Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most deadly cancers worldwide and has no effective treatment, yet the molecular basis of hepatocarcinogenesis remains largely unknown. Here we report findings from a whole-genome sequencing (WGS) study of 88 matched HCC tumor/normal pairs, 81 of which are Hepatitis B virus (HBV) positive, seeking to identify genetically altered genes and pathways implicated in HBV-associated HCC. We find beta-catenin to be the most frequently mutated oncogene (15.9%) and TP53 the most frequently mutated tumor suppressor (35.2%). The Wnt/beta-catenin and JAK/STAT pathways, altered in 62.5% and 45.5% of cases, respectively, are likely to act as two major oncogenic drivers in HCC. This study also identifies several prevalent and potentially actionable mutations, including activating mutations of Janus kinase 1 (JAK1), in 9.1% of patients and provides a path toward therapeutic intervention of the disease.

Regulator of G-protein signaling (RGS) proteins accelerate GTP hydrolysis by heterotrimeric G-protein a subunits and thus inhibit signaling by many G protein-coupled receptors. Several RGS proteins have a multidomain architecture that adds further complexity to their roles in cell signaling in addition to their GTPase-accelerating activity. RGS12 contains a tandem repeat of Ras-binding domains but, to date, the role of this protein in Ras-mediated signal transduction has not been reported. Here, we show that RGS12 associates with the nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor tyrosine kinase TrkA, activated H-Ras, B-Raf, and MEK2 and facilitates their coordinated signaling to prolonged ERK activation. RGS12 is required for NGFmediated neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells, but not outgrowth stimulated by basic fibroblast growth factor. siRNA-mediated knockdown of RGS12 expression also inhibits NGF-induced axonal growth in dissociated cultures of primary dorsal root ganglia neurons. These data suggest that RGS12 may play a critical, and receptorselective, role in coordinating Ras-dependent signals that are required for promoting and/or maintaining neuronal differentiation.

BackgroundRegulator of G-protein signaling (RGS) proteins have been well-described as accelerators of Gα-mediated GTP hydrolysis (“GTPase-accelerating proteins” or GAPs). However, RGS proteins with complex domain architectures are now known to regulate much more than Gα GTPase activity. RGS14 contains tandem Ras-binding domains that have been reported to bind to Rap- but not Ras GTPases in vitro, leading to the suggestion that RGS14 is a Rap-specific effector. However, more recent data from mammals and Drosophila imply that, in vivo, RGS14 may instead be an effector of Ras.Methodology/Principal FindingsFull-length and truncated forms of purified RGS14 protein were found to bind indiscriminately in vitro to both Rap- and Ras-family GTPases, consistent with prior literature reports. In stark contrast, however, we found that in a cellular context RGS14 selectively binds to activated H-Ras and not to Rap isoforms. Co-transfection / co-immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated the ability of full-length RGS14 to assemble a multiprotein complex with components of the ERK MAPK pathway in a manner dependent on activated H-Ras. Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of RGS14 inhibited both nerve growth factor- and basic fibrobast growth factor-mediated neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells, a process which is known to be dependent on Ras-ERK signaling.Conclusions/SignificanceIn cells, RGS14 facilitates the formation of a selective Ras·GTP-Raf-MEK-ERK multiprotein complex to promote sustained ERK activation and regulate H-Ras-dependent neuritogenesis. This cellular function for RGS14 is similar but distinct from that recently described for its closely-related paralogue, RGS12, which shares the tandem Ras-binding domain architecture with RGS14.

Anti-EGFR antibodies are effective in therapies for late-stage colorectal cancer (CRC); however, many tumours are unresponsive or develop resistance. We performed genomic analysis of intrinsic and acquired resistance to anti-EGFR therapy in prospectively collected tumour samples from 25 CRC patients receiving cetuximab (an EGFR inhibitor). Of 25 CRC patients, 13 displayed intrinsic resistance to cetuximab; 12 were intrinsically sensitive. We obtained six re-biopsy samples at acquired resistance from the intrinsically sensitive patients. NCOA4–RET and LMNA–NTRK1 fusions and NRG1 and GNAS amplifications were found in intrinsic-resistant patients. In cetuximab-sensitive patients, we found KRAS K117N and A146T mutations in addition to BRAF V600E, AKT1 E17K, PIK3CA E542K, and FGFR1 or ERBB2 amplifications. The comparison between baseline and acquired-resistant tumours revealed an extreme shift in variant allele frequency of somatic variants, suggesting that cetuximab exposure dramatically selected for rare resistant subclones that were initially undetectable. There was also an increase in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition at acquired resistance, with a reduction in the immune infiltrate. Furthermore, characterization of an acquired-resistant, patient-derived cell line showed that PI3K/mTOR inhibition could rescue cetuximab resistance. Thus, we uncovered novel genomic alterations that elucidate the mechanisms of sensitivity and resistance to anti-EGFR therapy in metastatic CRC patients.

Mutations in ERK signaling drive a significant percentage of malignancies. LY3009120, a pan-RAF and dimer inhibitor, has preclinical activity in RAS-and BRAF-mutated cell lines including BRAF-mutant melanoma resistant to BRAF inhibitors. This multicenter, open-label, phase I clinical trial (NCT02014116) consisted of part A (dose escalation) and part B (dose confirmation) in patients with advanced/metastatic cancer. In part A, oral LY3009120 was dose escalated from 50 to 700 mg twice a day on a 28-day cycle. In part B, 300 mg LY3009120 was given twice a day. The primary objective was to identify a recommended phase II dose (RP2D). Secondary objectives were to evaluate safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy. Identification of pharmacodynamic biomarkers was exploratory. In parts A and B, 35 and 16 patients were treated, respectively (N ¼ 51). In part A, 6 patients experienced eight dose-limiting toxicities. The RP2D was 300 mg twice a day. Common (>10%) any-grade drug-related treatment-emergent adverse events were fatigue (n ¼ 15), nausea (n ¼ 12), dermatitis acneiform (n ¼ 10), decreased appetite (n ¼ 7), and maculopapular rash (n ¼ 7). The median duration of treatment was 4 weeks; 84% of patients completed one or two cycles of treatment. Exposures observed at 300 mg twice a day were above the preclinical concentration associated with tumor regression. Eight patients had a best overall response of stable disease; there were no complete or partial clinical responses. Despite adequate plasma exposure levels, predicted pharmacodynamic effects were not observed.