MDM2 and MDM4 are key regulators of p53 and function as oncogenes when aberrantly expressed. MDM2... more MDM2 and MDM4 are key regulators of p53 and function as oncogenes when aberrantly expressed. MDM2 and MDM4 partner to suppress p53 transcriptional transactivation and polyubiquitinate p53 for degradation. The importance of MDM2 E3-ligase-mediated p53 regulation remains controversial. To resolve this, we generated mice with an Mdm2 L466A mutation that specifically compromises E2 interaction, abolishing MDM2 E3 ligase activity while preserving its ability to bind MDM4 and suppress p53 transactivation. Mdm2L466A/L466A mice exhibit p53-dependent embryonic lethality, demonstrating MDM2 E3 ligase activity is essential for p53 regulation in vivo. Unexpectedly, cells expressing Mdm2L466A manifest cell cycle G2-M transition defects and increased aneuploidy even in the absence of p53, suggesting MDM2 E3 ligase plays a p53-independent role in cell cycle regulation and genome integrity. Furthermore, cells bearing the E3-dead MDM2 mutant show aberrant cell cycle regulation in response to DNA dam...
Cancer progression is characterized and driven by gradual loss of a differentiated phenotype and ... more Cancer progression is characterized and driven by gradual loss of a differentiated phenotype and gain of stem cell-like features. In prostate cancer (PCa), androgen receptor (AR) signaling is important for cancer growth, progression, and emergence of therapy resistance. Targeting the AR signaling axis has been, over the decades, the mainstay of PCa therapy. However, AR signaling at the transcription level is reduced in high-grade cancer relative to low-grade PCa and loss of AR expression promotes a stem cell-like phenotype, suggesting that emergence of resistance to AR-targeted therapy may be associated with loss of AR signaling and gain of stemness. In the present mini-review, we first discuss PCa from the perspective of an abnormal organ with increasingly deregulated differentiation, and discuss the role of AR signaling during PCa progression. We then focus on the relationship between prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs) and AR signaling. We further elaborate on the current methods ...
FOXA1 is a nonhistone substrate of EZH2, promoting cell growth and sensitizing some prostate canc... more FOXA1 is a nonhistone substrate of EZH2, promoting cell growth and sensitizing some prostate cancer to enzymatic EZH2 inhibitors.
SummarySignificant advances in our understanding of normal development and disease have been faci... more SummarySignificant advances in our understanding of normal development and disease have been facilitated by engineered mice in which genes can be altered in a spatially, temporally, or cell type restricted manner using site specific recombinase systems like Cre‐loxP or Flp‐frt. In many circumstances it is important to understand how interactions between multiple genes influence a given phenotype. Robust approaches for precisely controlling multiple genetic alterations independently are limited, however, thus the impact of mutation order and timing on phenotype is generally unknown. Here we describe and validate a novel Gt(ROSA)26Sor targeted transgene allowing precise control over the order and timing of multiple genetic mutations in the mouse. The transgene expresses an optimized, Flp‐estrogen receptor fusion protein (Flpo‐ERT2) under the control of a loxP‐stop‐loxP cassette. In this system, genes modified by loxP sites are altered first upon expression of Cre. Cre also eliminates ...
Upon inactivation of both alleles of the retinoblastoma gene (RB), individuals develop the intrao... more Upon inactivation of both alleles of the retinoblastoma gene (RB), individuals develop the intraocular eye tumor, retinoblastoma. The gene encodes a Mr 110,000 phosphorylated nuclear protein that may be involved in regulation of the cell cycle. Besides retinoblastoma, mutations of the gene have been detected in several other types of tumors, including bladder carcinoma. Up to one-third of bladder carcinomas may contain mutations of the RB gene. Introducing the retinoblastoma gene into single retinoblastoma, osteosarcoma, or prostate carcinoma cell lines suppresses their tumorigenicity as assayed in nude mice. We have sought to extend these results by introducing the retinoblastoma gene into multiple bladder carcinoma lines, and analyzing several of the resulting, cloned lines. We have found that inhibition of tumorigenicity, as assayed by tumor growth in nude mice or growth of cells in soft agar, is the only consistent phenotype observed upon re-expression of RB in all bladder carci...
