS cell lines from the grafted tumours. Notably, xenografts were histologically similar to the original patient tumour, and the expression of typical biomarkers was confirmed in the xenografts and cell lines. Moreover, the xenograft tumours and cell lines displayed high Src kinase activities, as assessed by peptide-based tyrosine kinase array. Upon screening 119 FDA-approved anti-cancer drugs, we found that only actinomycine D and doxorubicin were effectively suppress the proliferation among the drugs for standard therapy for Ewing sarcoma. However, we identified molecular targeting reagents, such as bortezomib and crizotinib that markedly suppressed the growth of CDS cells. Our models will be useful modalities to develop novel therapeutic strategies against CDS.
| S-EPMC5498486 | biostudies-literature
Project description:IntroductionCardiac neoplasms are particularly rare in children, and the majority of these tumors are benign. Approximately 10% of cardiac neoplasms are malignant, including soft tissue sarcomas and lymphomas. Cardiac tumors could also be metastases. Primitive EWSR1-negative round or spindle cell undifferentiated sarcoma harboring CIC gene translocation is a highly aggressive malignancy mainly occurring in soft tissues. However, it has not yet been described in the heart.Case presentationWe report a sarcoma that arose from the right ventricle in a 1-year-old girl. Histologically, it was composed of closely arranged small round or oval undifferentiated cells with fibrovascular separation, hyaline degeneration, and geographical necrosis. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells exhibited focal membrane positivity for CD99 and diffuse positivity for WT1 and ETV4. Fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis showed EWSR1-negative but CIC-positive split signals. The breakpoint was also confirmed by whole genome sequencing.ConclusionBased on morphological, immunohistochemical and molecular findings, this cardiac mass was diagnosed as CIC-rearranged sarcoma.
| S-EPMC8666930 | biostudies-literature