Biology subjects

Rath, R.

Publications and source records attributed to Rath, R..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2021

MINK1 modulates 5FU resistance in OSCC through AKT/MDM2 mediated regulation of p53

Cisplatin, 5FU and docetaxel (TPF) are the most common chemotherapy regimen used for advanced OSCC. However, many cancer patients experience relapse, continued tumor growth, and spread due to drug resistance, which leads to treatment failure and metastatic disease. Here, using a CRISPR/Cas9 based kinome knockout screening, Misshapen-like kinase 1 (MINK1) is identified as an important mediator of 5FU resistance in OSCC. Analysis of clinical samples demonstrated significantly higher MINK1 expression in the tumor tissues of chemotherapy non-responder as compared to chemotherapy responders. The nude mice and zebrafish xenograft experiments indicate that knocking out MINK1 restores 5FU mediated cell death in chemoresistant OSCC. An antibody based phosphorylation array screen revealed MINK1 as a negative regulator of p53. Mechanistically, MINK1 modulates AKT phosphorylation at Ser473, which enables p-MDM2 (Ser 166) mediated degradation of p53. We also identified lestaurtinib as a potent inhibitor of MINK1 kinase activity. The patient derived TPF resistant cell based xenograft data suggest that lestaurtinib restores 5FU sensitivity and facilitates a significant reduction of tumor burden. Overall, our study suggests that MINK1 is a major driver of 5FU resistance in OSCC. The novel combination of MINK1 inhibitor lestaurtinib and 5FU needs further clinical investigation in advanced OSCC.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2020

CMTM6 drives cisplatin resistance in OSCC by regulating AKT mediated Wnt signaling

Chemoresistance is one of the important factors for treatment failure in OSCC, which can culminate in progressive tumor growth and metastatic spread. Rewiring tumor cells to undergo drug-induced apoptosis is a promising way to overcome chemoresistance, which can be achieved by identifying the causative factors for acquired chemoresistance. In this study, to explore the key cisplatin resistance triggering factors, we performed global proteomic profiling of OSCC lines representing with sensitive, early and late cisplatin-resistant patterns. The top ranked up-regulated protein appeared to be CMTM6. We found CMTM6 to be elevated in both early and late cisplatin-resistant cells with respect to the sensitive counterpart. Analyses of OSCC patient samples indicate that CMTM6 expression is upregulated in chemotherapy-non-responder tumors as compared to chemotherapy-naive tumors. Stable knockdown of CMTM6 restores cisplatin-mediated cell death in chemoresistant OSCC lines. Similarly, upon CMTM6 overexpression in CMTM6KD lines, the cisplatin resistant phenotype was efficiently rescued. Mechanistically, it was found that CMTM6 interacts with membrane bound Enolase-1 and stabilized its expression, which in turn activates the AKT-GSK3{beta} mediated Wnt signaling. CMTM6 triggers the translocation of {beta}-catenin into the nucleus, which elevates the Wnt target pro-survival genes like Cyclin D, c-Myc and CD44. Moreover, incubation with lithium chloride, a Wnt signaling activator, efficiently rescued the chemoresistant phenotype in CMTM6KD OSCC lines. In a patient-derived cell xenograft model of chemoresistant OSCC, knock-down of CMTM6 restores cisplatin induced cell death and results in significant reduction of tumor burden. CMTM6 has recently been identified as a stabilizer of PD-L1 and henceforth it facilitates immune evasion by tumor cells. Herewith for the first time, we uncovered another novel role of CMTM6 as one of the major driver of cisplatin resistance.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2020

RRBP1 rewires cisplatin resistance in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma by regulating YAP-1

Cisplatin-based chemotherapy still remains as one of the primary treatment modalities for OSCC. Several OSCC patients experience relapse owing to development of chemoresistance. To identify key resistance triggering molecules, we performed global proteomic profiling of human OSCC lines presenting with sensitive, early and late cisplatin resistance patterns. From the proteomic profiling study, human RRBP1 was identified to be upregulated in both early and late cisplatin-resistant cells with respect to the sensitive counterpart. Analysis of OSCC patient sample indicates that RRBP1 expression is elevated in chemotherapy-non-responder tumors as compared to chemotherapy-naive tumors. Knocking out RRBP1 resulted in restoring cisplatin mediated cell death in chemoresistant lines and patient derived cells (PDC). Mechanistically, RRBP1 regulates YAP-1 to induce chemoresistance in OSCC. The chemoresistant PDC xenograft data suggests that knock out of RRBP1 induces cisplatin mediated cell death and facilitates a significant reduction of tumor burden. We also found Radezolid, a novel oxazolidinone antibiotic represses the expression of RRBP1 and restores cisplatin-induced cell death in chemoresistant OSCC. This unique combinatorial approach needs further clinical investigation to target advanced OSCC. Here with for the first time, we uncover the novel role of RRBP1 as potential modulator of cisplatin resistance in advanced OSCC.

cancer biology↗