Over half of cutaneous melanoma tumors have BRAF V600E/K mutations. Acquired resistance to BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi) remains a major hurdle in attaining durable therapeutic responses. In this study we demonstrate that approximately 50-60% of melanoma cell lines with vemurafenib resistance acquired in vitro show activation of RhoA family GTPases. In BRAFi-resistant melanoma cell lines and tumors, activation of RhoA is correlated with decreased expression of melanocyte lineage genes. Using a machine learning approach, we built gene expression-based models to predict drug sensitivity for 265 common anti-cancer compounds. We then projected these signatures onto the collection of TCGA cutaneous melanoma and found that poorly differentiated tumors were predicted to have increased sensitivity to multiple Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitors. Two transcriptional effectors downstream of Rho, MRTF and YAP1, are activated in the Rho High BRAFi-resistant cell lines, and resistant cells are more sensitive to inhibition of these transcriptional mechanisms. Taken together, these results support the concept of targeting Rhoregulated gene transcription pathways as a promising therapeutic approach to restore sensitivity to BRAFi-resistant tumors or as a combination therapy to prevent the onset of drug resistance. Users may view, print, copy, and download text and data-mine the content in such documents, for the purposes of academic research, subject always to the full Conditions of use:

Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer with the majority of deaths arising from metastatic disease. Evidence implicates Rho-activated gene transcription in melanoma metastasis mediated by the nuclear localization of the transcriptional coactivator, myocardin-related transcription factor (MRTF). Here, we highlight a role for Rho and MRTF signaling and its reversal by pharmacologic inhibition using in vitro and in vivo models of human melanoma growth and metastasis. Using two cellular models of melanoma, we clearly show that one cell type, SK-Mel-147, is highly metastatic, has high RhoC expression, and MRTF nuclear localization and activity. Conversely, SK-Mel-19 melanoma cells have low RhoC expression, and decreased levels of MRTF-regulated genes. To probe the dependence of melanoma aggressiveness to MRTF transcription, we use a previously developed small molecule inhibitor, CCG-203971, which at low micro-molar concentrations blocks nuclear localization and activity of MRTF-A. In SK-Mel-147 cells, CCG-203971 inhibits cellular migration and invasion, and decreases MRTF target gene expression. In addition, CCG-203971-mediated inhibition of the Rho/MRTF pathway significantly reduces cell growth and clonogenicity and causes G1 cell cycle arrest. In an experimental model of melanoma lung metastasis, the RhoC-overexpressing melanoma cells (SK-Mel-147) exhibited pronounced lung colonization compared to the low RhoC expressing SK-Mel-19. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of the MRTF pathway reduced both the number and size of lung metastasis resulting in a marked reduction of total lung tumor burden. These data link Rho and MRTF-mediated signaling with aggressive phenotypes and support targeting the MRTF transcriptional pathway as a novel approach to melanoma therapeutics.

A series of compounds (including CCG-1423 and CCG-203971) discovered through an MRTF/SRF-dependent luciferase screen has shown remarkable efficacy in a variety of in vitro and in vivo models, including significant reduction of melanoma metastasis and bleomycin-induced fibrosis. Although these compounds are efficacious in these disease models, the molecular target is unknown. Here, we describe affinity isolation-based target identification efforts which yielded pirin, an iron-dependent cotranscription factor, as a target of this series of compounds. Using biophysical techniques including isothermal titration calorimetry and X-ray crystallography, we verify that pirin binds these compounds in vitro. We also show with genetic approaches that pirin modulates MRTF-dependent luciferase reporter activity. Finally, using both siRNA and a previously validated pirin inhibitor, we show a role for pirin in TGF-β-induced gene expression in primary dermal fibroblasts. A recently developed analog, CCG-257081, which cocrystallizes with pirin, is also effective in the prevention of bleomycin-induced dermal fibrosis.

Purpose A goal of this study was to identify and investigate previously unrecognized components of the remodeling process in the progression to heart failure by comparing protein expression in ischemic failing (F) and nonfailing (NF) human hearts. Experimental design Protein expression differences were investigated using multidimensional protein identification and validated by Western analysis. This approach detected basal lamina (BL) remodeling, and further studies analyzed samples for evidence of structural BL remodeling. A rat model of pressure overload (PO) was studied to determine whether nonischemic stressors also produce BL remodeling and impact cellular adhesion. Results Differential protein expression of collagen IV, laminin α2, and nidogen-1 indicated BL remodeling develops in F versus NF hearts Periodic disruption of cardiac myocyte BL accompanied this process in F, but not NF heart. The rat PO myocardium also developed BL remodeling and compromised myocyte adhesion compared to sham controls. Conclusions and clinical relevance Differential protein expression and evidence of structural and functional BL alterations develop during heart failure. The compromised adhesion associated with this remodeling indicates a high potential for dysfunctional cellular integrity and tethering in failing myocytes. Therapeutically targeting BL remodeling could slow or prevent the progression of heart disease.

