Testing ATRA and MEK inhibitor PD0325901 effectiveness in a nude mouse model for human MPNST xenografts.

OBJECTIVE: Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) are aggressive sarcomas characterized by high recurrence rates and early metastases. These tumors arise more frequently within neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and present with resistance during standard chemotherapy leading to increased mortality and morbidity in those patients. In vitro all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and MEK inhibitors (MEKi) were shown to inhibit tumor proliferation, especially when applied in combination. Therefore, we established a nude mouse model to investigate if treatment of xenografts derived from NF1 associated S462 and T265 MPNST cells respond to ATRA and the MEKi PD0325901. RESULTS: We demonstrated that human NF1 associated MPNST derived from S462 but not T265 cells form solid subcutaneous tumors in Foxn1 nude mice but not in Balb/c, SHO or Shorn mice. We verified a characteristic staining pattern of human MPNST xenografts by immunohistochemistry. Therapeutic effects of ATRA and/or MEKi PD0325901 on growth of S462 MPNST xenografts in Foxn1 nude mice were not demonstrated in vitro, as we did not observe significant suppression of MPNST growth compared with placebo treatment.

MEK inhibitors enhance therapeutic response towards ATRA in NF1 associated malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) in-vitro.

OBJECTIVE: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a hereditary tumor syndrome characterized by an increased risk of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST). Chemotherapy of MPNST is still insufficient. In this study, we investigated whether human tumor Schwann cells derived from NF1 associated MPNST respond to all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). We analyzed effects of ATRA and MEK inhibitor (MEKi) combination therapy. METHODS: MPNST cell lines S462, T265, NSF1 were treated with ATRA and MEKi U0126 and PD0325901. We assessed cell viability, proliferation, migration, apoptosis and differentiation as well as mRNA expression of RAR and RXR subtypes and ATRA target genes such as CRABP2, CYP26A1, RARB and PDK1. We also analyzed CRABP2 methylation in cell lines and performed immunohistochemistry of human MPNST specimens. RESULTS: ATRA therapy reduced viability and proliferation in S462 and T265 cells, accompanied by differentiation, apoptosis and reduced migration. NSF1 cells which lacked RXRG expression did not respond to ATRA. We furthermore demonstrated that ATRA signaling was functional for common targets, and that mRNA expression of CRABP2 and its targets was raised by ATRA therapy, whereas alternative pathways via FABP5 were not induced. Finally, combination of ATRA and MEKi demonstrated additively reduced viability of T265 and S462 cells. CONCLUSIONS: We observed therapeutic effects in two of three MPNST cell lines pronounced by combination therapy. These data point to a potentially successful treatment of MPNST by combined application of ATRA and MEK inhibitors such as U0126 or PD0325901.

The Cellular Retinoic Acid Binding Protein 2 Promotes Survival of Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor Cells.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are aggressive neoplasms that commonly occur in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Effective chemotherapy is not available. To characterize a therapeutic target for treatment, we investigated the role of cellular retinoic acid binding protein 2 (CRABP2) in MPNST in vitro. CRABP2 is a transcriptional co-activator of retinoic acid signaling. Although overexpression of CRABP2 is described in several cancers, it has not yet been studied in MPNSTs. We investigated CRABP2 expression in cultured Schwann cells and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens of human peripheral nerve sheath tumors. A transient knockdown of CRABP2 was established in human NF1-associated MPNST cell lines (S462, T265, NSF1), and functional effects on viability, proliferation, apoptosis, and cytotoxicity were monitored. Finally, a 45-pathway reporter assay was performed in knockdown cells. Expression of CRABP2 was found in epithelium, fibroblasts, and tumor Schwann cells of skin, neurofibromas, and MPNSTs. In contrast, normal skin Schwann cells (NF1+/-, NF1-/-) did not express CRABP2. In the absence of retinoic acid, MPNST cells depleted of CRABP2 had reduced viability and proliferation, induction of apoptosis and cytotoxicity, and up-regulation of the type 1 interferon pathway. These data suggest a retinoic acid-independent, non-tumor suppressor role of CRABP2 for the survival of MPNST cells in vitro. Targeting CRABP2 overexpression may represent a unique approach for the treatment of human MPNSTs.

Molecular Analysis of Hybrid Neurofibroma/Schwannoma Identifies Common Monosomy 22 and α-T-Catenin/CTNNA3 as a Novel Candidate Tumor Suppressor.

Neurofibromas and schwannomas are benign Schwann cell-derived peripheral nerve sheath tumors arising sporadically and within neurofibromatoses. Multiple tumors are a hallmark of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and type 2 (NF2) and schwannomatosis. Neurofibromas in NF1 and schwannomas in NF2 or schwannomatosis are defined by distinctive molecular hits. Among these, multiple hybrid neurofibromas/schwannomas may also appear, not yet being defined by a molecular background. We therefore performed molecular analysis of 22 hybrid neurofibromas/schwannomas using array comparative genomic hybridization, immunohistochemistry, quantitative RT-PCR, and functional analyses of cultured Schwann cells. Furthermore, we analyzed SMARCB1 by fluorescence in situ hybridization and multiplex ligation-dependent probe. Monosomy 22 was identified in 44% of tumors of tested patients with hybrid neurofibromas/schwannomas. In addition, in a single case, we detected focal deletion of the α-T-catenin/CTNNA3 gene (10q21.3). To further characterize this candidate, transient knockdown of α-T-catenin in Schwann cells was performed. CTNNA3 depleted cells showed cytoskeletal abnormalities and reduced E-cadherin expression, indicating epithelial-mesenchymal transition-like abnormalities. To conclude, we uncovered loss of chromosome 22 in almost half of all cases with hybrid neurofibromas/schwannomas of patients with multiple peripheral nerve sheath tumors. We tagged α-T-catenin/CTNNA3 as a novel candidate gene. Our functional investigations might indicate involvement of α-T-catenin/CTNNA3 in the biology of peripheral nerve sheath tumors.