The retinoblastoma susceptibility gene (RB1) is the first tumor suppressor gene discovered and a ... more The retinoblastoma susceptibility gene (RB1) is the first tumor suppressor gene discovered and a prototype for understanding regulatory networks that function in opposition to oncogenic stimuli. More than 3 decades of research has firmly established a widespread and prominent role for RB1 in human cancer. Yet, this gene encodes but one of three structurally and functionally related proteins that comprise the pocket protein family. A central question in the field is whether the additional genes in this family, RBL1 and RBL2, are important tumor suppressor genes. If so, how does their tumor suppressor activity overlap or differ from RB1. Here we revisit these questions by reviewing relevant data from human cancer genome sequencing studies that have been rapidly accumulating in recent years as well as pertinent functional studies in genetically engineered mice. We conclude that RBL1 and RBL2 do have important tumor suppressor activity in some contexts, but RB1 remains the dominant tumo...
Approximately 80% of patients with advanced bladder cancer do not respond to immune checkpoint in... more Approximately 80% of patients with advanced bladder cancer do not respond to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) immunotherapy. Therefore, there is an urgent unmet need to develop clinically relevant preclinical models so that factors governing immunotherapy responses can be studied in immunocompetent mice. We developed a line of mouse triple knockout (TKO: Trp53, Pten, Rb1) urothelial carcinoma organoids transplanted into immunocompetent mice. These bladder tumors recapitulate the molecular phenotypes and heterogeneous immunotherapy responses observed in human bladder cancers. The TKO organoids were characterized in vivo and in vitro and compared to the widely used MB49 murine bladder cancer model. RNAseq analysis of the TKO tumors demonstrated a basal subtype. The TKO xenografts demonstrated the expression of urothelial markers (CK5, CK7, GATA3, and p63), whereas MB49 subcutaneous xenografts did not express urothelial markers. Anti-PD-1 immunotherapy resulted in a mixed pattern of t...
: Active surveillance (AS) is an option for men with low risk prostate cancer in order to reduce ... more : Active surveillance (AS) is an option for men with low risk prostate cancer in order to reduce over treatment, but few men choose it because current prognostic indicators are imperfect. The objectives of this research are to test whether pThoc1 can improve the assignment of prostate cancer patients to therapy. We have made significant progress on the goals articulated in the Statement of Work. IRB/HRPO approval has been obtained for construction and use of new TMAs (PI Mohler and Goodrich). The TMAs from PCaP have been obtained (PI Mohler and Goodrich). Pathology analysis of 1146 patient specimens is complete and construction of TMAs initiated (PI Mohler). Optimization of TMA staining is complete and staining of TMAs initiated (PI Goodrich). IRB/HRPO approval for active surveillance specimens has been obtained (PI Mohler, Goodrich). Enrollment of prostate cancer patients on active surveillance is ongoing (PI Mohler). ELISA assays for measuring pThoc1 and pThoc1 autoantibodies have...
The Rb1 tumor suppressor protein is a molecular adaptor, physically linking transcription factors... more The Rb1 tumor suppressor protein is a molecular adaptor, physically linking transcription factors like E2f with various proteins acting on DNA or RNA to repress gene expression. Loss of Rb1 liberates E2f to activate the expression of genes mediating resulting phenotypes. Most Rb1 binding proteins, including E2f, interact through carboxyl-terminal protein interaction domains, but genetic evidence suggests an amino-terminal protein interaction domain is also important. One protein which binds Rb1 through the amino-terminal domain is encoded by Thoc1, a required component of the THO ribonucleoprotein complex important for RNA processing and transport. The physiological relevance of this interaction is unknown. Here we test whether Thoc1 mediates effects of Rb1 loss on mouse embryonic development. We find Thoc1 deficiency delays embryo lethality, and this delay correlates with reduced apoptosis in the brain. E2f protein levels are reduced in Rb1:Thoc1 deficient brain tissue. Expression ...
Accumulating evidence suggests that regulation of RNA processing through an RNP-driven mechanism ... more Accumulating evidence suggests that regulation of RNA processing through an RNP-driven mechanism is important for coordinated gene expression. This hypothesis predicts that defects in RNP biogenesis will adversely affect the elaboration of specific gene expression programs. To explore the role of RNP biogenesis on mammalian development, we have characterized the phenotype of mice hypomorphic for Thoc1 . Thoc1 encodes an essential component of the evolutionarily conserved TREX complex. TREX accompanies the elongating RNA polymerase II and facilitates RNP assembly and recruitment of RNA processing factors. Hypomorphic Thoc1 mice are viable despite significantly reduced Thoc1 expression in the tissues examined. While most tissues of Thoc1 -deficient mice appear to develop and function normally, gametogenesis is severely compromised. Male infertility is associated with a loss in spermatocyte viability and abnormal endocrine signaling. We suggest that loss of spermatocyte viability is a ...
EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR TKIs) are the standard of care treatment for patients with ... more EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR TKIs) are the standard of care treatment for patients with EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Although initially effective, EGFR TKIs are not curative. Disease inevitably relapses due to acquired drug resistance. We hypothesized that vitamin D metabolites could be used with EGFR TKIs to prevent therapeutic failure. To test this idea, we investigated the link between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with EGFR-mutant LUAD that received EGFR TKIs (erlotinib n = 20 and afatinib n = 1). Patients who were 25(OH)D3-sufficient experienced significantly longer benefit from EGFR TKI therapy (mean 14.5 months) than those with 25(OH)D3 insufficiency (mean 10.6 months, p = 0.026). In contrast, 25(OH)D3 had no prognostic value in patients with KRAS-mutant LUAD that received cytotoxic chemotherapy. To gain mechanistic insights, we tested 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) activity in vitro. 1,25(OH)...
Introduction: In a phase II clinical trial we reported the antileukemic effect of L in CLL pts. I... more Introduction: In a phase II clinical trial we reported the antileukemic effect of L in CLL pts. In this clinical trial 24/34 (70.5%) pts with detectable tumor cells (ALC > 5,000) in peripheral blood demonstrated a decrease in ALC within 8 days of treatment. Although, the exact molecular mechanism for its antitumor activity remains undetermined, L has been reported to down regulates production of various cytokines including VEGF, IL-6 and TNF-alpha. In order to investigate the underlying mechanism(s) responsible for the antileukemic effects of L in CLL, we examined down stream targets of VEGF and IL-6 signaling pathways in CLL cells obtained from pts pre and post 8 day treatment with L. Method: Pts with accessible tumor cells in blood (ALC…
MDM2 and MDM4 are key regulators of p53 and function as oncogenes when aberrantly expressed. MDM2... more MDM2 and MDM4 are key regulators of p53 and function as oncogenes when aberrantly expressed. MDM2 and MDM4 partner to suppress p53 transcriptional transactivation and polyubiquitinate p53 for degradation. The importance of MDM2 E3-ligase-mediated p53 regulation remains controversial. To resolve this, we generated mice with an Mdm2 L466A mutation that specifically compromises E2 interaction, abolishing MDM2 E3 ligase activity while preserving its ability to bind MDM4 and suppress p53 transactivation. Mdm2L466A/L466A mice exhibit p53-dependent embryonic lethality, demonstrating MDM2 E3 ligase activity is essential for p53 regulation in vivo. Unexpectedly, cells expressing Mdm2L466A manifest cell cycle G2-M transition defects and increased aneuploidy even in the absence of p53, suggesting MDM2 E3 ligase plays a p53-independent role in cell cycle regulation and genome integrity. Furthermore, cells bearing the E3-dead MDM2 mutant show aberrant cell cycle regulation in response to DNA dam...
Cancer progression is characterized and driven by gradual loss of a differentiated phenotype and ... more Cancer progression is characterized and driven by gradual loss of a differentiated phenotype and gain of stem cell-like features. In prostate cancer (PCa), androgen receptor (AR) signaling is important for cancer growth, progression, and emergence of therapy resistance. Targeting the AR signaling axis has been, over the decades, the mainstay of PCa therapy. However, AR signaling at the transcription level is reduced in high-grade cancer relative to low-grade PCa and loss of AR expression promotes a stem cell-like phenotype, suggesting that emergence of resistance to AR-targeted therapy may be associated with loss of AR signaling and gain of stemness. In the present mini-review, we first discuss PCa from the perspective of an abnormal organ with increasingly deregulated differentiation, and discuss the role of AR signaling during PCa progression. We then focus on the relationship between prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs) and AR signaling. We further elaborate on the current methods ...
FOXA1 is a nonhistone substrate of EZH2, promoting cell growth and sensitizing some prostate canc... more FOXA1 is a nonhistone substrate of EZH2, promoting cell growth and sensitizing some prostate cancer to enzymatic EZH2 inhibitors.
