Project description:SMARCA2 and SMARCA4 are two mutually exclusive ATPase subunits of SWI/SNF complex. SMARCA4 deficient lung cancer population selectively depend on SMARCA2 for cancer growth phenotype. Rescue experiments with ectopic expression of wild-type, bromodomain mutant and ATPase dead SMARCA2 and SMARCA4 highlight that ATPase domain is the drug target. In this study, we performed genome-wide microarray and differential gene expression profiling on isogenic lung cancer lines expressing cDNA rescue constructs for wild-type, bromodomain mutant and ATPase dead SMARCA2 and SMARCA4
Project description:The mammalian SWI/SNF helicase SMARCA4 is frequently mutated in cancer and inactivation results in a cellular dependence on its paralog, SMARCA2, thus making SMARCA2 an attractive synthetic lethal target. However, published data indicates that achieving a high degree of SMARCA2 selectivity is likely essential to afford an acceptable therapeutic index and this has been a considerable challenge due to the homology between paralogs. Herein we report the discovery of the first potent and selective SMARCA2 proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) molecule. Selective degradation was achieved in the absence of selective PROTAC binding and translated to potent in vitro growth inhibition and in vivo efficacy in SMARCA4 mutant models, compared to wild type models. Global ubiquitin mapping and proteome profiling revealed no unexpected off-target degradation. Our study thus highlights the ability to transform a non-selective SMARCA2-binding ligand into a selective and efficacious in vivo SMARCA2 PROTAC, providing a potential therapeutic opportunity for SMARCA4 mutant patients.
Project description:The mammalian SWI/SNF helicase SMARCA4 is frequently mutated in cancer and inactivation results in a cellular dependence on its paralog, SMARCA2, thus making SMARCA2 an attractive synthetic lethal target. However, published data indicates that achieving a high degree of SMARCA2 selectivity is likely essential to afford an acceptable therapeutic index and this has been a considerable challenge due to the homology between paralogs.
Herein we report the discovery of the first potent and selective SMARCA2 proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) molecule. Selective degradation was achieved in the absence of selective PROTAC binding and translated to potent in vitro growth inhibition and in vivo efficacy in SMARCA4 mutant models, compared to wild type models. Global ubiquitin mapping and proteome profiling revealed no unexpected off-target degradation. Our study thus highlights the ability to transform a non-selective SMARCA2-binding ligand into a selective and efficacious in vivo SMARCA2 PROTAC, providing a potential therapeutic opportunity for SMARCA4 mutant patients.
Project description:Here we performed transcriptional profiling of the prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP and 22Rv1 comparing non-targeting siRNA treatment versus siRNAs targeting SWI/SNF complex proteins (SMARCA2, SMARCA4, and SMARCB1). Goal was to determine the effect of SWI/SNF knockdown on gene expression in prostate cancer. Two-condition experiment: non-targeting siRNA versus SWI/SNF-siRNA treated cells. Three SWI/SNF proteins were targeted: SMARCA2, SMARCA4, and SMARB1. Biological replicates: 1 control replicate, 2 treatment replicates per SWI/SNF protein. Technical replicates: 1 replicate per SWI/SNF protein. Cell lines: 22Rv1 and LNCaP.
Project description:We investigated transcriptomic effects of a Smarca4 ATPase mutant observed in primary tumors and cancer cell lines. Heterozygous expression of G784E Smarca4 mutant led to transcriptional changes compared to cells expressing only wild-type Smarca4.
Project description:We investigated the chromatin effects of a Smarca4 ATPase mutant observed in primary tumors and cancer cell lines. Compared to cells expressing only wild-type Smarca4, heterozygous expression of G784E Smarca4 mutant led to reduction of H3K27ac and RNAP at a set of enhancer sites.
