Brittany Turner-Ivey, Amanda M Prechtl, Stephen T Guest, Shannon W Doutt, Jody F Longo, Elizabeth Garrett-Mayer, Steven L Carroll
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
As oncogenic pathways are highly conserved in vertebrates, genetically engineered mouse models can potentially be used to identify therapeutic targets relevant to rare human cancers such as malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs). To test this, genome-scale shRNA screens designed to identify genes driving proliferation and survival were performed in five MPNST cultures derived from P0-GGFβ3 mice and three human MPNST cell lines. Several hundred gene hits mediating proliferation and survival were identified in human and mouse MPNST cells, many of which have been implicated in proliferation and survival in other cancers and/or mediate the pathogenesis of other cancer types. These hits and their associated signaling pathways extensively overlapped in human and mouse MPNST cells. A drug discovery pathway based on the Drug-Gene Interaction Database was developed to identify hits encoding druggable targets. Five druggable targets were selected for validation, with four of the five agents tested proving effective against human MPNST cells (the POLA1 inhibitor clofarabine, DNTT inhibitor cordycepin, BCL6 inhibitor 79-6 and LPAR1/3 inhibitor Ki16425). Clofarabine was especially effective, potently reducing cell numbers at low nanomolar concentrations and inducing a senescent phenotype, possibly via the p53/p21 pathway. These results demonstrate the utility of cross-species functional oncogenomics for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets relevant to human MPNSTs and suggest that clofarabine warrants further evaluation for its therapeutic potential.
期刊介绍:
The American Journal of Pathology, official journal of the American Society for Investigative Pathology, published by Elsevier, Inc., seeks high-quality original research reports, reviews, and commentaries related to the molecular and cellular basis of disease. The editors will consider basic, translational, and clinical investigations that directly address mechanisms of pathogenesis or provide a foundation for future mechanistic inquiries. Examples of such foundational investigations include data mining, identification of biomarkers, molecular pathology, and discovery research. Foundational studies that incorporate deep learning and artificial intelligence are also welcome. High priority is given to studies of human disease and relevant experimental models using molecular, cellular, and organismal approaches.