Plusieurs évidences indiquent que de la dérégulation des récepteurs tyrosine kinase (RTK) joue un rôle clé dans l'étiologie et la progression du cancer colorectal (CCR). Notamment, des bénéfices ont été observés en clinique avec des agents ciblant le récepteur de EGF dans le traitement des CCR métastatiques avancés. Considérant l'hétérogénéité des RTK dérégulés dans le CCR, une approche thérapeutique alternative serait de plutôt cibler les protéines effectrices engagées par plusieurs RTK, notamment celles qui régulent des processus essentiels à la progression du CCR. Toutefois, le rôle des protéines de signalisation engagées par les RTK dans le CCR reste encore très peu défini. De récents travaux menés dans notre laboratoire ont démontré que l'activation oncogénique du RTK Met, le récepteur du facteur de croissance d'hépatocyte (HGF), confère aux cellules épithéliales intestinales non cancéreuses IEC-6, des propriétés angiogéniques, tumorigéniques et métastatiques in vitro et in vivo . L'activité biologique des RTK, telle que celle du récepteur Met, s'avère étroitement liée à leur capacité d'initier une variété de voies de signalisation intracellulaire par le biais du recrutement de protéines adaptatrices, dont les protéines Gab1 et Gab2 (Grb2-associated binder). Ainsi, le but de mon projet fut de valider l'hypothèse que le pouvoir oncogénique du récepteur Met dans les cellules épithéliales intestinales serait en partie dépendant de l'engagement des voies de signalisation des protéines Gab. Pour ce faire, nous avons utilisé une approche dominante négative, soit par l'expression du domaine MBD (Met-Binding Domain) de Gab1 dans les cellules IEC-6 transformées par la forme oncogénique du récepteur Met, Tpr-Met (Tpr-Met-IEC-6). Cette stratégie repose sur le fait que la région MBD de Gab1 renferme les deux motifs de liaison, un motif riche en proline qui lie les protéines Gab aux RTK par un mécanisme indirect dépendant, de Grb2, ainsi que le motif MBM (Met-Binding Motif) qui est unique à Gab1, et qui permet une interaction directe entre Gab1 et le récepteur Met. Mes résultats montrent que l'expression du domaine MBD de Gab1 dans les cellules TprMet-IEC-6 diminue la phosphorylation de la protéine Gab1 sur tyrosine, restaure la formation de contacts cellule-cellule et une morphologie épithéliale typique ainsi qu'augmente le niveau protéique du marqueur épithéliale E-cadhérine et sa relocalisation membranaire aux zones de contact cellule-cellule. De plus, les cellules Tpr-Met-IEC-6 qui expriment le MBD de Gab1 affichent en culture une capacité réduite à proliférer au-delà de la confluence et en absence d'ancrage à la matrice extracellulaire, et de migration, ainsi qu'une diminution de leur aptitude à former des tumeurs sous-cutanées in vivo dans les souris nues. L'ensemble de mes résultats démontre pour la première fois que le pouvoir oncogénique du récepteur Met dans les cellules épithéliales intestinales dépend en partie de l'engagement des voies de signalisation de Gab1. En considérant que tous les RTK dérégulés dans le CCR peuvent se lier aux protéines Gab, ou engager leurs voies de signalisation, nos résultats identifient ces dernières comme des cibles prometteuses pour le développement de nouveaux agents thérapeutiques contre le CCR.

