Project description:SMARCB1 (Snf5/Ini1/Baf47) is a potent tumor suppressor, the loss of which serves as the diagnostic feature in Malignant Rhabdoid Tumors (MRT) and Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumors (AT/RT), two highly aggressive forms of pediatric neoplasms. Here, we restore Smarcb1 expression in cells derived from Smarcb1-deficient tumors which developed in Smarcb1-heterozygous p53-/- mice. Profiling Smarcb1 dependent gene expression we find genes which are dependent on Smarcb1 expression to be enriched for ECM and cell adhesion functions. We identify Igfbp7, which is related to the insulin-like growth factor binding proteins family, as a downstream target of Smarcb1 transcriptional activity, and show that re-introduction of Igfbp7 alone can hinder tumor development. Two cancer cell lines, 167 and 365, derived from Smarcb1-deficient tumors which developed in Smarcb1-heterozygous p53-/- mice were re-infected with a retro-viral vector for Smarcb1 re-expression or an empty retro-viral vector as control. Total-RNA was collected 3 days post infection so as to enrich for direct targets of Smarcb1 transcriptionaly regulated genes
Project description:SMARCB1 (Snf5/Ini1/Baf47) is a potent tumor suppressor, the loss of which serves as the diagnostic feature in Malignant Rhabdoid Tumors (MRT) and Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumors (AT/RT), two highly aggressive forms of pediatric neoplasms. Here, we restore Smarcb1 expression in cells derived from Smarcb1-deficient tumors which developed in Smarcb1-heterozygous p53-/- mice. Profiling Smarcb1 dependent gene expression we find genes which are dependent on Smarcb1 expression to be enriched for ECM and cell adhesion functions. We identify Igfbp7, which is related to the insulin-like growth factor binding proteins family, as a downstream target of Smarcb1 transcriptional activity, and show that re-introduction of Igfbp7 alone can hinder tumor development.
Project description:To identify mutant p53 GOF, murine primary osteosarcomas expressing p53R172H or p53R245W over null and p53-null osteosarcomas were processed for bulk sequencing; DEGs were identified in p53R172H and p53R245W expressing tumors by comparing to p53-null tumors; DEGs were used to identify dysregulated pathways and mutant p53 GOF
Project description:The claudin-low subtype is a recently identified rare molecular subtype of human breast cancer that expresses low levels of tight and adherens junction genes and shows high expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) genes. These tumors are enriched in gene expression signatures derived from human tumor initiating cells (TIC) and human mammary stem cells. Through cross-species analysis, we discovered mouse mammary tumors that have similar gene expression characteristics as human claudin-low tumors and were also enriched for the human TIC signature. Such claudin-low tumors were similarly rare, but came from a number of distinct mouse models including the p53 null transplant model. Here we present a molecular characterization of fifty p53 null mammary tumors as compared to other mouse models and human breast tumor subtypes. Similar to human tumors, the murine p53 null tumors fell into multiple molecular subtypes including two basal-like, a luminal, a claudin-low, and a subtype unique to this model. The claudin-low tumors also showed high gene expression of EMT inducers, low expression of the miR-200 family, and low to absent expression of both claudin 3 and E-cadherin. These murine subtypes also contained distinct genomic DNA copy number changes some of which are similarly altered in their cognate human subtype counterpart. Finally, limiting dilution transplantation revealed that p53 null claudin-low tumors are highly enriched for TICs as compared to the more common adenocarcinomas arising in the same model, thus providing a novel preclinical mouse model to investigate the therapeutic response of TICs. 107 Agilent CGH and expression microarrays
Project description:Loss of function mutations in SMARCB1 are prevalent in pediatric atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (ATRTs) and confer an oncogenic dependency on EZH2, providing a compelling rationale for treating these genetically defined cancers via EZH2 inhibition (EZH2i). EZH2i results in tumor regression in SMARCB1-deficient tumors in preclinical studies, but the molecular mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Here we found that the sensitivity of SMARCB1-deficient tumors to EZH2i is associated with the viral mimicry response that depends on both double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and cytoplasmic DNA sensing pathways. Unlike other epigenetic therapies targeting transcriptional repressors, viral mimicry by EZH2i in SMARCB1-deficient tumors is not triggered by crypt initiation of endogenous retroelements, but rather mediated by increased expression of genes enriched for intronic inverted-repeat Alu (IR-Alu) elements. Interestingly, we found that interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) are highly enriched for dsRNA-forming intronic IR-Alu elements, suggesting a positive feedback loop whereby interferon response leads to dsRNA formation from intronic ISGs and activation of viral mimicry. Moreover, EZH2i in ATRT cells also enhances the expression of full-length LINE-1 elements, leading to genomic instability and cGAS/STING response in a process dependent on reverse transcriptase activity. Supporting this mechanism, co-depletion of dsRNA sensing and cytoplasmic DNA sensing completely rescues the viral mimicry response to EZH2i in SMARCB1-deficient tumors.
