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In silico interrogation of glioblastoma (GBM) in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) revealed upregulation of GNA12 (Gα12), encoding the alpha subunit of the heterotrimeric G-protein G12, concomitant with overexpression of multiple G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) that signal through Gα12. Glioma stem cell lines from patient-derived xenografts also showed elevated levels of Gα12. Knockdown (KD) of Gα12 was carried out in two different human GBM stem cell (GSC) lines. Tumors generated in vivo by orthotopic injection of Gα12KD GSC cells showed reduced invasiveness, without apparent changes in tumor size or survival relative to control GSC tumor-bearing mice. Transcriptional profiling of GSC-23 cell tumors revealed significant differences between WT and Gα12KD tumors including reduced expression of genes associated with the extracellular matrix, as well as decreased expression of stem cell genes and increased expression of several proneural genes. Thrombospondin-1 (THBS1), one of the genes most repressed by Gα12 knockdown, was shown to be required for Gα12-mediated cell migration in vitro and for in vivo tumor invasion. Chemogenetic activation of GSC-23 cells harboring a Gα12-coupled DREADD also increased THBS1 expression and in vitro invasion. Collectively, our findings implicate Gα12 signaling in regulation of transcriptional reprogramming that promotes invasiveness, highlighting this as a potential signaling node for therapeutic intervention.

BackgroundHeterozygous TERT (telomerase reverse transcriptase) promoter mutations (TPMs) facilitate TERT expression and are the most frequent mutation in glioblastoma (GBM). A recent analysis revealed this mutation is one of the earliest events in gliomagenesis. However, no appropriate human models have been engineered to study the role of this mutation in the initiation of these tumors.MethodWe established GBM models by introducing the heterozygous TPM in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) using a two-step targeting approach in the context of GBM genetic alterations, CDKN2A/B and PTEN deletion, and EGFRvIII overexpression. The impact of the mutation was evaluated through the in vivo passage and in vitro experiment and analysis.ResultsOrthotopic injection of neuronal precursor cells (NPCs) derived from hiPSCs with the TPM into immunodeficient mice did not enhance tumorigenesis compared to TERT promoter wild type NPCs at initial in vivo passage presumably due to relatively long telomeres. However, the mutation recruited GA-Binding Protein and engendered low-level TERT expression resulting in enhanced tumorigenesis and maintenance of short telomeres upon secondary passage as observed in human GBM. These results provide the first insights regarding increased tumorigenesis upon introducing a TPM compared to isogenic controls without TPMs.ConclusionOur novel GBM models presented the growth advantage of heterozygous TPMs for the first time in the context of GBM driver mutations relative to isogenic controls, thereby allowing for the identification and validation of TERT promoter-specific vulnerabilities in a genetically accurate background.

Widespread alterations in RNA alternative splicing (AS) have been identified in adult gliomas. However, their regulatory mechanism, biological significance, and therapeutic potential remain largely elusive. Here, using a computational approach with both bulk and single-cell RNA-Seq, we uncover a prognostic AS signature linked with neural developmental hierarchies. Using advanced iPSC glioma models driven by glioma driver mutations, we show that this AS signature could be enhanced by EGFRvIII and inhibited by in situ IDH1 mutation. Functional validations of 2 isoform switching events in CERS5 and MPZL1 show regulations of sphingolipid metabolism and SHP2 signaling, respectively. Analysis of upstream RNA binding proteins reveals PTBP1 as a key regulator of the AS signature where targeting of PTBP1 suppresses tumor growth and promotes the expression of a neuron marker TUJ1 in glioma stem-like cells. Overall, our data highlights the role of AS in affecting glioma malignancy and heterogeneity and its potential as a therapeutic vulnerability for treating adult gliomas., Introduction Tumor heterogeneity is a hallmark of glioma and represents one of the major challenges underlying therapeutic failure (1). The genetic heterogeneity of adult gliomas have been incorporated into a [...]

The highly lethal brain cancer glioblastoma (GBM) poses a daunting challenge because the blood-brain barrier renders potentially druggable amplified or mutated oncoproteins relatively inaccessible. Here, we identify sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase 1 (SMPD1), an enzyme that regulates the conversion of sphingomyelin to ceramide, as an actionable drug target in GBM. We show that the highly brain-penetrant antidepressant fluoxetine potently inhibits SMPD1 activity, killing GBMs, through inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling and via activation of lysosomal stress. Combining fluoxetine with temozolomide, a standard of care for GBM, causes massive increases in GBM cell death and complete tumor regression in mice. Incorporation of real-world evidence from electronic medical records from insurance databases reveals significantly increased survival in GBM patients treated with fluoxetine, which was not seen in patients treated with other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants. These results nominate the repurposing of fluoxetine as a potentially safe and promising therapy for patients with GBM and suggest prospective randomized clinical trials.

Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (ATRTs) are challenging pediatric brain cancers that are predominantly associated with inactivation of the gene SMARCB1, a conserved subunit of the chromatin remodeling BAF complex, which has known contributions to developmental processes. To identify potential interactions between SMARCB1 loss and the process of neural development, we introduced an inducible SMARCB1 loss-of-function system into human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) that were subjected to either directed neuronal differentiation or differentiation into cerebral organoids. Using this system, we identified substantial differences in the downstream effects of SMARCB1 loss depending on differentiation state and identified an interaction between SMARCB1 loss and neural differentiation pressure that causes a resistance to terminal differentiation and a defect in maintenance of a normal cell state. Our results provide insight into how SMARCB1 loss might interact with neural development in the process of ATRT tumorigenesis.

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Many cellular models aimed at elucidating cancer biology do not recapitulate pathobiology including tumor heterogeneity, an inherent feature of cancer that underlies treatment resistance. Here we introduce a cancer modeling paradigm using genetically engineered human pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) that captures authentic cancer pathobiology. Orthotopic engraftment of the neural progenitor cells derived from hiPSCs that have been genome-edited to contain tumor-associated genetic driver mutations revealed by The Cancer Genome Atlas project for glioblastoma (GBM) results in formation of high-grade gliomas. Similar to patient-derived GBM, these models harbor inter-tumor heterogeneity resembling different GBM molecular subtypes, intra-tumor heterogeneity, and extrachromosomal DNA amplification. Re-engraftment of these primary tumor neurospheres generates secondary tumors with features characteristic of patient samples and present mutation-dependent patterns of tumor evolution. These cancer avatar models provide a platform for comprehensive longitudinal assessment of human tumor development as governed by molecular subtype mutations and lineage-restricted differentiation.

Ionizing radiation (IR) and chemotherapy are standard-of-care treatments for glioblastoma (GBM) patients and both result in DNA damage, however, the clinical efficacy is limited due to therapeutic resistance. We identified a mechanism of such resistance mediated by phosphorylation of PTEN on tyrosine 240 (pY240-PTEN) by FGFR2. pY240-PTEN is rapidly elevated and bound to chromatin through interaction with Ki-67 in response to IR treatment and facilitates the recruitment of RAD51 to promote DNA repair. Blocking Y240 phosphorylation confers radiation sensitivity to tumors and extends survival in GBM preclinical models. Y240F-Pten knockin mice showed radiation sensitivity. These results suggest that FGFR-mediated pY240-PTEN is a key mechanism of radiation resistance and is an actionable target for improving radiotherapy efficacy.

R5964 --> 842.22 --> Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common malignant brain tumor, is associated with upregulation of a number of G‐protein coupled receptors. TCGA analysis of glioblastoma reveals that Gα12 mRNA levels are elevated in 28% of GBM patient tumors, the highest rate for all tumor types surveyed. There are concomitant alterations in expression of a subset of GPCRs that couple to Gα12. Gα12 signals through activation of RhoA and its downstream effectors. Our earlier studies revealed that gene programs induced through the RhoA‐regulated transcriptional co‐activators YAP and MRTF‐A contribute to glioma stem cell properties and their in vivo growth as orthotopic (brain) tumors (Yu et al., Oncogene 2018). To determine if Gα12 signaling pathways transduce the effects of known and orphan GPCRs activated in the tumor environment we knocked down Gα12 using shRNA in two human GBM cancer stem cell lines, GSC‐23 and HK‐281. Gα12 mRNA levels decreased by 60‐80% without compensatory upregulation of mRNA for the homologous Gα13. Loss of Gα12 significantly attenuated the stem cell properties of GSC‐23 cells as determined by limiting dilution assays and also reduced mRNA levels for multiple canonical stem cells genes (CCND1, NANONG, OCT4, SOX2 and NESTIN) by 35% to 60%. Tumor growth of GSC‐23 control and Gα12 knockdown (KD) cells was examined following orthotopic injection into mouse brain. Surprisingly, Gα12 deletion had no evident effect on tumor size nor did it prolong mouse survival. On the other hand, histopathological analyses revealed striking differences at the tumor border, indicative of diminished invasive properties and this was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining for the human nucleoli antigen. RNA sequencing and DESeq2 analysis in WT and KD tumors identified a number of genes encoding extra and intracellular proteins related to cell adhesion and migration dynamics which were differentially expressed in Gα12 KDs. Thrombospondin‐1 (Thbs‐1) was one of the most repressed genes in the Gα12 knockdown tumors and it was previously identified as a YAP‐dependent gene in these cells. Expression of Thbs‐1 and Gα12 is highly correlated in the more aggressive mesenchymal‐types of GBM by Gliovis and IvyGAP tools, and clinical reports show elevated Thbs‐1 as a marker of poor prognosis in GBM patients. To assess the effect of Gα12 and Thbs‐1 on glioblastoma stem cell migration we performed in vitro Transwell‐based assays. These studies demonstrated that both Gα12 and its transcriptional target Thbs‐1 are required for agonist‐stimulated GSC‐23 cell migration and invasion. We also demonstrated through chemogenetic activation of Gα12 by DREADD expression that Gα12 signaling in GSC‐23 cells is sufficient to drive Thbs‐1 expression and migration. Our findings indicate that Gα12 is a focal point for GPCR control of transcriptional programs for stemness and invasiveness in glioma stem cells derived tumors and suggest targeting this site as a therapeutic intervention to disrupt tumor cell invasion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]