In prior work we demonstrated that loss of E2F transcription factors inhibits metastasis. Here we address the mechanisms for this phenotype and identify the E2F regulated genes that coordinate tumor cell metastasis. Transcriptomic profiling of E2F1 knockout tumors identified a role for E2F1 as a master regulator of a suite of pro-metastatic genes, but also uncovered E2F1 target genes with an unknown role in pulmonary metastasis. High expression of one of these genes, Fgf13, is associated with early human breast cancer metastasis in a clinical dataset. Together these data led to the hypothesis that Fgf13 is critical for breast cancer metastasis, and that upregulation of Fgf13 may partially explain how E2F1 promotes breast cancer metastasis. To test this hypothesis we ablated Fgf13 via CRISPR. Deletion of Fgf13 in a MMTV-PyMT breast cancer cell line reduces colonization of the lungs in a tail vein injection. In addition, loss of Fgf13 reduced in vitro cell migration, suggesting that Fgf13 may be critical for tumor cells to escape the primary tumor and to colonize the distal sites. The significance of this work is twofold: we have both uncovered genomic features by which E2F1 regulates metastasis and we have identified new pro-metastatic functions for the E2F1 target gene Fgf13.

A hallmark of glioblastoma (GBM) tumors is their highly invasive behavior. Tumor dissemination into surrounding brain tissue is responsible for incomplete surgical resection, and subsequent tumor recurrence. Identification of targets that control GBM cell dissemination is critical for developing effective therapies to treat GBM. A majority of GBM tumors have dysregulated EGFR signaling, due most frequently to EGFR amplification or the presence of a constitutively active EGFRvIII mutant. Mixed lineage kinase 3 (MLK3) is a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K) that can activate multiple MAPK pathways. In this study, evidence is provided that MLK3 is essential for GBM cell migration and invasion, and that an MLK inhibitor blocks EGF-induced migration and invasion. MLK3 silencing or MLK inhibition blocks EGF-induced JNK activation, suggesting that MLK3-JNK signaling promotes invasion of GBM cells. Mechanistically, it is demonstrated that DOCK180, a RAC1 guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) overexpressed in invasive GBM cells, activates the MLK3-JNK signaling axis in a RAC1-dependent manner. In summary, this investigation identifies an EGFR-DOCK180-RAC1-MLK3-JNK signaling axis that drives glioblastoma cell migration and dissemination. On the basis of these findings, MLK3 emerges as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of glioblastoma. .

In prior work we demonstrated that loss of E2F transcription factors inhibits metastasis. Here we address the mechanisms for this phenotype and identify the E2F regulated genes that coordinate tumor cell metastasis. Transcriptomic profiling of E2F1 knockout tumors identified a role for E2F1 as a master regulator of a suite of pro-metastatic genes, but also uncovered E2F1 target genes with an unknown role in pulmonary metastasis. High expression of one of these genes, Fgf13, is associated with early human breast cancer metastasis in a clinical dataset. Together these data led to the hypothesis that Fgf13 is critical for breast cancer metastasis, and that upregulation of Fgf13 may partially explain how E2F1 promotes breast cancer metastasis. To test this hypothesis we ablated Fgf13 via CRISPR. Deletion of Fgf13 in a MMTV-PyMT breast cancer cell line reduces the frequency of pulmonary metastasis. In addition, loss of Fgf13 reduced in vitro cell migration, suggesting that Fgf13 may be critical for tumor cells to invade out of and escape the primary tumor. The significance of this work is twofold: we have both uncovered genomic features by which E2F1 regulates metastasis and we have identified new pro-metastatic functions for the E2F1 target gene Fgf13.

The stromal reaction in pancreatic cancer creates a physical barrier that blocks therapeutic intervention and creates an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. The Rho/myocardin-related transcription factor (MRTF) pathway is implicated in the hyper-activation of fibroblasts in fibrotic diseases and the activation of pancreatic stellate cells. In this study we use CCG-222740, a small molecule, designed as a Rho/MRTF pathway inhibitor. This compound decreases the activation of stellate cells in vitro and in vivo , by reducing the levels of alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression. CCG-222740 also modulates inflammatory components of the pancreas in KC mice (LSL-Kras G12D/+ ; Pdx-1-Cre) stimulated with caerulein. It decreases the infiltration of macrophages and increases CD4 T cells and B cells. Analysis of the pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDA) TCGA dataset revealed a correlation between elevated RhoA, RhoC and MRTF expression and decreased survival in PDA patients. Moreover, a MRTF signature is correlated with a Th2 cell signature in human PDA tumors.