published_or_final_version / Surgery / Master / Master of Philosophy

Receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitors are emerging as an effective therapeutic option for treatment of breast cancer patients overexpressing particular RTKs. However, more patients may benefit from an inhibitor targeting a common effector protein downstream several RTKs. The presented studies herein identify c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase 2 (JNK2), a kinase downstream multiple RTKs, as a novel target to effectively inhibit Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT activation and metastasis. Knockdown of JNK2 in the highly metastatic 4T1.2 mammary cancer cells significantly decreased growth factor induced invasion in Boyden chambers, orthotopic tumor growth, and metastatic lesions in lungs and bone. Intra-cardiac introduction of cancer cells is utilized to specifically study the later steps in the metastatic cascade including travel of disseminated cancer cells to a secondary location. Thus, earlier steps such as the process of acquiring a malignant phenotype leading to escape from the primary tumor are bypassed. Survival was prolonged in mice receiving intra-cardiac injection of cells deficient of JNK2 either in the host or in the tumor cells, suggesting a potential role for JNK2 as a therapeutic target for advanced stage breast cancer patients. Using siRNA and inhibitors against Src and PI3K, we determined that JNK2 activity is dependent on Src and PI3K, positioning JNK2 downstream of two critical factors involved in tumor progression. Microarray analysis of JNK2 deficient tumors revealed that JNK2 positively regulates the adaptor protein Grb2 associated binding protein 2 (Gab2). Knockdown of Gab2 in 4T1.2 cells resulted in decreased tumor growth and a trend for decreased lung metastasis. In vitro, stimulation of 4T1.2 shJNK2 or 4T1.2 shGab2 cells with HGF, heregulin, or insulin resulted in impaired AKT activation, suggesting involvement of Gab2 and JNK2 in multiple RTK signaling pathways. Understanding of the intricate mechanisms involved in RTK signal transduction can contribute to drug design geared towards more effective targets, namely JNK2. The secondary goal of this research was to decipher the individual roles of JNK2 and JNK1 in metastatic breast cancer. Survival was significantly shortened in mice injected intra-cardiac with 4T1.2 shJNK1 cells. In congruence, serum Cathepsin K levels were increased and bone lesions observed were higher in mice injected with shJNK1 expressing tumor cells compared to mice injected with control cells. In sharp contrast, jnk1-/- mice displayed dramatically increased survival and fewer bone lesions upon intra-cardiac injections of 4T1.2 cells. Collectively, these data suggest cell and isoform specific roles for JNKs. / text

<p>Shb is a ubiquitously expressed adaptor protein with the ability to bind several tyrosine kinase receptors and intracellular signaling proteins. Previous studies have implied a wide spectrum of Shb-mediated cellular responses, which motivated me to further investigate the role of Shb in differentiation and angiogenesis. Embryonic stem (ES) cells differentiate into endoderm and mesoderm from a bipotent mesendodermal cell population. Interregulatory signals between these germlayers are required for further specification. ES cells overexpressing Shb with an inactive SH2 domain (R522K-Shb) altered the expression of endodermal genes as a consequence of upregulated FGF expression. This response was enhanced by addition of activin A, suggesting a synergistic mechanism operative between FGF and activin A signaling in endoderm specification. To investigate a role for Shb in mesodermal specification, Shb knockout ES cells were established. These cells showed a reduced ability to form blood vessels after VEGF stimulation and delayed downregulation of genes associated with mesendoderm, indicating a reduced capacity for these cells to enter later stages.</p><p>To assess a role for Shb in tumor cell apoptosis, Shb expression was silenced in angiosarcoma endothelial cells. FAK-phosphorylation was reduced in Shb knockdown cells and this made them more susceptible to apoptotic stimuli both in vitro and in vivo.</p><p>Shb knockout microvasculature in mouse kidney, liver, and heart showed irregular endothelial linings with cytoplasmic projections toward the lumen, a feature that was also related to increased vascular permeability. VEGF treatment failed to stimulate vascular permeability in Shb knockout mice.</p><p>In order to elucidate whether these features relate to reduced angiogenesis, tumor growth was examined. Tumors grown in knockout mice showed reduced growth capacity and lower vessel density. In conclusion, Shb is a multifunctional adaptor protein that may be involved in several cellular responses both during embryonic development and adult life. </p>

