scholarly journals NRF2 Enables EGFR Signaling in Melanoma Cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 3803
Author(s):  
Julia Katharina Charlotte Kreß ◽  
Christina Jessen ◽  
André Marquardt ◽  
Anita Hufnagel ◽  
Svenja Meierjohann

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) are rarely mutated in cutaneous melanoma, but the expression and activation of several RTK family members are associated with a proinvasive phenotype and therapy resistance. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a member of the RTK family and is only expressed in a subgroup of melanomas with poor prognosis. The insight into regulators of EGFR expression and activation is important for the understanding of the development of this malignant melanoma phenotype. Here, we describe that the transcription factor NRF2, the master regulator of the oxidative and electrophilic stress response, mediates the expression and activation of EGFR in melanoma by elevating the levels of EGFR as well as its ligands EGF and TGFα. ChIP sequencing data show that NRF2 directly binds to the promoter of EGF, which contains a canonical antioxidant response element. Accordingly, EGF is induced by oxidative stress and is also increased in lung adenocarcinoma and head and neck carcinoma with mutationally activated NRF2. In contrast, regulation of EGFR and TGFA occurs by an indirect mechanism, which is enabled by the ability of NRF2 to block the activity of the melanocytic lineage factor MITF in melanoma. MITF effectively suppresses EGFR and TGFA expression and therefore serves as link between NRF2 and EGFR. As EGFR was previously described to stimulate NRF2 activity, the mutual activation of NRF2 and EGFR pathways was investigated. The presence of NRF2 was necessary for full EGFR pathway activation, as NRF2-knockout cells showed reduced AKT activation in response to EGF stimulation compared to controls. Conversely, EGF led to the nuclear localization and activation of NRF2, thereby demonstrating that NRF2 and EGFR are connected in a positive feedback loop in melanoma. In summary, our data show that the EGFR-positive melanoma phenotype is strongly supported by NRF2, thus revealing a novel maintenance mechanism for this clinically challenging melanoma subpopulation.

2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (1_suppl4) ◽  
pp. 3-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.P. Dei Tos

Receptor tyrosine kinases play a major role in human carcinogenesis. Overexpression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been associated with poor clinical outcome in several types of cancer. In principle, as with HER2, the EGFR status of a tumor should predict the likelihood of response to EGFR-targeted therapy. However, clinical data have failed to demonstrate a relationship between EGFR expression and response to the EGFR-targeted compounds cetuximab, gefitinib and erlotinib. Recently, patients reported to be EGFR negative have been shown to respond to cetuximab. Possible explanations include methodological failures or most likely heterogeneity and complexity of the mechanisms of EGFR-mediated molecular carcinogenesis. Immunohistochemistry is the most widely used method for measuring EGFR expression; however, its value is limited by lack of methodological standardization. Other approaches to measuring EGFR such as amplification assays are currently being introduced but need further testing before they can enter clinical practice. Mutational analysis seems also fruitful in predicting response to anti-EGFR small molecules. Further work is needed to identify how EGFR contributes to the carcinogenic and metastatic processes.


Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1113
Author(s):  
Xintong Peng ◽  
Yanling Zhou ◽  
Yongguang Tao ◽  
Shuang Liu

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), a type 4 γ herpes virus, is recognized as a causative agent in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Incidence of EBV-positive NPC have grown in recent decades along with worse outcomes compared with their EBV-negative counterparts. Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1), encoded by EBV, induces NPC progression. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a member of the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK), is a driver of tumorigenesis, including for NPC. Little data exist on the relationship between EGFR and EBV-induced NPC. In our initial review, we found that LMP1 promoted the expression of EGFR in NPC in two main ways: the NF-κB pathway and STAT3 activation. On the other hand, EGFR also enhances EBV infection in NPC cells. Moreover, activation of EGFR signalling affects NPC cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. Since EGFR promotes tumorigenesis and progression by downstream signalling pathways, causing poor outcomes in NPC patients, EGFR-targeted drugs could be considered a newly developed anti-tumor drug. Here, we summarize the major studies on EBV, EGFR, and LMP1-regulatory EGFR expression and nucleus location in NPC and discuss the clinical efficacy of EGFR-targeted agents in locally advanced NPC (LA NPC) and recurrent or metastatic NPC (R/M NPC) patients.


Science ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 343 (6166) ◽  
pp. 72-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Nathanson ◽  
Beatrice Gini ◽  
Jack Mottahedeh ◽  
Koppany Visnyei ◽  
Tomoyuki Koga ◽  
...  

