Comprehensive molecular landscape of cetuximab resistance in head and neck cancer cell lines

Cetuximab is the sole anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody that is FDA approved to treat head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, no predictive biomarkers of cetuximab response are known for HNSCC. Herein, we address the molecular mechanisms underlying cetuximab resistance in an in vitro model. We established a cetuximab resistant model (FaDu), using increased cetuximab concentrations for more than eight months. The resistance and parental cells were evaluated for cell viability and functional assays. Protein expression was analyzed by Western blot and human cell surface panel by lyoplate. The mutational profile and copy number alterations (CNA) were analyzed using whole-exome sequencing (WES) and the NanoString platform. FaDu resistant clones exhibited at least two-fold higher IC50 compared to the parental cell line. WES showed relevant mutations in several cancer-related genes, and the comparative mRNA expression analysis showed 36 differentially expressed genes associated with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors resistance, RAS, MAPK, and mTOR signaling. Importantly, we observed that overexpression of KRAS, RhoA, and CD44 was associated with cetuximab resistance. Protein analysis revealed EGFR phosphorylation inhibition and mTOR increase in resistant cells. Moreover, the resistant cell line demonstrated an aggressive phenotype with a significant increase in adhesion, the number of colonies, and migration rates. Overall, we identified several molecular alterations in the cetuximab resistant cell line that may constitute novel biomarkers of cetuximab response such as mTOR and RhoA overexpression. These findings indicate new strategies to overcome anti-EGFR resistance in HNSCC.This work was supported by Barretos Cancer Hospital and the Public Ministry of Labor Campinas (Research, Prevention, and Education of Occupational Cancer) in Campinas, Brazil, CAPESDFATD (88887.137283/2017-00). INFG is the recipient of a FAPESP Ph.D. fellowship (2017/22305-9)

Espectroscopia de correlação bidimensional generalizada e sample-sample aplicada ao estudo da tripsina pancreática bovina

Neste trabalho a tripsina pancreática bovina é utilizada como proteína alvo na aplicação da espectroscopia de correlação bidimensional investigando os processos de desenovelamento e re-enovelamento. A espectroscopia de correlação bidimensional generalizada proposta por Noda (Noda, 1993) tem crescido em aplicações e novas técnicas de correlação 2D têm sido desenvolvidas. Assim como em RMN 2D, picos espectrais são espalhados em uma segunda dimensão, simplificando a visualização de espectros complexos, por serem constituídos de bandas sobrepostas ajudando na resolução espectral, de similar modo foi desenvolvido técnicas de analises para o infravermelho. O desenvolvimento de um software para obtenção da correlação generalizada e correlação sample-sample (Sasic, et al., 2000) foi uma etapa importante neste estudo, entretanto a associação entre estes resultados torna a abordagem do problema de desenovelamento e re-enovelamento mais rica em detalhes. A análise de correlação bidimensional sample-sample (2D-SS) indica uma temperatura de desenovelamento em 48°C que é corroborado por DSC (49C). Além dessa, temperaturas de pré-transição em 31°, 37° e 43°C e pós-transição em 54°, 59° e 69°C foram reveladas por 2D sample-sample. O perfil do termograma obtido por DSC indica que o processo de desenovelamento é do tipo múltiplo estado o que valida a descoberta de temperaturas de pré e pós-transição. A análise generalizada revela as estruturas secundárias e os eventos seqüenciais envolvidos em cada uma destas transições. A partir da equação de van’t Hoff é obtido o valor da entalpia de desenovelamento 28,1 kcal/mol, já a análise calorimétrica por sua vez fornece um valor para a entalpia aparente de 59,3 kcal/mol.In this work the bovine pancreatic trypsin is used as the target protein in the application of two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy investigating the processes of unfolding and refolding. The two-dimensional generalized correlation spectroscopy proposed by Noda (Noda, 1993) has grown into applications and new 2D correlation techniques have been developed. As well as in 2D NMR spectral peaks are spread across a second dimension, simplifying the complex spectra view because they are made up of overlapping bands increasing the spectral resolution of similar way was developed techniques of analysis to the infrared technique. The development of software for obtaining generalized correlation and correlation sample-sample (Sasic, et al., 2000) was an important step in this study, however the association between these results makes the approach to the problem of unfolding and refolding richer in detail. The two-dimensional sample-sample correlation analysis (2D-SS) indicates a temperature of unfolding at 48 °C which is corroborated by DSC (49 °C). In addition to this, pre transitions temperatures in 31 ° 37° and 43 °C and post transition in 54°, 59° and 69°C were revealed by 2D-SS. The profile of the thermogram obtained by DSC indicates that the process of unfolding is of the type of multiple state that validates the discovery of temperatures of pre and post transition. The generalized analysis reveals the secondary structures and sequential events involved in each of these transitions. From the van't Hoff equation is retrieved a value of the unfolding enthalpy of 28.1 kcal/mol, from the calorimetric analysis the value for the apparent enthalpy was 59.3 kcal/mol