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), the most common form of acute leukemia in adults, is only curable in approximately 30% of all cases. Despite prognostic risk stratification using sub-typing and cytogenetic analysis to direct therapy, the mortality and relapse rate remains high. AML patients with normal karyotypes are defined as intermediate risk and are the most challenging to treat. Somatic mutations may be the key in refining prognostic stratification and providing useful therapeutic targets. The FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) and Nucleophosmin (NPM1) genes have common mutated forms that are associated with overall survival and response to therapy. We assessed mutations in the FLT3 and NPM1 genes and their levels of expression in twenty eight AML patients in the presence and absence of HIV and their response to induction therapy. Furthermore, we used a novel technique, High Resolution Melting (HRM) Analysis to detect FLT3 Internal Tandem Duplications (ITD) and NPM1 exon 12 mutations. Five of the patients in this study were HIV positive, three of whom did not survive post-induction therapy. Of the AML patients, 17.9% were positive for the NPM1 mutation and 21% had mutated FLT3. Interestingly, the presence of the FLT3 and NPM1 mutations were coupled with an increase in expression levels of FLT3 and NPM1 from presentation to post-induction respectively and the loss of these mutations were coupled with a decrease in levels of expression from presentation to post-induction. However, an increase/decrease from presentation to post-induction did not necessarily denote the presence/absence of a mutation. Therefore, while mutational status of genes may generally confer mRNA levels, our results showed that there existed no definitive trend between mRNA levels of NPM1 and FLT3 expression and mutational status. We found that the HRM method was definitive for the simpler NPM1 mutation however detection of the FLT3-ITD mutation was challenging. There isn’t a clear distinction between mutated and non-mutated FLT3 due to the formation of hetero-duplexes during analysis, making detection highly subjective and error-prone. Sequencing allowed confirmation of mutated FLT3 and non-mutated FLT3 which were not in all instances in concordance with HRM analysis. The prognostic value in terms of overall survival of NPM1 and FLT3 mutations in this study is indefinite. Furthermore, the analysis of the HIV positive AML patients revealed no clear correlation between NPM1 and FLT3 levels of mRNA expression and mutational status. Also, the small number of HIV positive AML patients did not allow for conclusions to be made regarding HIV status and survival when affected with AML. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Les inhibiteurs de tyrosine kinases (ITKs) sont une nouvelle classe thérapeutique ayant connu un grand essor ces dix dernières années. Inhibiteurs compétitifs de l’adénosine triphosphate (ATP), ils sont utilisés dans le traitement de nombreux cancers dans lesquels une dérégulation de tyrosine kinases a été mise en évidence. Malgré une efficacité prouvée, des cas de résistance sont rapportés, en particulier avec l’exemple de la leucémie myéloïde chronique (LMC) et le traitement par ITK. Cette variabilité inter-individuelle peut être due à des mécanismes de résistance propre de la cellule tumorale ou à des variations dans les paramètres pharmacocinétiques de la molécule. De nombreuses études ont analysé l’impact de polymorphismes (SNPs) dans des gènes codants pour les déterminants pharmacocinétiques et pharmacodynamiques des ITKs. Nous avons analysé l’impact de SNPs sur l’obtention de la réponse moléculaire majeure à 1 an dans 2 cohortes de patients atteints de LMC et traités par imatinib. C1236T, G2677T/A et C3435T, 3 SNPs du gène MDR-1 codant pour la glycoprotéine P et les SNPs de la région codante du gène SLC22A1 à l’origine du transporteur d’influx hOCT1. L’impact bénéfique de l’allèle 1236T ou haplotype *4 et l’impact péjoratif de l’allèle 2677G ou haplotype *1, retrouvés dans la 1ère cohorte n’ont pas été retrouvés dans la 2ième cohorte suggérant un impact mineur voire nul de ces derniers sur la réponse à l’imatinib. L’impact des SNPs de SLC22A1 observés dans la 2ième cohorte nécessite d’être confirmé. Des travaux supplémentaires à plus grande échelle, selon des critères nécessitant d’être harmonisés, sont nécessaires avant d’espérer pouvoir aboutir à une «médecine personnalisée» pour l’imatinib mais également de façon générale pour l’ensemble des ITKs. / Tyrosine kinases inhibitors (TKIs) are a new class of drugs having bloomed over the past decade. As competitive inhibitors of the adenosine triphosphate, they are used in the treatment of many cancers in which deregulation of tyrosine kinases has been demonstrated. In spite of dramatic efficacy, cases of resistance have been reported particularly with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and TKI treatment. This inter-individual variability may be due to mechanisms of intrinsic resistance of tumor cells or changes in the pharmacokinetic parameters of the molecule. Numerous studies have analyzed the impact of polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes coding for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic determinants. We analyzed the impact of SNPs on major molecular response at 1 year in 2 cohorts of patients with CML treated with imatinib. C1236T, G2677T/A, C3435T, three SNPs in the MDR-1 gene encoding P-glycoprotein and SNPs in the coding region of the SLC22A1 gene encoding hOCT1. The protective impact of the 1236T allele or haplotype*4 and the pejorative impact of the 2677G allele or haplotype*1, found in the 1st cohort, were not replicated in the 2nd cohort, suggesting minor or no impact on the response to imatinib. The impact of SLC22A1 SNPs observed in the 2nd cohort needs to be confirmed. Further works on a larger cohort, according to criteria that need to be harmonized, are necessary before we reach a “personalized medicine” for imatinib but also for all TKIs