Project description:<p>Although multi-agent combination chemotherapy is curative in a significant fraction of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients, 20% of cases relapse and most die due to chemo-refractory disease. Here we used whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing to analyze the mutational landscape and pattern of clonal evolution at relapse in pediatric ALL cases. These analyses showed that ALL relapses originate from a common ancestral precursor clone of the diagnosis and relapsed populations and frequently harbor mutations implicated in chemotherapy resistance. RAS-MAPK pathway activating mutations in NRAS, KRAS and PTPN11 were present in 24/55 (44%) cases in our series. Notably, while some cases showed emergence of RAS mutant clones at relapse, in others, RAS mutant clones present at diagnosis were replaced by RAS wild type populations. Mechanistically, functional dissection of mouse and human wild type Kras and mutant Kras (Kras G12D) isogenic leukemia cells demonstrated induction of methotrexate resistance, but also improved response to vincristine, in mutant Kras- expressing lymphoblasts. These results identify chemotherapy driven selection as a central mechanism of leukemia clonal evolution and pave the road for the development of tailored personalized therapies for the treatment of relapsed ALL. </p>
Project description:Lung cancer is the top cause of cancer mortality. Despite recent advances, the majority of patients with lung cancer still lack effective therapeutic options, underscoring the dire need for additional treatment approaches. Genomic studies have identified frequent mutations in subunits of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex including SMARCA4 and ARID1A in non-small cell lung cancer with a frequency of up to 33% in advanced stage disease, making it the most frequently mutated complex in lung cancer. Recent reports have identified the paralogue SMARCA2 to be synthetic lethal to SMARCA4 suggesting SMARCA2 is a valuable therapeutic target. However, the discovery of selective inhibitors of SMARCA2 has been challenging. To overcome this hurdle, we have utilized iterative structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies to develop novel, potent and selective SMARCA2 degrading small molecules based on proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology. We demonstrated that YD23, our lead SMARCA2 PROTAC, potently and selectively induces degradation of SMARCA2. Mechanistically, we show that SMARCA2 degradation in SMARCA4-mutant cells induces a profound reprograming of the enhancer landscape with marked loss of chromatin accessibility at enhancers of genes involved in cell proliferation. Furthermore, we identified nuclear effectors of the Hippo pathway, YAP/TEAD, as key co-conspirators of SMARCA2 in driving the growth of SMARCA4-mutant cancer cells that can be disrupted by our degrader. Finally, we show that YD23 has a potent tumor growth inhibitory activity in SMARCA4-mutant xenograft tumors. These findings provide the mechanistic basis for development of SMARCA2 degraders as synthetic lethal therapeutics against SMARCA4 mutant tumors.
Project description:Lung cancer is the top cause of cancer mortality. Despite recent advances, the majority of patients with lung cancer still lack effective therapeutic options, underscoring the dire need for additional treatment approaches. Genomic studies have identified frequent mutations in subunits of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex including SMARCA4 and ARID1A in non-small cell lung cancer with a frequency of up to 33% in advanced stage disease, making it the most frequently mutated complex in lung cancer. Recent reports have identified the paralogue SMARCA2 to be synthetic lethal to SMARCA4 suggesting SMARCA2 is a valuable therapeutic target. However, the discovery of selective inhibitors of SMARCA2 has been challenging. To overcome this hurdle, we have utilized iterative structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies to develop novel, potent and selective SMARCA2 degrading small molecules based on proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology. We demonstrated that YD23, our lead SMARCA2 PROTAC, potently and selectively induces degradation of SMARCA2. Mechanistically, we show that SMARCA2 degradation in SMARCA4-mutant cells induces a profound reprograming of the enhancer landscape with marked loss of chromatin accessibility at enhancers of genes involved in cell proliferation. Furthermore, we identified nuclear effectors of the Hippo pathway, YAP/TEAD, as key co-conspirators of SMARCA2 in driving the growth of SMARCA4-mutant cancer cells that can be disrupted by our degrader. Finally, we show that YD23 has a potent tumor growth inhibitory activity in SMARCA4-mutant xenograft tumors. These findings provide the mechanistic basis for development of SMARCA2 degraders as synthetic lethal therapeutics against SMARCA4 mutant tumors.
Project description:Lung cancer is the top cause of cancer mortality. Despite recent advances, the majority of patients with lung cancer still lack effective therapeutic options, underscoring the dire need for additional treatment approaches. Genomic studies have identified frequent mutations in subunits of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex including SMARCA4 and ARID1A in non-small cell lung cancer with a frequency of up to 33% in advanced stage disease, making it the most frequently mutated complex in lung cancer. Recent reports have identified the paralogue SMARCA2 to be synthetic lethal to SMARCA4 suggesting SMARCA2 is a valuable therapeutic target. However, the discovery of selective inhibitors of SMARCA2 has been challenging. To overcome this hurdle, we have utilized iterative structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies to develop novel, potent and selective SMARCA2 degrading small molecules based on proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology. We demonstrated that YD23, our lead SMARCA2 PROTAC, potently and selectively induces degradation of SMARCA2. Mechanistically, we show that SMARCA2 degradation in SMARCA4-mutant cells induces a profound reprograming of the enhancer landscape with marked loss of chromatin accessibility at enhancers of genes involved in cell proliferation. Furthermore, we identified nuclear effectors of the Hippo pathway, YAP/TEAD, as key co-conspirators of SMARCA2 in driving the growth of SMARCA4-mutant cancer cells that can be disrupted by our degrader. Finally, we show that YD23 has a potent tumor growth inhibitory activity in SMARCA4-mutant xenograft tumors. These findings provide the mechanistic basis for development of SMARCA2 degraders as synthetic lethal therapeutics against SMARCA4 mutant tumors.