Efficacy of Combined Use of Everolimus and Second-Generation Pan-EGRF Inhibitors in KRAS Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cell Lines

Background: EGFR mutations are present in approximately 15–50% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which are predictive of anti-EGFR therapies. At variance, NSCLC patients harboring KRAS mutations are resistant to those anti-EGFR approaches. Afatinib and allitinib are second-generation pan-EGFR drugs, yet no predictive biomarkers are known in the NSCLC context. In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy of pan-EGFR inhibitors in a panel of 15 lung cancer cell lines associated with the KRAS mutations phenotype. Methods: KRAS wild-type sensitive NCI-H292 cell line was further transfected with KRAS mutations (p.G12D and p.G12S). The pan-EGFR inhibitors’ activity and biologic effect of KRAS mutations were evaluated by cytotoxicity, MAPK phospho-protein array, colony formation, migration, invasion, and adhesion. In addition, in vivo chicken chorioallantoic membrane assay was performed in KRAS mutant cell lines. The gene expression profile was evaluated by NanoString. Lastly, everolimus and pan-EGFR combinations were performed to determine the combination index. Results: The GI50 score classified two cell lines treated with afatinib and seven treated with allitinib as high-sensitive phenotypes. All KRAS mutant cell lines demonstrated a resistant profile for both therapies (GI50 < 30%). The protein array of KRAS edited cells indicated a significant increase in AKT, CREB, HSP27, JNK, and, importantly, mTOR protein levels compared with KRAS wild-type cells. The colony formation, migration, invasion, adhesion, tumor perimeter, and mesenchymal phenotype were increased in the H292 KRAS mutated cells. Gene expression analysis showed 18 dysregulated genes associated with the focal adhesion-PI3K-Akt-mTOR-signaling correlated in KRAS mutant cell lines. Moreover, mTOR overexpression in KRAS mutant H292 cells was inhibited after everolimus exposure, and sensitivity to afatinib and allitinib was restored. Conclusions: Our results indicate that allitinib was more effective than afatinib in NSCLC cell lines. KRAS mutations increased aggressive behavior through upregulation of the focal adhesion-PI3K-Akt-mTOR-signaling in NSCLC cells. Significantly, everolimus restored sensibility and improved cytotoxicity of EGFR inhibitors in the KRAS mutant NSCLC cell lines

Loss of 5′-Methylthioadenosine Phosphorylase (MTAP) is Frequent in High-Grade Gliomas; Nevertheless, it is Not Associated with Higher Tumor Aggressiveness

The 5’-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) gene is located in the chromosomal region 9p21. MTAP deletion is a frequent event in a wide variety of human cancers; however, its biological role in tumorigenesis remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to characterize the MTAP expression profile in a series of gliomas and to associate it with patients’ clinicopathological features. Moreover, we sought to evaluate, through glioma gene-edited cell lines, the biological impact of MTAP in gliomas. MTAP expression was evaluated in 507 glioma patients by immunohistochemistry (IHC), and the expression levels were associated with patients’ clinicopathological features. Furthermore, an in silico study was undertaken using genomic databases totalizing 350 samples. In glioma cell lines, MTAP was edited, and following MTAP overexpression and knockout (KO), a transcriptome analysis was performed by NanoString Pan-Cancer Pathways panel. Moreover, MTAP’s role in glioma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion was evaluated. Homozygous deletion of 9p21 locus was associated with a reduction of MTAP mRNA expression in the TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) - glioblastoma dataset (p < 0.01). In addition, the loss of MTAP expression was markedly high in high-grade gliomas (46.6% of cases) determined by IHC and Western blotting (40% of evaluated cell lines). Reduced MTAP expression was associated with a better prognostic in the adult glioblastoma dataset (p < 0.001). Nine genes associated with five pathways were differentially expressed in MTAP-knockout (KO) cells, with six upregulated and three downregulated in MTAP. Analysis of cell proliferation, migration, and invasion did not show any significant differences between MTAP gene-edited and control cells. Our results integrating data from patients as well as in silico and in vitro models provide evidence towards the lack of strong biological importance of MTAP in gliomas. Despite the frequent loss of MTAP, it seems not to have a clinical impact in survival and does not act as a canonic tumor suppressor gene in gliomas