Intratumoral heterogeneity contributes to cancer drug resistance, but the underlying mechanisms are not understood. Single-cell analyses of patient-derived models and clinical samples from glioblastoma patients treated with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) demonstrate that tumor cells reversibly up-regulate or suppress mutant EGFR expression, conferring distinct cellular phenotypes to reach an optimal equilibrium for growth. Resistance to EGFR TKIs is shown to occur by elimination of mutant EGFR from extrachromosomal DNA. After drug withdrawal, reemergence of clonal EGFR mutations on extrachromosomal DNA follows. These results indicate a highly specific, dynamic, and adaptive route by which cancers can evade therapies that target oncogenes maintained on extrachromosomal DNA.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 585-615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikhil S. Sakle ◽  
Shweta A. More ◽  
Sachin A. Dhawale ◽  
Santosh N. Mokale

Background: Cancer is a complex disease involving genetic and epigenetic alteration that allows cells to escape normal homeostasis. Kinases play a crucial role in signaling pathways that regulate cell functions. Deregulation of kinases leads to a variety of pathological changes, activating cancer cell proliferation and metastases. The molecular mechanism of cancer is complex and the dysregulation of tyrosine kinases like Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK), Bcr-Abl (Fusion gene found in patient with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML), JAK (Janus Activated Kinase), Src Family Kinases (SFKs), ALK (Anaplastic lymphoma Kinase), c-MET (Mesenchymal- Epithelial Transition), EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor receptor), PDGFR (Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor), RET (Rearranged during Transfection) and VEGFR (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor) plays major role in the process of carcinogenesis. Recently, kinase inhibitors have overcome many problems of traditional cancer chemotherapy as they effectively separate out normal, non-cancer cells as well as rapidly multiplying cancer cells. Methods: Electronic databases were searched to explore the small molecule tyrosine kinases by polyphenols with the help of docking study (Glide-7.6 program interfaced with Maestro-v11.3 of Schrödinger 2017) to show the binding energies of polyphenols inhibitor with different tyrosine kinases in order to differentiate between the targets. Results: From the literature survey, it was observed that the number of polyphenols derived from natural sources alters the expression and signaling cascade of tyrosine kinase in various tumor models. Therefore, the development of polyphenols as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor against targeted proteins is regarded as an upcoming trend for chemoprevention. Conclusion: In this review, we have discussed the role of polyphenols as chemoreceptive which will help in future for the development and discovery of novel semisynthetic anticancer agents coupled with polyphenols.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 184
Author(s):  
Kalpana K. Bhanumathy ◽  
Amrutha Balagopal ◽  
Frederick S. Vizeacoumar ◽  
Franco J. Vizeacoumar ◽  
Andrew Freywald ◽  
...  

Protein kinases constitute a large group of enzymes catalysing protein phosphorylation and controlling multiple signalling events. The human protein kinase superfamily consists of 518 members and represents a complicated system with intricate internal and external interactions. Protein kinases are classified into two main families based on the ability to phosphorylate either tyrosine or serine and threonine residues. Among the 90 tyrosine kinase genes, 58 are receptor types classified into 20 groups and 32 are of the nonreceptor types distributed into 10 groups. Tyrosine kinases execute their biological functions by controlling a variety of cellular responses, such as cell division, metabolism, migration, cell–cell and cell matrix adhesion, cell survival and apoptosis. Over the last 30 years, a major focus of research has been directed towards cancer-associated tyrosine kinases owing to their critical contributions to the development and aggressiveness of human malignancies through the pathological effects on cell behaviour. Leukaemia represents a heterogeneous group of haematological malignancies, characterised by an uncontrolled proliferation of undifferentiated hematopoietic cells or leukaemia blasts, mostly derived from bone marrow. They are usually classified as chronic or acute, depending on the rates of their progression, as well as myeloid or lymphoblastic, according to the type of blood cells involved. Overall, these malignancies are relatively common amongst both children and adults. In malignant haematopoiesis, multiple tyrosine kinases of both receptor and nonreceptor types, including AXL receptor tyrosine kinase (AXL), Discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1), Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), Mesenchymal–epithelial transition factor (MET), proto-oncogene c-Src (SRC), Spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) and pro-oncogenic Abelson tyrosine-protein kinase 1 (ABL1) mutants, are implicated in the pathogenesis and drug resistance of practically all types of leukaemia. The role of ABL1 kinase mutants and their therapeutic inhibitors have been extensively analysed in scientific literature, and therefore, in this review, we provide insights into the impact and mechanism of action of other tyrosine kinases involved in the development and progression of human leukaemia and discuss the currently available and emerging treatment options based on targeting these molecules.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 1902 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-Shu Huang ◽  
Wei-Chuan Hsu ◽  
Chien-Hong Lin ◽  
Sheng-Nan Lo ◽  
Chu-Nian Cheng ◽  
...  

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) specific therapeutics is of great importance in cancer treatment. Fcy-hEGF fusion protein, composed of yeast cytosine deaminase (Fcy) and human EGF (hEGF), is capable of binding to EGFR and enzymatically convert 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) to 1000-fold toxic 5-fluorocuracil (5-FU), thereby inhibiting the growth of EGFR-expressing tumor cells. To develop EGFR-specific therapy, 188Re-liposome-Fcy-hEGF was constructed by insertion of Fcy-hEGF fusion protein onto the surface of liposomes encapsulating of 188Re. Western blotting, MALDI-TOF, column size exclusion and flow cytometry were used to confirm the conjugation and bio-activity of 188Re-liposome-Fcy-hEGF. Cell lines with EGFR expression were subjected to treat with 188Re-liposome-Fcy-hEGF/5-FC in the presence of 5-FC. The 188Re-liposome-Fcy-hEGF/5-FC revealed a better cytotoxic effect for cancer cells than the treatment of liposome-Fcy-hEGF/5-FC or 188Re-liposome-Fcy-hEGF alone. The therapeutics has radio- and chemo-toxicity simultaneously and specifically target to EGFR-expression tumor cells, thereby achieving synergistic anticancer activity.


