CIC-DUX4 chromatin profiling reveals new epigenetic dependencies and actionable therpaeutic targets in CIC-rearranged sarcomas
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PROVIDER: PRJNA1041791 | ENA |
REPOSITORIES: ENA
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Project description:CIC-DUX4-rearranged sarcoma (CDS) is a rare and aggressive soft tissue tumor that occurs most frequently in young adults. The key oncogenic driver of this disease is the expression of the CIC-DUX4 fusion protein as a result of chromosomal rearrangements. CIC-DUX4 displays chromatin binding properties, and is therefore believed to function as an aberrant transcription factor. However, the chromatin remodeling events induced by CIC-DUX4 are not well understood, limiting our ability to identify new mechanism-based therapeutic strategies for these patients. Here we generated a genome wide profile of CIC-DUX4 DNA occupancy and associated chromatin states in human CDS cell models and primary tumors. Combining chromatin profiling, proximity ligation assays, as well as genetic and pharmacological perturbations, we show that CIC-DUX4 operates as a potent transcriptional activator at its binding sites. This property is in contrast with the repressive function of the wild type CIC protein, and is mainly mediated through the direct interaction of CIC-DUX4 with the acetyltransferase p300. In keeping with this, we show p300 to be essential for CDS tumor cell proliferation, and its pharmacological inhibition to significantly impact tumor growth in vitro andin vivo. Taken together, our study elucidates the mechanisms underpinning CIC-DUX4-mediated transcriptional regulation and suggests a potential therapeutic approach for the clinical management of CDS patients.
2024-01-31 | GSE248116 | GEO
Project description:CIC-DUX4-rearranged sarcoma (CDS) is a rare and aggressive soft tissue tumor that occurs most frequently in young adults. The key oncogenic driver of this disease is the expression of the CIC-DUX4 fusion protein as a result of chromosomal rearrangements. CIC-DUX4 displays chromatin binding properties, and is therefore believed to function as an aberrant transcription factor. However, the chromatin remodeling events induced by CIC-DUX4 are not well understood, limiting our ability to identify new mechanism-based therapeutic strategies for these patients. Here we generated a genome wide profile of CIC-DUX4 DNA occupancy and associated chromatin states in human CDS cell models and primary tumors. Combining chromatin profiling, proximity ligation assays, as well as genetic and pharmacological perturbations, we show that CIC-DUX4 operates as a potent transcriptional activator at its binding sites. This property is in contrast with the repressive function of the wild type CIC protein, and is mainly mediated through the direct interaction of CIC-DUX4 with the acetyltransferase p300. In keeping with this, we show p300 to be essential for CDS tumor cell proliferation, and its pharmacological inhibition to significantly impact tumor growth in vitro andin vivo. Taken together, our study elucidates the mechanisms underpinning CIC-DUX4-mediated transcriptional regulation and suggests a potential therapeutic approach for the clinical management of CDS patients.
2024-01-31 | GSE248040 | GEO
Project description:CIC-DUX4 chromatin profiling reveals new epigenetic dependencies and actionable therpaeutic targets in CIC-rearranged sarcomas [RNA-seq]
| PRJNA1041795 | ENA
Project description:CIC-DUX4 chromatin profiling reveals new epigenetic dependencies and actionable therpaeutic targets in CIC-rearranged sarcomas [ChIP-seq]
| PRJNA1041445 | ENA
Project description:Transcription factor (TF) fusion oncoproteins represent cancer specific alterations that arise from chromosomal rearrangements. Through target gene recognition, TF fusions can disseminate transcriptional responses that collectively work to drive tumorigenesis. Thus, identifying the molecular targets that operate as a disease driving network can potentially uncover key actionable dependencies. We have taken this strategy to dissect the underlying biological mechanism by which CIC::DUX4, a fusion oncoprotein associated with dismal outcomes, drives sarcomagenesis. We and others have defined a CIC::DUX4 fusion mediated network that dysregulates cell-cycle and DNA replication checkpoints. Specifically, CIC::DUX4-mediated CCNE1 upregulation compromises the G1/S transition leading to high DNA replication stress and conferring a dependence on the G2/M checkpoint kinase, WEE1. Thus, WEE1 provides a molecular brake to enable effective DNA repair prior to mitotic entry. Importantly, the mechanism by which CIC::DUX4 regulates DNA repair remains unknown. Here we show that the catalytic subunit of DNA polymerase epsilon (POLE) is essential for DNA integrity and cellular division in CIC::DUX4 sarcoma. Mechanistically, POLE loss increases DNA damage and induces p21-mediated cellular senescence to limit CIC:DUX4 mediated tumor growth in vitro and tumor formation in vivo. Altogether, we credential POLE as a CIC::DUX4 target and further characterize a functional network through which CIC::DUX4 operates to drive tumor progression and survival.
