Chaetocin-mediated SUV39H1 inhibition targets stemness and oncogenic networks of diffuse midline gliomas and synergizes with ONC201

by Selleckchem | Jan 22 2024

Background: Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG/DMG) are devastating pediatric brain tumors with extraordinarily limited treatment options and uniformly fatal prognosis. Histone H3K27M mutation is a common recurrent alteration in DIPG and disrupts epigenetic regulation. We hypothesize that genome-wide H3K27M-induced epigenetic dysregulation makes tumors vulnerable to epigenetic targeting.

Methods: We performed a screen of compounds targeting epigenetic enzymes to identify potential inhibitors for the growth of patient-derived DIPG cells. We further carried out transcriptomic and genomic landscape profiling including RNA-seq and CUT&RUN-seq as well as shRNA-mediated knockdown to assess the effects of chaetocin and SUV39H1, a target of chaetocin, on DIPG growth.

Results: High-throughput small-molecule screening identified an epigenetic compound chaetocin as a potent blocker of DIPG cell growth. Chaetocin treatment selectively decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis of DIPG cells and significantly extended survival in DIPG xenograft models, while restoring H3K27me3 levels. Moreover, the loss of H3K9 methyltransferase SUV39H1 inhibited DIPG cell growth. Transcriptomic and epigenomic profiling indicated that SUV39H1 loss or inhibition led to downregulation of stemness and oncogenic networks including growth factor receptor signaling and stemness-related programs, however, D2 dopamine receptor (DRD2) signaling adaptively underwent compensatory upregulation conferring resistance. Consistently, combination of chaetocin treatment with a DRD2 antagonist ONC201 synergistically increased the antitumor efficacy.

Conclusions: Our studies reveal a therapeutic vulnerability of DIPG cells through targeting the SUV39H1-H3K9me3 pathway and compensatory signaling loops for treating this devastating disease. Combining SUV39H1-targeting chaetocin with other agents such as ONC201 may offer a new strategy for effective DIPG treatment.

Comments:

This research is truly promising! The identification of chaetocin as a potent inhibitor of DIPG cell growth and its ability to extend survival in xenograft models could pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies. Additionally, understanding the interplay between SUV39H1 inhibition, its impact on oncogenic networks, and the compensatory upregulation of DRD2 signaling provides valuable insights into potential combination therapies.

The findings suggesting that combining chaetocin with a DRD2 antagonist like ONC201 could enhance antitumor efficacy by overcoming compensatory signaling loops demonstrate a potentially effective treatment approach. Such combinatorial strategies could address the complexity of DIPG and improve therapeutic outcomes.

This research not only sheds light on the vulnerabilities of DIPG cells through epigenetic targeting but also presents a compelling case for combination therapies to tackle resistance mechanisms. It's exciting to see how these discoveries might lead to more effective treatment options for such a devastating disease.