MIF/CXCR4 signaling axis contributes to survival, invasion, and drug resistance of metastatic neuroblastoma cells in the bone marrow microenvironment

Background: The bone marrow (BM) is the most common site of dissemination in patients with aggressive, metastatic neuroblastoma (NB). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the aggressive behavior of NB cells in the BM niche are still greatly unknown. In the present study, we explored biological mechanisms that play a critical role in NB cell survival and progression in the BM and investigated potential therapeutic targets. Methods: Patient-derived bone marrow (BM) primary cultures were generated using fresh BM aspirates obtained from NB patients. NB cell lines were cultured in the presence of BM conditioned media containing cell-secreted factors, and under low oxygen levels (1% O2) to mimic specific features of the BM microenvironment of high-risk NB patients. The BM niche was explored using cytokine profiling assays, cell migration-invasion and viability assays, flow cytometry and analysis of RNA-sequencing data. Selective pharmacological inhibition of factors identified as potential mediators of NB progression within the BM niche was performed in vitro and in vivo. Results: We identified macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) as a key inflammatory cytokine involved in BM infiltration. Cytokine profiling and RNA-sequencing data analysis revealed NB cells as the main source of MIF in the BM, suggesting a potential role of MIF in tumor invasion. Exposure of NB cells to BM-conditions increased NB cell-surface expression of the MIF receptor CXCR4, which was associated with increased cell viability, enhanced migration-invasion, and activation of PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways. Moreover, subcutaneous co-injection of NB and BM cells enhanced tumor engraftment in mice. MIF inhibition with 4-IPP impaired in vitro NB aggressiveness, and improved drug response while delayed NB growth, improving survival of the NB xenograft model. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that BM infiltration by NB cells may be mediated, in part, by MIF-CXCR4 signaling. We demonstrate the antitumor efficacy of MIF targeting in vitro and in vivo that could represent a novel therapeutic target for patients with disseminated high-risk NB

Molecular characterization of High Risk Neuroblastoma. Potential biomarkers for high-risk neuroblastoma classification

[eng] BACKGROUND: High-risk neuroblastoma (NB) represents a heterogeneous group of tumors, whereby patients can display response to treatment and long-term outcome or develop early progressive, chemoresistant disease with poor outcome. To date, high-risk NB patients are generally treated uniformly with no further stratification, as established in routinely used risk stratification systems. A revised molecular risk stratification has been proposed based on the analysis of telomere maintenance mechanisms, and RAS or TP53 pathway mutations. However, genetics underlying this aggressive subgroup is still greatly unknown and risk stratification of high-risk NB tumors is still challenging. AIM: To study high-risk NB tumors and to define a subgroup of high-risk NB patients with particularly poor outcome, with the aim of improving risk­ stratification of high-risk NB, of identifying altered biological pathways that may represent therapeutic options, and to learn more about the biology underlying this malignant pediatric tumor. METHODS: We analyzed DNA methylation microarray and gene expression data from nearly 700 high-risk NB samples obtained at diagnosis. Cox-regression models and Machine-Learning analysis were used for survival analyses. Survival curves were estimated by Kaplan-Meier method and compared by log-rank test. Pathway analysis was performed using R package KEGGREST, ConsensusPathDB-MaxPlanck and R package topGO. Pyrosequencing, phospho-kinase array, immunoblotting and immunohistochemical techniques were used for validation purposes. RESULTS: We identified distinct DNA methylation profiles within high-risk NB. Cox­ regression models and Machine Learning analysis, identified differentially methylated CpG sites that defined two subgroups of patients with substantially different overall survival (OS). Moreover, we identified methylation markers that could distinguish these clinically relevant subgroups of tumors. Integrative analysis of DNA methylation and matching gene expression data, identified differential expression of genes involved in cellular metabolism, purine biosynthesis and AKT/mTOR cell signaling. Protein expression analysis identified high levels of proteins involved in IMP metabolism and increased activation of AKT/mTOR pathways in highly aggressive NB. CONCLUSION: We have identified (epi)genetic changes underlying the heterogeneous behavior of aggressive NB, and revealed altered pathways of interest for potential therapeutic options. We identified a set of markers that enabled classification of high-risk NB into clinically relevant subgroups.[spa] 1. OBJETIVO GLOBAL: En neuroblastoma (NB), la presencia de enfermedad diseminada en pacientes mayores de 18 meses de edad o la presencia de amplificación del oncogén MYCN a cualquier edad, define un grupo de alto-riesgo clínico con supervivencia a 5 años inferior a 50%. El NB de alto-riesgo representa un grupo heterogéneo de tumores, con comportamiento clínico diverso y diferente respuesta al tratamiento. Sin embargo, los pacientes con tumores diseminados de alto-riesgo son tratados uniformemente con tratamiento multimodal intensivo, sin ninguna estratificación adicional. En la actualidad, no existen biomarcadores que permitan identificar, de forma rápida y precisa en el momento del diagnóstico, los pacientes con NB agresivos, potencialmente refractarios, que no se benefician de los tratamientos convencionales y que necesitan nuevas estrategias terapéuticas. Numerosos estudios han demostrado que el análisis del perfil de metilación del DNA permite tipificar y clasificar de forma precisa los tumores del sistema nervioso central, demostrando ser aplicable en el contexto del diagnóstico molecular. Hasta la fecha, el metiloma del HR-NB, no ha sido estudiado en profundidad. En esta tesis doctoral, hemos estudiado el metiloma del HR-NB con el objetivo de i) identificar patrones de metilación que permitan distinguir subgrupos con diversa evolución clínica, y mejorar la estratificación de los pacientes, ii) identificar posibles vías biológicas alteradas que puedan representar nuevas opciones terapéuticas, y iii) mejorar el conocimiento de la biología subyacente al comportamiento agresivo de estos tumores. 2. OBJETIVOS ESPECÍFICOS: l. Estudiar el perfil de metilación del DNA en el neuroblastoma de alto­ riesgo. 2. Identificar potenciales biomarcadores epigenéticos asociados con supervivencia de los pacientes con neuroblastoma de alto-riesgo. 3. Caracterizar la biología del neuroblastoma de alto-riesgo