RAS Mutations in Human Melanoma: A Marker of Malignant Progression

Ball, Nigel J.; Yohn, Joseph; Morelli, Joseph G.; Norris, David A.; Golitz, Loren E.; Hoeffler, James P.

doi:10.1111/1523-1747.ep12371783

Cited by 188 publications

(136 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…In our hands, the observed effect with the combination treatment was antagonistic in all cell lines at a ratio of MEKi:CDKi 4,6 = 1:16. When different ratios were used in cell line MM415, no significant difference was noted between the MEKi alone and the combination of MEKi+CDKi 4,6 (Fig. S9).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…O ncogenic mutations in codons 12, 13, or 61 of the rat sarcoma (RAS) family of small GTPases, Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS), Harvey rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (HRAS), and neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog (NRAS) occur in approximately one-third of all human cancers with NRAS mutations found in about 15-20% of melanomas (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7). Mutated RAS proteins activate signaling pathways that promote the cell division cycle and cell growth and suppress apoptosis.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Combined targeting of MEK and PI3K/mTOR effector pathways is necessary to effectively inhibit NRAS mutant melanoma in vitro and in vivo

Posch

Moslehi

Feeney

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

206

214

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Activating mutations in the neuroblastoma rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (NRAS) gene are common genetic events in malignant melanoma being found in 15-25% of cases. NRAS is thought to activate both mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) and PI3K signaling in melanoma cells. We studied the influence of different components on the MAP/extracellular signal-regulated (ERK) kinase (MEK) and PI3K/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-signaling cascade in NRAS mutant melanoma cells. In general, these cells were more sensitive to MEK inhibition compared with inhibition in the PI3K/ mTOR cascade. Combined targeting of MEK and PI3K was superior to MEK and mTOR 1,2 inhibition in all NRAS mutant melanoma cell lines tested, suggesting that PI3K signaling is more important for cell survival in NRAS mutant melanoma when MEK is inhibited. However, targeting of PI3K/mTOR 1,2 in combination with MEK inhibitors is necessary to effectively abolish growth of NRAS mutant melanoma cells in vitro and regress xenografted NRAS mutant melanoma. Furthermore, we showed that MEK and PI3K/mTOR 1,2 inhibition is synergistic. Expression analysis confirms that combined MEK and PI3K/mTOR 1,2 inhibition predominantly influences genes in the rat sarcoma (RAS) pathway and growth factor receptor pathways, which signal through MEK/ERK and PI3K/mTOR, respectively. Our results suggest that combined targeting of the MEK/ERK and PI3K/mTOR pathways has antitumor activity and might serve as a therapeutic option in the treatment of NRAS mutant melanoma, for which there are currently no effective therapies.O ncogenic mutations in codons 12, 13, or 61 of the rat sarcoma (RAS) family of small GTPases, Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS), Harvey rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (HRAS), and neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog (NRAS) occur in approximately one-third of all human cancers with NRAS mutations found in about 15-20% of melanomas (1-7). Mutated RAS proteins activate signaling pathways that promote the cell division cycle and cell growth and suppress apoptosis. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated depletion of NRAS in melanoma cell lines inhibits proliferation and renders cells sensitive to chemotherapy, making mutant NRAS and its signaling effectors relevant targets for melanoma therapy (8, 9). Efforts at developing therapeutics that inhibit mutant RAS directly have so far not been successful. The high affinity of RAS for GTP and the high concentrations of GTP intracellularly has meant that the identification of small molecules, which selectively prevent accumulation of RAS-GTP, has not been possible (10). Targeting mutant NRAS with siRNA is still limited to preclinical models because of the significant challenge in delivering antisense oligonucleotides in vivo. The response of NRAS mutant melanoma and other melanomas to various chemotherapeutic regiments has been very scarce with only 6% of patients responding (11). Alternatively, farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTIs) were thought to inhibit RAS activation by blocking farnesy...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Combined targeting of MEK and PI3K/mTOR effector pathways is necessary to effectively inhibit NRAS mutant melanoma in vitro and in vivo

Posch

Moslehi

Feeney

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

206

214

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“…47 In experiments using a melanoma mouse xenotransplantation model, there was a correlation between the expression of activated N-ras and a reduction in drug-induced apoptosis, indicating that N-ras may play a role in drug resistance in human melanoma. 48 However, the exact mechanism by which the activated ras oncogene is involved in drug resistance remains unclear.…”

