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Modeling melanoma resistance in a genetically engineered mouse model

ABSTRACT: Melanoma is the deadliest type of skin cancer and its incidence is steadily increasing. Targeting melanoma cells posseses significant challenges due to primary or acquired therapy resistance in the majority of patients. Here, we describe the generation of an in vivo mouse model mimicking the key steps in melanoma initiation, progression and resistance acquisition. The well-characterized Tyr::CreERT2 BrafV600E Ptenfl/fl mouse model was used to induce melanoma initiation and subsequently therapy resistance to a combination of BRAF (PLX4720) and MEK (PD0325901) inhibitors. Our data reveal that all of the Tyr::CreERT2 BrafV600E Ptenfl/fl mice subjected to PLX4720+PD0325901 treatment ultimately developed resistance to these inhibitors. Introduction of genetic labelling by crossing Tyr::CreERT2 BrafV600E Ptenfl/fl mice with the TdTomato reporter allele allowed us not only to observe brain metastasis, which are rarely seen in this mouse model, but also to isolate metastatic melanoma cells using flow cytometry. The comparison of the expression profile of metastatic cells before and after resistance acquisition revealed a number of pathways significantly altered in resistant cells. Here, we describe and characterize a suitable mouse model to explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms of multiple stages of drug resistance in melanoma development. Finally, this experimental model might provide further understanding of the interplay between the immune system and melanoma cells.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE155537 | GEO | 2022/01/01

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Fifty percent of cutaneous melanomas are driven by activated BRAFV600E, but tumors treated with RAF inhibitors, even when they respond dramatically, rapidly adapt and develop resistance. Thus, there is a pressing need to identify the major mechanisms of intrinsic and adaptive resistance and develop drug combinations that target these resistance mechanisms. In a combinatorial drug screen on a panel of 12 treatment-naïve BRAFV600E mutant melanoma cell lines of varying levels of resistance to MAPK pathway inhibition we identified the combination PLX4720, a targeted inhibitor of mutated BRaf, and lapatinib, an inhibitor of the ERBB family of receptor tyrosine kinases, as synergistically cytotoxic in the subset of cell lines that displayed the most resistance to PLX4720. To identify potential mechanisms of resistance to PLX4720 treatment and synergy with lapatinib treatment we performed a multi-platform functional genomics analysis to profile the genome as well as the transcriptional and proteomic responses of these cell lines to treatment with PLX4720. We found modest levels of resistance correlated with the zygosity of the BRAF V600E allele and RTK mutational status. Layered over base-line resistance was substantial upregulation of many ERBB pathway genes in response to BRaf inhibition, thus generating the vulnerability to combination with lapatinib. The transcriptional responses of ERBB pathway genes are associated with a number of transcription factors, including ETS2 and its associated cofactors that represent a convergent regulatory mechanism conferring synergistic drug susceptibility in the context of diverse mutational landscapes. 12 BRAF mutant melanomas and 4 melanomas with WT BRAF were exposed plx4720 treatment to evaluate their responses after 8 hours of treatment. 5 of the 12 BRAF mutant melanomas responses were also evaluated in response to the treatment of lapatinib alone, masitinib alone, the combination of lapatinib with plx4720, or the combination of masitinib with plx4720. All samples were run in at least triplicate.

Project description:PURPOSE: To assess the role of Apollon in melanoma resistance to intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of apoptosis and to identify strategies to reduce its expression. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Expression of Apollon was assessed in melanoma cell lines and in surgical specimens.Gene expression profiling, mitochondrial depolarization, caspases activation and apoptosis assays were used to test the effect of Apollon silencing, by siRNA, on melanoma response to different anti-tumor agents. Levels of expression of Apollon and melanoma apoptosis were assessed after tumor treatment with the combination of MEK- and mTOR- inhibitors, or of anti-HLA class II mAbs and anti-tumor agents. RESULTS: Melanoma cells constitutively expressed Apollon, in-vitro and in-vivo. Extent of melanoma apoptosis correlated significantly with Apollon downmodulation upon treatment with a MEK inhibitor, a BRAFV600E-specific inhibitor or the nitrosourea fotemustine. Apollon silencing enhanced melanoma apoptosis in response to the cytotoxic drugs camptothecin, celecoxib, fotemustine and temozolomide, to MEK- and BRAFV600E-specific inhibitors, and to soluble or membrane-bound TRAIL. Mechanistically, Apollon silencing in melanoma cells promoted mitochondrial depolarization, caspase-2, -8, -9 and -3 activation and alteration in the expression of genes related to different cellular functions in response to different anti-tumor agents. Treatment of melanoma cells with combination of MEK and of mTOR inhibitors, or of HLA class II antigen-specific mAb and anti-tumor agents, promoted Apollon downmodulation, associated with enhanced apoptotic responses. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that Apollon is a relevant molecule in melanoma resistance to apoptosis, and that strategies aimed at downmodulating Apollon protein may improve melanoma cell death in response to anti-tumor agents that trigger the intrinsic or the extrinsic apoptosis pathways. The human melanoma cell line Me23682 was established in our laboratory from a surgical specimen. Cells were routinely maintained in RPMI medium 1640 (Lonza, Basel, Switzerland) supplemented with 10% FBS (Lonza) and 2 mM glutamine (Lonza). Cells were maintained at 37°C in a water-saturated atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air. 3x106 cells were seeded in 10 cm dishes; after 24 hours, cells were transfected with Apollon-specific siRNA or its unrelated control (Stealth RNAi siRNA, Invitrogen Life Technologies, Camarillo, CA) at a final concentration of 75 nmol/L and then left untreated or treated with fotemustine (Muphoran, Italfarmaco, Milan, Italy) at 150 umol/L for 6 hours, or with the BRAFV600E-specific inhibitor PLX4720 (Selleck Chemicals, Houston, TX) at 500 nmol/L for 8 hours, or with the MEK inhibitor PD0325901 (Cayman Chemicals, Ann Arbor, MI) at 5 nmol/L for 8 hours. Each treatment or combination was performed in triplicate. At the end of treatment, cells were collected and RNA extracted.

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Modeling melanoma resistance in a genetically engineered mouse model

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