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Transcriptome sequencing analysis of BRAF-mutant melanoma metastases.

ABSTRACT: Melanoma patients carry a high risk of developing brain metastases, and improvements in survival are still measured in weeks or months. Durable disease control within the brain is impeded by poor drug penetration across the blood-brain barrier, as well as intrinsic and acquired drug resistance. In this study, we used high-throughput pharmacogenomic profiling to identify potentially repurposable compounds against BRAF-mutant melanoma brain metastases. One of the compounds identified was β-sitosterol, a well-tolerated and brain-penetrable phytosterol. We found that β-sitosterol attenuated melanoma cell growth in vitro and significantly inhibited brain metastasis in vivo. Large-scale phosphoproteomic and in silico analyses indicated that the therapeutic potential of β-sitosterol was linked to mitochondrial interference. Mechanistically, β-sitosterol effectively reduced mitochondrial respiration and respiratory capacity in melanoma cells, mediated by a selective inhibition of mitochondrial complex I. This led to increased oxidative stress and apoptosis. Notably, we observed completely abrogated BRAF inhibitor resistance when vemurafenib was combined with either β-sitosterol or a functional knockdown of mitochondrial complex I. Based on its favorable tolerability, excellent brain bioavailability, and capacity to inhibit mitochondrial respiration, β-sitosterol represents a promising candidate for drug repurposing in patients with, or at risk for, melanoma brain metastases.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE100066 | GEO | 2019/04/06

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:The majority of human melanomas bears BRAF mutations and thus is treated with inhibitors of BRAF, such as vemurafenib. While patients with BRAF mutations often demonstrate an initial dramatic response to vemurafenib, relapse is extremely common. Thus, novel agents are needed for the treatment of these aggressive melanomas. Honokiol is a small molecule compound derived from Magnolia grandiflora that has activity against solid tumors and hematopoietic neoplasms. In order to increase the lipophilicity of honokiol, we have synthesized honokiol DCA, the dichloroacetate ester of honokiol. In addition, we synthesized a novel fluorinated honokiol analog, bis-trifluoromethyl-bis-(4-hydroxy-3-allylphenyl) methane (hexafluoro). Both compounds exhibited activity against A375 melanoma in vivo, but honokiol DCA was more active. Gene arrays comparing treated with vehicle control tumors demonstrated induction of the respiratory enzyme succinate dehydrogenase B (SDHB) by treatment, suggesting that our honokiol analogs induce respiration in vivo. We then examined its effect against a pair of melanomas, LM36 and LM36R, in which LM36R differs from LM36 in that LM36R has acquired vemurafenib resistance. Honokiol DCA demonstrated in vivo activity against LM36R (vemurafenib resistant) but not against parental LM36. Honokiol DCA and hexafluoro inhibited the phosphorylation of DRP1, thus stimulating a phenotype suggestive of respiration through mitochondrial normalization. Honokiol DCA may act in vemurafenib resistant melanomas to increase both respiration and reactive oxygen generation, leading to activity against aggressive melanoma in vivo. Tumors from animals treated with control vehicle, honokiol DCA, and hexafluoro were harvested and snapped-frozen in liquid nitrogen until RNA Extraction. RNA extraction was performed according to the Qiagen RNeasy kit. RNA samples were then submitted to Emory Universityâs Intergrated Genomics Core for RNA quality analysis and gene expression assay. Gene expression analysis was performed using an Illumina HumanHT-12 v3 Expression Bead Chip and Gene Expression Module of Illuminaâs GenomeStudio Software package (v2011.1, Illumina).

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Transcriptome sequencing analysis of BRAF-mutant melanoma metastases.

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