Section: Drug Resistance Via Modulation Of the Apoptotic Pathwaymentioning

confidence: 96%

Drug-resistance in human melanoma

Helmbach¹,

Rossmann²,

Kern³

et al. 2001

Int. J. Cancer

165

137

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Advanced malignant melanoma has a poor prognosis since chemotherapy is mostly ineffective due in part to the intrinsic and/or extrinsic resistance of melanoma cells to systemic treatment with anti-neoplastic agents. The reasons for the chemoresistant phenotype are unknown. The relevance of well-analyzed drug-resistance mechanisms, e.g., intracellular/ extracellular transport and induction of certain enzyme systems, is reviewed. Most anti-cancer drugs kill susceptible cells through induction of apoptosis. Therefore, it appears that differences in the apoptotic pathways which lead to apoptotic deficiency may account for the ability of some tumor cells to resist drug therapy. Human melanomas, which are characteristically drug-resistant, are more likely to have altered apoptotic pathways and fewer pro-apoptotic molecules. Tumor cells with these characteristics are seldom sensitive to drugs. The complexity of the molecular variants involved in signal transduction along apoptotic pathways suggests that the cell may have a variety of possibilities for regulating apoptosis and generating apoptotic deficiency. Thus, apoptosis and apoptotic deficiency should be analyzed to better clarify the mechanisms of melanoma resistance.

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“…6,7,10,11 In sporadic melanoma cases, the frequency of NRAS alterations reported varies in different studies. [12][13][14] In a study performed by our group, 28% of primary melanomas and 37% of metastatic tumors were found to harbor NRAS codon 61 mutations. 11 In contrast to sporadic melanoma cases, we have recently demonstrated a very high frequency (95%) of activating codon 61 NRAS mutations in the tumor cells of hereditary melanomas from individuals carrying CDKN2A germ line mutations.…”

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confidence: 99%

Suppression of oncogenic NRAS by RNA interference induces apoptosis of human melanoma cells

Eskandarpour¹,

Kiaii²,

Zhu³

et al. 2005

Intl Journal of Cancer

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The majority of human melanomas harbor activating mutations in either the BRAF or NRAS gene. To date, the role of oncogenic NRAS in melanoma remains poorly defined and no current therapies are directed at specifically suppressing oncogenic NRAS in human melanoma tumors. The aim of our study, therefore, was to investigate the effects of suppressing oncogenic NRAS in human melanoma cell lines in vitro. Using both small interfering RNAand plasmid based-RNA interference techniques, oncogenic NRAS was specifically suppressed in 2 human melanoma cell lines, 224 and BL, which harbor a codon 61 CAA (glutamine) to CGA (arginine) NRAS mutation. Suppression of oncogenic NRAS in these cell lines resulted in increased apoptosis. Furthermore, in 224 cells we demonstrated decreased phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt, and reduced expression of NF-kB and cyclin D1 in the N-Ras signaling pathway. In contrast, RNA interference directed at wild-type (WT) NRAS had no significant effect on apoptosis of 224 cells or 2 human melanoma cell lines (A375 and 397) containing WT NRAS but a codon 600 GTG (valine) to GAG (glutamate) mutation in BRAF. These data suggest that oncogenic NRAS is important for avoidance of apoptosis in melanomas that harbor the codon 61 NRAS mutation and emphasizes oncogenic NRAS as a therapeutic target in patients with tumors that harbor this mutation. ' 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Key words: RNAi; melanoma; Ras; signal transduction; apoptosis Activation of Ras is a common molecular event in the etiology of human cancer. 1 The Ras proteins H-, K-and N-Ras are central regulators of cellular signal transduction processes leading to cell growth and differentiation. In the resting cell, Ras proteins are in the guanosine diphosphate (GDP)-bound inactive state. However, in response to receptor protein tyrosine kinases or other growth factor-dependent stimuli, these Ras proteins become activated by binding guanosine triphosphate (GTP). 2,3 Oncogenic mutations in codons 12, 13 and 61 of RAS genes prevent GTP hydrolysis, resulting in constitutively active Ras proteins. Such mutations that change the protooncogene RAS to an active oncogene are found in approximately 30 to 50% of human tumors. [4][5][6][7][8] Ras has also been demonstrated to be important for both the genesis and maintenance of melanoma. For instance, in a doxycycline-inducible H-Ras V12G mouse melanoma model, withdrawal of doxycycline was demonstrated to result in histological regression of primary and implanted tumors accompanied by marked apoptosis of melanoma cells. 9 Studies on melanoma tumors have confirmed that oncogenic activation of NRAS constitutes the predominant RAS alteration in cutaneous melanoma, with NRAS codon 61 mutations being the most common alterations and codon 12 and 13 mutations being less frequent. 6,7,10,11 In sporadic melanoma cases, the frequency of NRAS alterations reported varies in different studies. [12][13][14] In a study performed by our group, 28% of primary melanomas and 37% of metastatic tumo...

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RAS Mutations in Human Melanoma: A Marker of Malignant Progression

Cited by 188 publications

References 25 publications

Combined targeting of MEK and PI3K/mTOR effector pathways is necessary to effectively inhibit NRAS mutant melanoma in vitro and in vivo

Combined targeting of MEK and PI3K/mTOR effector pathways is necessary to effectively inhibit NRAS mutant melanoma in vitro and in vivo

Drug-resistance in human melanoma

Suppression of oncogenic NRAS by RNA interference induces apoptosis of human melanoma cells

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