alvocidib and Carcinogenesis

Role of cyclin dependent kinase 9(CDK9) as a potential target in esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is unknown. We investigated CDK9 protein expression in EAC and Barrett's esophagus and role of CDK9 in oncogenic processes of EAC in vitro and in murine xenografts. The CDK9 expression was significantly higher in EAC as compared to Barrett's esophagus in patient samples. Stable shCDK9 in SKGT4 reduced proliferation by 37% at day 4, increased apoptosis at 48 hours and induced G1 cell cycle arrest at 48 hours (58.4% vs. 45.8%) compared to controls SKGT4 cells. SKGT4-shCDK9 cell-derived tumors were significantly smaller than control SKGT4-derived tumors in xenografts (72.89mm3 vs. 270mm3). Pharmaceutical inhibition of CDK9 by Flavopiridol (0.1µm for 48 hours) and CAN508 (20 and 40µm for 72 hours) induced significant reduction in proliferation and 2-fold increase in apoptosis in SKGT4, FLO1 and OE33 cells. In xenograft models, CAN508 (60 mg/kg/dayx10 days) and Flavopiridol (4mg/kg/dayx10 days) caused 50.8% and 63.1% reduction in xenograft tumors as compared to control on post-treatment day 21. Reduction of MCL-1 and phosphorylated RNA polymerase II was observed with transient shCDK9 in SKGT4 cells but not with stable shCDK9. CAN508 (20 and 40 µm) and Flavopiridol (0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 µm) for 4 hours showed reduction in MCL-1 mRNA (84% and 96%) and protein. Mcl-1 overexpression conferred resistance to Flavopiridol (0.2 µm or 0.4 µm for 48 hours) and CAN 508 (20 or 40µm for 72 hours). Chromatin immunoprecipitation demonstrated significant reduction of binding of transcriptional factor HIF-1α to MCL-1 promoter in FLO-1 cells by CDK9 inhibitors.

Topics: Adenocarcinoma; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Animals; Apoptosis; Barrett Esophagus; Carcinogenesis; Cell Line, Tumor; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 9; Esophageal Neoplasms; Female; Flavonoids; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Male; Mice, Nude; Middle Aged; Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein; Piperidines; RNA, Small Interfering; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

The Hippo/YAP signaling pathway is a crucial regulator of tissue growth, stem cell activity, and tumorigenesis. However, the mechanism by which YAP controls transcription remains to be fully elucidated. Here, we utilize global chromatin occupancy analyses to demonstrate that robust YAP binding is restricted to a relatively small number of distal regulatory elements in the genome. YAP occupancy defines a subset of enhancers and superenhancers with the highest transcriptional outputs. YAP modulates transcription from these elements predominantly by regulating promoter-proximal polymerase II (Pol II) pause release. Mechanistically, YAP interacts and recruits the Mediator complex to enhancers, allowing the recruitment of the CDK9 elongating kinase. Genetic and chemical perturbation experiments demonstrate the requirement for Mediator and CDK9 in YAP-driven phenotypes of overgrowth and tumorigenesis. Our results here uncover the molecular mechanisms employed by YAP to exert its growth and oncogenic functions, and suggest strategies for intervention.

Topics: Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Bile Duct Neoplasms; Carcinogenesis; Cell Line, Tumor; Cholangiocarcinoma; Chromatin; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 9; DNA Polymerase II; Enhancer Elements, Genetic; Flavonoids; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Mediator Complex; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Phosphoproteins; Piperidines; Protein Binding; Signal Transduction; Trans-Activators; Transcription Factors; Transcription, Genetic; Transcriptional Coactivator with PDZ-Binding Motif Proteins; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; YAP-Signaling Proteins