Biology subjects

Sweet-Cordero, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Sweet-Cordero, A..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Interrupting Elmsan1 repression of nuclear Acetyl-CoA production therapeutically reprograms cancer cells

Metabolites are essential substrates for epigenetic modifications. Although nuclear acetyl-CoA constitutes a small fraction of the whole cell pool, it regulates cell fate by locally providing histone acetylation substrate. Here, we combined phenotypic chemical screen and genome-wide CRISPR screen to demonstrate a nucleus-specific acetyl-CoA regulatory mechanism that can be modulated to achieve therapeutic cancer cell reprogramming. While previously thought that nucleus-localized pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (nPDC) is constitutively active, we found that nPDC is constitutively inhibited by the nuclear protein ELMSAN1 through direct interaction. Pharmacologic inhibition of the ELMSAN1-nPDC interaction derepressed nPDC activity, enhancing nuclear acetyl-CoA generation and reprogramming cancer cells to a postmitotic state with diminished cell-of-origin signatures. Reprogramming was synergistically enhanced by histone deacetylase 1/2 inhibition, resulting in inhibited tumor growth, durably suppressed tumor-initiating ability, and improved survival in multiple cancer types in vivo, including therapy-resistant sarcoma patient-derived xenografts and carcinoma cell line xenografts. Our findings highlight the potential of targeting ELMSAN1-nPDC as epigenetic cancer therapy.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Targeting Osteosarcoma heterogeneity to improve therapeutic response

Intra tumor heterogeneity complicates cancer therapy by providing tumors with the ability to alter their phenotypes and become more therapy resistant. Here, we tested the hypothesis that identifying and modulating expression of key state-specific transcription factors could be used as a strategy for driving cells to a more therapy-sensitive state. Recent single-cell studies have explored the inter and intra tumoral heterogeneity of osteosarcoma and identified gene pathways enriched in specific cell states. For example, metastatic tumors are characterized by an expression of genes in the TNF-, PI3K, TGF{beta} and mTOR pathways. We identified similar profiles in osteosarcoma patient-derived xenograft-derived cell lines and potential transcription factor drivers of these states. We then used perturb-seq to downregulate expression of key transcription factors and evaluated the effect of these modulations on single cell RNA profiles and drug responses. Knockdown of NFE2L3 or NR0B1 increased the proportion of cells sensitive to targeted therapy. This approach, which could potentially be applied to other cancers, could be used as a strategy to increase the response to targeted therapies by increasing the proportion of cells in a drug-sensitive state. HighlightsO_LIDistinct transcriptomic states were identified in osteosarcoma cell lines using single-cell RNA sequencing. C_LIO_LILineage tracing identified states with differential sensitivity to therapy. C_LIO_LIUsing perturb-seq, we identified transcription factors that drive cells towards a more sensitive state. C_LIO_LIThe transcription factor NFE2L3 was identified as targets capable of reprogramming cells to a sensitive state. C_LI

genomics↗

bioRxiv2023

FET fusion oncoproteins disrupt physiologic DNA repair networks and induce ATR synthetic lethality in cancer

In cancers with genetic loss of specific DNA damage response (DDR) genes (i.e., BRCA1/2 tumor suppressor mutations), synthetic lethal targeting of compensatory DDR pathways has translated into clinical benefit for patients. Whether and how growth-promoting oncogenes might also create tumor-specific vulnerabilities within DDR networks is not well understood. Here we focus on Ewing sarcoma, a FET fusion oncoprotein (EWSR1-FLI1) driven pediatric bone tumor, as a model for the class of FET rearranged cancers. Native FET family members are among the earliest factors recruited to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), though the function of both native FET proteins and FET fusion oncoproteins in DNA repair remains to be defined. We discover that EWSR1-FLI1 and other FET fusion oncoproteins are recruited to DNA DSBs and impair the activation and downstream signaling of the DNA damage sensor ATM. In multiple FET rearranged cancers, we establish the compensatory ATR signaling axis as a collateral dependency and therapeutic target using patient-derived xenograft models. In summary, we describe how oncogenes can disrupt physiologic DNA repair and provide the preclinical rationale for specifically testing ATR inhibitors in FET rearranged cancers as part of ongoing early phase clinical trials.

cancer biology↗