SummarySignificant advances in our understanding of normal development and disease have been faci... more SummarySignificant advances in our understanding of normal development and disease have been facilitated by engineered mice in which genes can be altered in a spatially, temporally, or cell type restricted manner using site specific recombinase systems like Cre‐loxP or Flp‐frt. In many circumstances it is important to understand how interactions between multiple genes influence a given phenotype. Robust approaches for precisely controlling multiple genetic alterations independently are limited, however, thus the impact of mutation order and timing on phenotype is generally unknown. Here we describe and validate a novel Gt(ROSA)26Sor targeted transgene allowing precise control over the order and timing of multiple genetic mutations in the mouse. The transgene expresses an optimized, Flp‐estrogen receptor fusion protein (Flpo‐ERT2) under the control of a loxP‐stop‐loxP cassette. In this system, genes modified by loxP sites are altered first upon expression of Cre. Cre also eliminates ...
Upon inactivation of both alleles of the retinoblastoma gene (RB), individuals develop the intrao... more Upon inactivation of both alleles of the retinoblastoma gene (RB), individuals develop the intraocular eye tumor, retinoblastoma. The gene encodes a Mr 110,000 phosphorylated nuclear protein that may be involved in regulation of the cell cycle. Besides retinoblastoma, mutations of the gene have been detected in several other types of tumors, including bladder carcinoma. Up to one-third of bladder carcinomas may contain mutations of the RB gene. Introducing the retinoblastoma gene into single retinoblastoma, osteosarcoma, or prostate carcinoma cell lines suppresses their tumorigenicity as assayed in nude mice. We have sought to extend these results by introducing the retinoblastoma gene into multiple bladder carcinoma lines, and analyzing several of the resulting, cloned lines. We have found that inhibition of tumorigenicity, as assayed by tumor growth in nude mice or growth of cells in soft agar, is the only consistent phenotype observed upon re-expression of RB in all bladder carci...
The retinoblastoma susceptibility gene (RB1) is the first tumor suppressor gene discovered and a ... more The retinoblastoma susceptibility gene (RB1) is the first tumor suppressor gene discovered and a prototype for understanding regulatory networks that function in opposition to oncogenic stimuli. More than 3 decades of research has firmly established a widespread and prominent role for RB1 in human cancer. Yet, this gene encodes but one of three structurally and functionally related proteins that comprise the pocket protein family. A central question in the field is whether the additional genes in this family, RBL1 and RBL2, are important tumor suppressor genes. If so, how does their tumor suppressor activity overlap or differ from RB1. Here we revisit these questions by reviewing relevant data from human cancer genome sequencing studies that have been rapidly accumulating in recent years as well as pertinent functional studies in genetically engineered mice. We conclude that RBL1 and RBL2 do have important tumor suppressor activity in some contexts, but RB1 remains the dominant tumo...
Approximately 80% of patients with advanced bladder cancer do not respond to immune checkpoint in... more Approximately 80% of patients with advanced bladder cancer do not respond to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) immunotherapy. Therefore, there is an urgent unmet need to develop clinically relevant preclinical models so that factors governing immunotherapy responses can be studied in immunocompetent mice. We developed a line of mouse triple knockout (TKO: Trp53, Pten, Rb1) urothelial carcinoma organoids transplanted into immunocompetent mice. These bladder tumors recapitulate the molecular phenotypes and heterogeneous immunotherapy responses observed in human bladder cancers. The TKO organoids were characterized in vivo and in vitro and compared to the widely used MB49 murine bladder cancer model. RNAseq analysis of the TKO tumors demonstrated a basal subtype. The TKO xenografts demonstrated the expression of urothelial markers (CK5, CK7, GATA3, and p63), whereas MB49 subcutaneous xenografts did not express urothelial markers. Anti-PD-1 immunotherapy resulted in a mixed pattern of t...
