BET protein inhibition sensitizes glioblastoma cells to temozolomide treatment by attenuating MGMT expression.

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Serval ID
serval:BIB_E66061F41235
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
BET protein inhibition sensitizes glioblastoma cells to temozolomide treatment by attenuating MGMT expression.
Journal
Cell death & disease
Author(s)
Tancredi A., Gusyatiner O., Bady P., Buri M.C., Lomazzi R., Chiesi D., Messerer M., Hegi M.E.
ISSN
2041-4889 (Electronic)
Publication state
Published
Issued date
13/12/2022
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
13
Number
12
Pages
1037
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article
Publication Status: epublish
Abstract
Bromodomain and extra-terminal tail (BET) proteins have been identified as potential epigenetic targets in cancer, including glioblastoma. These epigenetic modifiers link the histone code to gene transcription that can be disrupted with small molecule BET inhibitors (BETi). With the aim of developing rational combination treatments for glioblastoma, we analyzed BETi-induced differential gene expression in glioblastoma derived-spheres, and identified 6 distinct response patterns. To uncover emerging actionable vulnerabilities that can be targeted with a second drug, we extracted the 169 significantly disturbed DNA Damage Response genes and inspected their response pattern. The most prominent candidate with consistent downregulation, was the O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene, a known resistance factor for alkylating agent therapy in glioblastoma. BETi not only reduced MGMT expression in GBM cells, but also inhibited its induction, typically observed upon temozolomide treatment. To determine the potential clinical relevance, we evaluated the specificity of the effect on MGMT expression and MGMT mediated treatment resistance to temozolomide. BETi-mediated attenuation of MGMT expression was associated with reduction of BRD4- and Pol II-binding at the MGMT promoter. On the functional level, we demonstrated that ectopic expression of MGMT under an unrelated promoter was not affected by BETi, while under the same conditions, pharmacologic inhibition of MGMT restored the sensitivity to temozolomide, reflected in an increased level of γ-H2AX, a proxy for DNA double-strand breaks. Importantly, expression of MSH6 and MSH2, which are required for sensitivity to unrepaired O6-methylguanine-lesions, was only briefly affected by BETi. Taken together, the addition of BET-inhibitors to the current standard of care, comprising temozolomide treatment, may sensitize the 50% of patients whose glioblastoma exert an unmethylated MGMT promoter.
Keywords
Humans, Temozolomide/pharmacology, Temozolomide/therapeutic use, Glioblastoma/drug therapy, Glioblastoma/genetics, Glioblastoma/pathology, Dacarbazine/pharmacology, Dacarbazine/therapeutic use, Nuclear Proteins/metabolism, Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating/pharmacology, DNA Methylation/genetics, Cell Line, Tumor, Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic, Transcription Factors/metabolism, DNA Modification Methylases/genetics, DNA Modification Methylases/metabolism, O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase/genetics, O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase/metabolism, O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase/therapeutic use, DNA Repair Enzymes/genetics, DNA Repair Enzymes/metabolism, DNA/metabolism, Cell Cycle Proteins/metabolism
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Funding(s)
Swiss National Science Foundation / Projects / 31003A_182821
Other / KFS-4461-02-2018
Other / P50CA127001
Create date
14/12/2022 10:31
Last modification date
28/12/2022 7:52
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