Project description:To better understand the differences between different ALK inhibitors on ALK positive NSCL cell lines, we performed RNA-seq analysis on samples treated with 3 types of ALK inhibitors: Alectinib, Lorlatinib and Brigatinib
Project description:Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion variants in non-small-cell-lung cancer (NSCLC) consist of numerous dimerising fusion partners, with the most common being EML4. Clinical data suggests that the degree of treatment benefit in response to ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) differs among the variant present in the patient tumor. Therefore, a better understanding the oncogenic signaling networks driven by different ALK-fusion variants is important. Here, we developed highly controlled doxycycline-inducible cell models bearing four different ALK fusion proteins, namely EML4-ALK-V1, EML4-ALK-V3, KIF5B-ALK, and TFG-ALK, in the context of non-tumorigenic NL20 human bronchial epithelial cells. These were complimented by patient-derived NSCLC cell lines harboring either EML4-ALK-V1 or EML4-ALK-V3 fusions. RNAseq and phosphoproteomics analysis were employed to identify dysregulated genes and hyper/hypo-phosphorylated proteins associated with ALK fusion expression. Among ALK fusion induced responses, we noted a robust inflammatory signature that included up-regulation of the Serpin B4 serine protease inhibitor in both NL20-inducible cell models and ALK-positive NSCLC patient-derived cell lines. We show that STAT3 is a major transcriptional regulator of SERPINB4 downstream of ALK fusions, along with NF-B and AP1. The upregulation of SERPINB4 promotes survival of ALK fusion expressing cells and inhibits natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytotoxicity. In conclusion, our study reveals a novel ALK downstream survival axis that regulates Serpin B4 expression and identifies a molecular target that has potential for therapeutic impact targeting the immune response together with ALK TKIs in NSCLC.
Project description:To better understand the differences between different ALK inhibitors on ALK positive NSCLC cell lines, we performed RNA-seq analysis on samples treated with 2 types of ALK inhibitors: Tramatinib and Lorlatinib. Samples taken 6h and 24h after treatment
Project description:Metastasis poses a major challenge in cancer management, including EML4-ALK-rearranged non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). As cell migration is a critical step during metastasis, we assessed the anti-migratory activities of several clinical ALK inhibitors in NSCLC cells and observed differential anti-migratory capabilities despite similar ALK inhibition, with brigatinib displaying superior anti-migratory effects over other ALK inhibitors. Applying an unbiased in-situ mass spectrometry-based chemoproteomics approach, we determined the proteome-wide target profile of brigatinib in EML4-ALK+ NSCLC cells. Dose-dependent and cross-competitive chemoproteomics suggested MARK2 and MARK3 as relevant brigatinib kinase targets. Functional validation showed that combined pharmacological inhibition or genetic modulation of MARK2/3 inhibited cell migration. Consistently, brigatinib treatment induced inhibitory YAP1 phosphorylation downstream of MARK2/3. Collectively, our data suggest that brigatinib exhibits unusual cross-phenotype polypharmacology as despite similar efficacy for inhibiting EML4-ALK-dependent cell proliferation as other ALK inhibitors, it more effectively prevented migration of NSCLC cells due to co-targeting of MARK2/3.
Project description:Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) is a tyrosine kinase receptor which is a clinical target of major interest in cancer, including neuroblastoma. To better understand ALK signaling, three different neuroblastoma cell lines (CLB-BAR, CLB-GE and SK-N-AS) were cultured for 1hr and 24hrs in control conditions or after treatment with the ALK inhibitors crizotinib or lorlatinib. RNA-Seq experiments were performed to determine the expression changes resulting from ALK inhibition. Together with parallel phosphoproteomic experiments, these data unveil several important conserved oncogenic pathways in neuroblastoma.
Project description:Anaplastic lymphoma kinase tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ALK-TKIs) induce a dramatic response in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with the ALK fusion gene. However, acquired resistance to ALK-TKIs in lung cancer cells remains an inevitable problem: ALK secondary mutations and bypass pathways have been reported as major resistance mechanisms. In this study, we aimed to discover a novel mechanism of acquired resistance to ALK-TKIs and a strategy to conquer ALK-positive lung cancer. We established three types of ALK-TKI (crizotinib, alectinib and ceritinib)–resistant H2228 non-small cell lung cancer cell lines by high exposure and stepwise methods. We found these cells showed a loss of ALK signaling, overexpressed AXL with epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and had cancer stem cell–like properties. Similarly, we demonstrated that TGF-β1 treated H2228 cells also showed AXL overexpression with EMT features and ALK-TKI–resistance. The AXL inhibitor, R428, or HSP90 inhibitor, ganetespib, were effective in reversing ALK-TKI–resistance and EMT changes in both ALK-TKI–resistant and TGF-β1–exposed H2228 cells. Progression-free survival of ALK-positive NSCLC patients with AXL overexpression was shorter than that of patients who underwent crizotinib therapy and showed low AXL expression. Thus, we found ALK signaling-independent AXL overexpression and EMT features were commonly involved in intrinsic and acquired resistance to first and second generation ALK-TKIs. This suggests AXL and HSP90 inhibitors may be promising therapeutic drugs to overcome tumor cells in ALK-positive NSCLC patients.
