Home Blog of Signal Transduction Epigenetics Epigenetic Reader Domain Combinational therapeutic targeting of BRD4 and CDK7 synergistically induces anticancer effects in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

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Combinational therapeutic targeting of BRD4 and CDK7 synergistically induces anticancer effects in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

The bromodomain and extra-terminal domain protein BRD4 has been recognized as a key oncogenic driver and a druggable target against cancer. However, these BRD4 inhibitors as monotherapy were moderate in efficacy in preclinical models. Here we utilized a small-scale drug synergy screen that combined the BRD4 inhibitor (JQ1) with 8 epigenetic or transcriptional targeted chemicals and identified THZ1 (a CDK7 inhibitor) acting synergistically with JQ1 against head neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Combinational JQ1 and THZ1 treatment impaired cell proliferation, induced apoptosis and senescence, which were largely recapitulated by dual BRD4 and CDK7 knockdown. Combinational treatment inhibited tumor growth and progression in 4NQO-induced HNSCC and xenograft animal models. RNA-sequencing analyses identified hundreds of differentially expressed genes modulated by JQ1 and THZ1, which were significantly enriched in categories including cell cycle and apoptosis. Mechanistically, combinational treatment reduced H3K27ac enrichment in the super-enhancer region of YAP1, which inactivated its transcription and in turn induced anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects. Combined BRD4 and CDK7 upregulation associated with worst prognosis in HNSCC patients. Collectively, our findings reveal a novel therapeutic strategy of pharmacological inhibitions of BRD4 and CDK7 against HNSCC.

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S7110 (+)-JQ1 (+)-JQ1 is a BET bromodomain inhibitor, with IC50 of 77 nM/33 nM for BRD4(1/2) in cell-free assays, binding to all bromodomains of the BET family, but not to bromodomains outside the BET family. (+)-JQ1 suppresses cell proliferation via inducing autophagy. (+)-JQ1 inhibits the expression of Nuclear receptor binding SET domain protein 3 (NSD3) target genes.

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Epigenetic Reader Domain