Project description:Loss of function mutations in SMARCB1 are prevalent in pediatric atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (ATRTs) and confer an oncogenic dependency on EZH2, providing a compelling rationale for treating these genetically defined cancers via EZH2 inhibition (EZH2i). EZH2i results in tumor regression in SMARCB1-deficient tumors in preclinical studies, but the molecular mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Here we found that the sensitivity of SMARCB1-deficient tumors to EZH2i is associated with the viral mimicry response that depends on both double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and cytoplasmic DNA sensing pathways. Unlike other epigenetic therapies targeting transcriptional repressors, viral mimicry by EZH2i in SMARCB1-deficient tumors is not triggered by crypt initiation of endogenous retroelements, but rather mediated by increased expression of genes enriched for intronic inverted-repeat Alu (IR-Alu) elements. Interestingly, we found that interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) are highly enriched for dsRNA-forming intronic IR-Alu elements, suggesting a positive feedback loop whereby interferon response leads to dsRNA formation from intronic ISGs and activation of viral mimicry. Moreover, EZH2i in ATRT cells also enhances the expression of full-length LINE-1 elements, leading to genomic instability and cGAS/STING response in a process dependent on reverse transcriptase activity. Supporting this mechanism, co-depletion of dsRNA sensing and cytoplasmic DNA sensing completely rescues the viral mimicry response to EZH2i in SMARCB1-deficient tumors.
Project description:The claudin-low subtype is a recently identified rare molecular subtype of human breast cancer that expresses low levels of tight and adherens junction genes and shows high expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) genes. These tumors are enriched in gene expression signatures derived from human tumor initiating cells (TIC) and human mammary stem cells. Through cross-species analysis, we discovered mouse mammary tumors that have similar gene expression characteristics as human claudin-low tumors and were also enriched for the human TIC signature. Such claudin-low tumors were similarly rare, but came from a number of distinct mouse models including the p53 null transplant model. Here we present a molecular characterization of fifty p53 null mammary tumors as compared to other mouse models and human breast tumor subtypes. Similar to human tumors, the murine p53 null tumors fell into multiple molecular subtypes including two basal-like, a luminal, a claudin-low, and a subtype unique to this model. The claudin-low tumors also showed high gene expression of EMT inducers, low expression of the miR-200 family, and low to absent expression of both claudin 3 and E-cadherin. These murine subtypes also contained distinct genomic DNA copy number changes some of which are similarly altered in their cognate human subtype counterpart. Finally, limiting dilution transplantation revealed that p53 null claudin-low tumors are highly enriched for TICs as compared to the more common adenocarcinomas arising in the same model, thus providing a novel preclinical mouse model to investigate the therapeutic response of TICs.
Project description:SMARCB1, a subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, is the causative gene of rhabdoid tumors and epithelioid sarcomas. Here, we identify a paralog pair of CBP and p300 as a synthetic lethal target in SMARCB1-deficient cancers by using a dual siRNA screening method based on the “simultaneous inhibition of a paralog pair” concept. Treatment with CBP/p300 dual inhibitors suppresses growth of cell lines and tumor xenografts derived from SMARCB1-deficient cells but not from SMARCB1-proficient cells. SMARCB1-containing SWI/SNF complexes localize with H3K27me3 and its methyltransferase EZH2 at the promotor region of the KREMEN2 locus, resulting in transcriptional downregulation of KREMEN2. By contrast, SMARCB1 deficiency leads to localization of H3K27ac, and recruitment of its acetyltransferases CBP and p300, at the KREMEN2 locus, resulting in transcriptional upregulation of KREMEN2, which cooperates with the SMARCA1 chromatin remodeling complex. Simultaneous inhibition of CBP/p300 leads to transcriptional downregulation of KREMEN2, followed by apoptosis induction via monomerization of KREMEN1 due to a failure to interact with KREMEN2, which suppresses anti-apoptotic signaling pathways. Taken together, our findings indicate that simultaneous inhibitors of CBP/p300 could be promising therapeutic agents for SMARCB1-deficient cancers.
Project description:Rhabdoid Tumors (RT) are highly aggressive tumors that are frequently localized in the central nervous system (CNS) where they are termed atypical teratoid and rhabdoid tumors (ATRT). We generated conditional Smarcb1-deficient mouse model leads to CNS Smarcb1-deficient tumors. We used microarrays to compared gene expression profilings of various human and mouse tumors. Our data demonstrate that the Smarcb1-deficient mouse model recapitulates the diversity of human RT.