Project description:High anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) protein levels may be correlated with an unfavorable prognosis in neuroblastoma (NBL) patients, regardless of ALK mutation status. We therefore examined the correlation between levels of ALK, phosphorylated ALK (pALK) and downstream signaling proteins and response to ALK inhibition in a large panel of both ALK mutated (MUT) and wild type (WT) NBL cell lines. Six of the nineteen NBL cell lines had a point mutation and four an amplification of the ALK gene. ALK amplified cell lines showed similar ALK levels and ALK inhibitor sensitivity as WT cell lines and were therefore co-analyzed. The ALK mRNA (p=0.043), ALK 220 kDa (p=0.009) and ALK 140 kDa (p=0.025) protein levels were higher in ALK mutant (n=6) than WT cell lines (n=13). ALK mRNA and protein levels significantly correlated with ERK1 and ERK2 protein levels, and also with PHOX2B mRNA levels, a neural differentiation marker which is mutated in NBL. Response to ALK inhibitor TAE684 was also significantly correlated with ALK levels. ALK mutant cell lines (n=4) demonstrated a higher sensitivity towards ALK inhibitor TAE684 (14.9 fold more sensitive, p=0.004) than eight WT cell lines. These results underline the importance of ALK mutations but also ALK levels for response to ALK inhibitors in NBL cell lines. Furthermore, the strong correlation of PHOX2B and ALK suggests that neural differentiation stage may be correlated with ALK levels in neuroblastoma. These data will enhance understanding of ALK inhibitor response in future patient trials. To study differentially expressed genes in the neuroblastoma cell lines described in the protein analysis study above, 15 cell lines and 2 derivative cell lines were used.
Project description:High anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) protein levels may be correlated with an unfavorable prognosis in neuroblastoma (NBL) patients, regardless of ALK mutation status. We therefore examined the correlation between levels of ALK, phosphorylated ALK (pALK) and downstream signaling proteins and response to ALK inhibition in a large panel of both ALK mutated (MUT) and wild type (WT) NBL cell lines. Six of the nineteen NBL cell lines had a point mutation and four an amplification of the ALK gene. ALK amplified cell lines showed similar ALK levels and ALK inhibitor sensitivity as WT cell lines and were therefore co-analyzed. The ALK mRNA (p=0.043), ALK 220 kDa (p=0.009) and ALK 140 kDa (p=0.025) protein levels were higher in ALK mutant (n=6) than WT cell lines (n=13). ALK mRNA and protein levels significantly correlated with ERK1 and ERK2 protein levels, and also with PHOX2B mRNA levels, a neural differentiation marker which is mutated in NBL. Response to ALK inhibitor TAE684 was also significantly correlated with ALK levels. ALK mutant cell lines (n=4) demonstrated a higher sensitivity towards ALK inhibitor TAE684 (14.9 fold more sensitive, p=0.004) than eight WT cell lines. These results underline the importance of ALK mutations but also ALK levels for response to ALK inhibitors in NBL cell lines. Furthermore, the strong correlation of PHOX2B and ALK suggests that neural differentiation stage may be correlated with ALK levels in neuroblastoma. These data will enhance understanding of ALK inhibitor response in future patient trials.
Project description:Starting with H3122 cells, which harbor the EML4-ALK E13;A20 fusion and are known to be sensitive to ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors, we generated isogenic pairs of ALK TKI sensitive and ALK TKI resistant cell lines using established methods (see Chmeliecki, J et al Science Trans Med 2011). We modeled resistance against the currently FDA approved ALK TKI, crizotinib (also called PF-1066). We also modeled resistance against a novel more potent ALK inhibitor, X-376 (ref: Lovly, CM et al Cancer Research 2011). We compared gene expression profiles between the 'parental' (ALK TKI sensitive) H3122 cells and the drug resistant cells (H3122 CR for Crizotinib resistant cells and H3122 XR for X-376 resistant cells).
Project description:Despite the initial benefit of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting ALK gene fusions in non-small cell lung cancer, resistance to ALK inhibitors is almost inevitable. To determine the acquired resistance mechanism to ALK inhibition, we generated crizotinib-resistant ALK lines by chronically treating H3122 cells (driven by EML4-ALK) with an ALK inhibitor, crizotinib for approximately 3 months. RNA-seq and differential expression analyses were performed to determine the transcriptional changes of H3122-CR cells in comparison to parental H3122 cells. Because we demonstrated EGFR could mediate the early adaptive resistance to crizotinib, we further explored the mechanism that contributes to the resistance to the combination of crizotinib and afatinib. H3122-CAR (crizotinib and afatinib-resistant) cells were generated by treating them with a combination of crizotinib and afatinib for approximately 6 months and then profiled by RNA-seq to determine the associated transcriptional reprogramming.