CDKN2A Determines Mesothelioma Cell Fate to EZH2 Inhibition

Giulia Pinton*, Zhuo Wang, Cecilia Balzano, Sara Missaglia, Daniela Tavian, Renzo Boldorini, Dean A. Fennell, Martin Griffin, Laura Moro*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer, heterogeneous in its presentation and behaviour. Despite an increasing knowledge about molecular markers and their diagnostic and prognostic value, they are not used as much as they might be for treatment allocation. It has been recently reported that mesothelioma cells that lack BAP1 (BRCA1 Associated Protein) are sensitive to inhibition of the EZH2 (Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2) histone methyltransferase. Since we observed strong H3K27me3 (histone H3 lysine 27 trimetylation) immunoreactivity in BAP1 wild-type mesothelioma biopsies, we decided to characterize in vitro the response/resistance of BAP1 wild-type mesothelioma cells to the EZH2 selective inhibitor, EPZ-6438. Here we demonstrate that BAP1 wild-type mesothelioma cells were rendered sensitive to EPZ-6438 upon SIRT1 (Sirtuin 1) silencing/inhibition or when cultured as multicellular spheroids, in which SIRT1 expression was lower compared to cells grown in monolayers. Notably, treatment of spheroids with EPZ-6438 abolished H3K27me3 and induced the expression of CDKN2A (Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor 2A), causing cell growth arrest. EPZ-6438 treatment also resulted in a rapid and sustained induction of the genes encoding HIF2α (Hypoxia Inducible Factor 2α), TG2 (Transglutaminase 2) and IL-6 (Interleukin 6). Loss of CDKN2 is a common event in mesothelioma. CDKN2A silencing in combination with EPZ-6438 treatment induced apoptotic death in mesothelioma spheroids. In a CDKN2A wild-type setting apoptosis was induced by combining EPZ-6438 with 1-155, a TG2 selective and irreversible inhibitor. In conclusion, our data suggests that the expression of CDKN2A predicts cell fate in response to EZH2 inhibition and could potentially stratify tumors likely to undergo apoptosis.
Original languageEnglish
Article number678447
JournalFrontiers in Oncology
Volume11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2021

Bibliographical note

Copyright © 2021 Pinton, Wang, Balzano, Missaglia, Tavian, Boldorini, Fennell, Griffin and Moro. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

Funding: The authors acknowledge the financial support of project
HERMES HEreditary Risk in MESothelioma” founded by the
offer of compensation to the inhabitants of Casale Monferrato
deceased or affected by mesothelioma and Università del
Piemonte Orientale (Bando ricerca locale 2016).

Keywords

  • Oncology
  • malignant pleural mesothelioma
  • EZH2 inhibitor
  • CDKN2A/p16ink4a
  • TG2
  • multicellular spheroids

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