: Active surveillance (AS) is an option for men with low risk prostate cancer in order to reduce ... more : Active surveillance (AS) is an option for men with low risk prostate cancer in order to reduce over treatment, but few men choose it because current prognostic indicators are imperfect. The objectives of this research are to test whether pThoc1 can improve the assignment of prostate cancer patients to therapy. We have made significant progress on the goals articulated in the Statement of Work. IRB/HRPO approval has been obtained for construction and use of new TMAs (PI Mohler and Goodrich). The TMAs from PCaP have been obtained (PI Mohler and Goodrich). Pathology analysis of 1146 patient specimens is complete and construction of TMAs initiated (PI Mohler). Optimization of TMA staining is complete and staining of TMAs initiated (PI Goodrich). IRB/HRPO approval for active surveillance specimens has been obtained (PI Mohler, Goodrich). Enrollment of prostate cancer patients on active surveillance is ongoing (PI Mohler). ELISA assays for measuring pThoc1 and pThoc1 autoantibodies have...
The Rb1 tumor suppressor protein is a molecular adaptor, physically linking transcription factors... more The Rb1 tumor suppressor protein is a molecular adaptor, physically linking transcription factors like E2f with various proteins acting on DNA or RNA to repress gene expression. Loss of Rb1 liberates E2f to activate the expression of genes mediating resulting phenotypes. Most Rb1 binding proteins, including E2f, interact through carboxyl-terminal protein interaction domains, but genetic evidence suggests an amino-terminal protein interaction domain is also important. One protein which binds Rb1 through the amino-terminal domain is encoded by Thoc1, a required component of the THO ribonucleoprotein complex important for RNA processing and transport. The physiological relevance of this interaction is unknown. Here we test whether Thoc1 mediates effects of Rb1 loss on mouse embryonic development. We find Thoc1 deficiency delays embryo lethality, and this delay correlates with reduced apoptosis in the brain. E2f protein levels are reduced in Rb1:Thoc1 deficient brain tissue. Expression ...
Accumulating evidence suggests that regulation of RNA processing through an RNP-driven mechanism ... more Accumulating evidence suggests that regulation of RNA processing through an RNP-driven mechanism is important for coordinated gene expression. This hypothesis predicts that defects in RNP biogenesis will adversely affect the elaboration of specific gene expression programs. To explore the role of RNP biogenesis on mammalian development, we have characterized the phenotype of mice hypomorphic for Thoc1 . Thoc1 encodes an essential component of the evolutionarily conserved TREX complex. TREX accompanies the elongating RNA polymerase II and facilitates RNP assembly and recruitment of RNA processing factors. Hypomorphic Thoc1 mice are viable despite significantly reduced Thoc1 expression in the tissues examined. While most tissues of Thoc1 -deficient mice appear to develop and function normally, gametogenesis is severely compromised. Male infertility is associated with a loss in spermatocyte viability and abnormal endocrine signaling. We suggest that loss of spermatocyte viability is a ...
EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR TKIs) are the standard of care treatment for patients with ... more EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR TKIs) are the standard of care treatment for patients with EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Although initially effective, EGFR TKIs are not curative. Disease inevitably relapses due to acquired drug resistance. We hypothesized that vitamin D metabolites could be used with EGFR TKIs to prevent therapeutic failure. To test this idea, we investigated the link between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with EGFR-mutant LUAD that received EGFR TKIs (erlotinib n = 20 and afatinib n = 1). Patients who were 25(OH)D3-sufficient experienced significantly longer benefit from EGFR TKI therapy (mean 14.5 months) than those with 25(OH)D3 insufficiency (mean 10.6 months, p = 0.026). In contrast, 25(OH)D3 had no prognostic value in patients with KRAS-mutant LUAD that received cytotoxic chemotherapy. To gain mechanistic insights, we tested 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) activity in vitro. 1,25(OH)...
Introduction: In a phase II clinical trial we reported the antileukemic effect of L in CLL pts. I... more Introduction: In a phase II clinical trial we reported the antileukemic effect of L in CLL pts. In this clinical trial 24/34 (70.5%) pts with detectable tumor cells (ALC > 5,000) in peripheral blood demonstrated a decrease in ALC within 8 days of treatment. Although, the exact molecular mechanism for its antitumor activity remains undetermined, L has been reported to down regulates production of various cytokines including VEGF, IL-6 and TNF-alpha. In order to investigate the underlying mechanism(s) responsible for the antileukemic effects of L in CLL, we examined down stream targets of VEGF and IL-6 signaling pathways in CLL cells obtained from pts pre and post 8 day treatment with L. Method: Pts with accessible tumor cells in blood (ALC…
Uploads
Papers by David Goodrich