2024-10-16 | GSE279467 | GEO
Project description:CIC-DUX4-rearranged sarcoma (CDS) is a rare and aggressive soft tissue tumor that occurs most frequently in young adults. The key oncogenic driver of this disease is the expression of the CIC-DUX4 fusion protein as a result of chromosomal rearrangements. CIC-DUX4 displays chromatin binding properties, and is therefore believed to function as an aberrant transcription factor. However, the chromatin remodeling events induced by CIC-DUX4 are not well understood, limiting our ability to identify new mechanism-based therapeutic strategies for these patients. Here, we generated a genome-wide profile of CIC-DUX4 DNA occupancy and associated chromatin states in human CDS cell models and primary tumors. Combining chromatin profiling, proximity ligation assays, as well as genetic and pharmacological perturbations, we show that CIC-DUX4 operates as a potent transcriptional activator at its binding sites. This property is in contrast with the repressive function of the wild-type CIC protein, and is mainly mediated through the direct interaction of CIC-DUX4 with the acetyltransferase p300. In keeping with this, we show p300 to be essential for CDS tumor cell proliferation; additionally, we find its pharmacological inhibition to significantly impact tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our study elucidates the mechanisms underpinning CIC-DUX4-mediated transcriptional regulation.
| S-EPMC10814785 | biostudies-literature
Project description:A recently identified pediatric subtype of undifferentiated round cell sarcoma that is driven by fusion between the cell cycle regulator and transcriptional repressor, capicula (CIC) and the transcriptional activator, DUX4 has been identified based on its histology, clinical differences, and aggressiveness. Because CIC-DUX4 acquires the p300-interacting activation domain of DUX4, we hypothesized that its transcriptional activation potential, and thus the oncogenicity of CIC-DUX4, would require p300 or its homologues, CBP. Recently, a new class of histone acetyltransferase inhibitors with high selectivity for p300 and CBP has been described, and two compounds, A-485, and iP300w, have been shown to inhibit p300 and CBP both in vitro and in vivo with iP300w having the ability to reverse gene expression changes caused by DUX4. If this hypothesis is correct, iP300w should potently counteract the CIC-DUX4 gene expression program and might be a particularly effective therapy for CDS. In this study, we confirm this hypothesis, demonstrating that CIC-DUX4 requires p300/CBP for its activity. We also demonstrate that CIC-DUX4 induces a global increase in H3 acetylation, like DUX4, which is reversible with iP300w treatment. We find that CIC-DUX4 activity is potently blocked by iP300w, and that this compound has potent activity against CDS cell lines and in an in vivo cancer xenograft assay.
2021-10-21 | GSE165729 | GEO
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:Rearrangements between genes can yield neomorphic fusions that drive oncogenesis. Fusion oncogenes are made up of fractional segments of the partner genes that comprise them, with each partner potentially contributing some of its own function to the nascent fusion oncoprotein. Clinically, fusion oncoproteins driving one diagnostic entity are typically clustered into a single molecular subset and are often treated a similar fashion. However, knowledge of where specific fusion breakpoints occur in partner genes, and the resulting retention of functional domains in the fusion, is an important determinant of fusion oncoprotein activity and may differ between patients. This study investigates this phenomena through the example of CIC::DUX4, a fusion between the transcriptional repressor capicua (CIC) and the double homeobox 4 gene (DUX4), which drives an aggressive subset of undifferentiated round cell sarcoma. Using a harmonized dataset of over 100 patient fusion breakpoints from the literature, we show that most bona fide CIC::DUX4 fusions retain the C1 domain, which is known to contribute to DNA binding by wild type CIC. Mechanistically, deletion or mutation of the C1 domain reduces, but does not eliminate, activation of CIC target genes by CIC::DUX4. We also find that expression of C1-deleted CIC::DUX4 is capable of exerting intermediate transformation-related phenotypes compared with those imparted by full-length CIC::DUX4, but was not sufficient for tumorigenesis in a subcutaneous mouse model. In summary, our results suggest a supercharging role for the C1 domain in the activity of CIC::DUX4.
2024-10-16 | GSE279546 | GEO
Project description:Rearrangements between genes can yield neomorphic fusions that drive oncogenesis. Fusion oncogenes are made up of fractional segments of the partner genes that comprise them, with each partner potentially contributing some of its own function to the nascent fusion oncoprotein. Clinically, fusion oncoproteins driving one diagnostic entity are typically clustered into a single molecular subset and are often treated a similar fashion. However, knowledge of where specific fusion breakpoints occur in partner genes, and the resulting retention of functional domains in the fusion, is an important determinant of fusion oncoprotein activity and may differ between patients. This study investigates this phenomena through the example of CIC::DUX4, a fusion between the transcriptional repressor capicua (CIC) and the double homeobox 4 gene (DUX4), which drives an aggressive subset of undifferentiated round cell sarcoma. Using a harmonized dataset of over 100 patient fusion breakpoints from the literature, we show that most bona fide CIC::DUX4 fusions retain the C1 domain, which is known to contribute to DNA binding by wild type CIC. Mechanistically, deletion or mutation of the C1 domain reduces, but does not eliminate, activation of CIC target genes by CIC::DUX4. We also find that expression of C1-deleted CIC::DUX4 is capable of exerting intermediate transformation-related phenotypes compared with those imparted by full-length CIC::DUX4, but was not sufficient for tumorigenesis in a subcutaneous mouse model. In summary, our results suggest a supercharging role for the C1 domain in the activity of CIC::DUX4.
2024-06-06 | GSE269295 | GEO