Oncogene ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ola Billing ◽  
Ylva Holmgren ◽  
Daniel Nosek ◽  
Håkan Hedman ◽  
Oskar Hemmingsson

AbstractLeucine-rich repeats and immunoglobulin-like domains 1 (LRIG1) is a pan-negative regulator of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling and a tumor suppressor in several cancers, but its involvement in melanoma is largely unexplored. Here, we aim to determine the role of LRIG1 in melanoma tumorigenesis, RTK signaling, and BRAF inhibitor resistance. We find that LRIG1 is downregulated during early tumorigenesis and that LRIG1 affects activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in melanoma cells. LRIG1-dependent regulation of EGFR signaling is evolutionary conserved to the roundworm C. elegans, where negative regulation of the EGFR-Ras-Raf pathway by sma-10/LRIG completely depends on presence of the receptor let-23/EGFR. In a cohort of metastatic melanoma patients, we observe an association between LRIG1 and survival in the triple wild-type subtype and in tumors with high EGFR expression. During in vitro development of BRAF inhibitor resistance, LRIG1 expression decreases; and mimics LRIG1 knockout cells for increased EGFR expression. Treating resistant cells with recombinant LRIG1 suppresses AKT activation and proliferation. Together, our results show that sma-10/LRIG is a conserved regulator of RTK signaling, add to our understanding of LRIG1 in melanoma and identifies recombinant LRIG1 as a potential therapeutic against BRAF inhibitor-resistant melanoma.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 626
Author(s):  
Julie Bolcaen ◽  
Shankari Nair ◽  
Cathryn H. S. Driver ◽  
Tebatso M. G. Boshomane ◽  
Thomas Ebenhan ◽  
...  

Glioblastoma (GB) remains the most fatal brain tumor characterized by a high infiltration rate and treatment resistance. Overexpression and/or mutation of receptor tyrosine kinases is common in GB, which subsequently leads to the activation of many downstream pathways that have a critical impact on tumor progression and therapy resistance. Therefore, receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (RTKIs) have been investigated to improve the dismal prognosis of GB in an effort to evolve into a personalized targeted therapy strategy with a better treatment outcome. Numerous RTKIs have been approved in the clinic and several radiopharmaceuticals are part of (pre)clinical trials as a non-invasive method to identify patients who could benefit from RTKI. The latter opens up the scope for theranostic applications. In this review, the present status of RTKIs for the treatment, nuclear imaging and targeted radionuclide therapy of GB is presented. The focus will be on seven tyrosine kinase receptors, based on their central role in GB: EGFR, VEGFR, MET, PDGFR, FGFR, Eph receptor and IGF1R. Finally, by way of analyzing structural and physiological characteristics of the TKIs with promising clinical trial results, four small molecule RTKIs were selected based on their potential to become new therapeutic GB radiopharmaceuticals.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1515
Author(s):  
Keiichiro Okuda ◽  
Atsushi Umemura ◽  
Shiori Umemura ◽  
Seita Kataoka ◽  
Hiroyoshi Taketani ◽  
...  

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has become a serious public health problem associated with metabolic syndrome. The mechanisms by which NASH induces hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unknown. There are no approved drugs for treating NASH or preventing NASH-induced HCC. We used a genetic mouse model in which HCC was induced via high-fat diet feeding. This mouse model strongly resembles human NASH-induced HCC. The natural product honokiol (HNK) was tested for its preventative effects against NASH progression to HCC. Then, to clarify the mechanisms underlying HCC development, human HCC cells were treated with HNK. Human clinical specimens were also analyzed to explore this study’s clinical relevance. We found that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling was hyperactivated in the livers of mice with NASH and human HCC specimens. Inhibition of EGFR signaling by HNK drastically attenuated HCC development in the mouse model. Mechanistically, HNK accelerated the nuclear translocation of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and promoted mitogen-inducible gene 6 (MIG6)/ERBB receptor feedback inhibitor 1 (ERRFI1) expression, leading to EGFR degradation and thereby resulting in robust tumor suppression. In human samples, EGFR-positive HCC tissues and their corresponding non-tumor tissues exhibited decreased ERRFI1 mRNA expression. Additionally, GR-positive non-tumor liver tissues displayed lower EGFR expression. Livers from patients with advanced NASH exhibited decreased ERRFI1 expression. EGFR degradation or inactivation represents a novel approach for NASH–HCC treatment and prevention, and the GR–MIG6 axis is a newly defined target that can be activated by HNK and related compounds.


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