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) are small organic molecules designed for the targeted cancer therapy. They perform the inhibition of activated receptor tyrosine kinases in tumor cells, that defeats tumor growth, proliferation, metastasis and angiogenesis in tumor tissue. Two TKI, lenvatinib and vandetanib, are used in thyroid cancer treatment. This thesis investigates the ways leading to enhancement of efficiency of these anticancer drugs for therapy. One of the studied anticancer drug - lenvatinib - was investigated to be prepared in a nanoform. Nanoparticles were based on protein apoferritin as well as on lipids. Theoretical model of lenvatinib interaction with an apoferritin cavity, as well as the model of its encapsulation obtained by computer modeling indicated that lenvatinib seems not to be suitable for preparation of apoferritin nanoparticles. Since lenvatinib occurs in its neutral form during preparation of nanoparticles, it does not interact with nanoparticle. The unsuccessful experimental preparation of lenvatinib-loaded apoferritin nanoparticles confirmed that lenvatinib is not suitable for its preparation. However, the theoretical model can serve for screening of other potentially suitable drugs before the experimental nanoparticle preparation. Since the experimental preparation of...

In recent years, the inhibiition of tyrosine kinases,which may incorrectly regulate some singaling pathway has been used to treat cancer as so-called biological therapy. An example of such inhibitors are vandetanib and lenvatinib. These two substances are used to treat thyroid gland tumors because they affect vascular growth factor receptor or endothelial growth factor receptor that can regulate tumor growth and metastasis. Ellipticine, which has anti-tumor effects on lots of tumor disease, has been investigated in this study together with vandetanib and lenvatinib. In this diploma thesis, the effect of mentioned tyrosine kinase inhibitors, ellipticine and their combinations on gene and protein expression of CYP1A1, 1A2, 3A1 and 3A2 in rat liver in vivo was determined. Protein expression was studied using Western blot method with imunodetection. Gene expression was assessed by quantitative PCR. Moreover, the effect of tested substances and their combinations on CYP1A activity (measured as 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation), CYP1A2 activity (measured as 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylation), CYP1A1 activity (measured as Sudan I oxidation), CYP3A specific activity (measured as testosteron 6β-hydroxylation) and ellipticine, vandetanib, lenvatinib metabolism was determined. It has been confirmed that...

Tie1 é um receptor tirosina quinase expresso em células endoteliais importante em angiogênese, formação de vasos sanguíneos a partir de vasos pré-existentes. Este receptor pertence a uma família pequena composta por apenas dois membros (Tie1 e Tie2) para os quais angiopoietinas foram identificadas como ligantes de Tie2. No entanto, Tie1 continua a ser um receptor órfão, sem ligantes identificados até o momento. Sendo assim, é difícil compreender completamente as propriedades biológicas de Tie1 e seus mecanismos moleculares em angiogênese sem um ligante identificado. Entretanto, como sugerido através de estudos de deleção gênica, este receptor é uma molécula essencial na angiogênese, apresentando um papel importante no desenvolvimento da vascularização da retina e desenvolvimento de tumores. O nosso objetivo foi estudar a participação do domínio extracelular de Tie1 na neovascularização e, no processo, identificar possíveis ligantes para este receptor. Através da tecnologia de phage display, identificamos um peptídeo específico e seletivo para Tie1, sugerindo a existência de um sítio de ligação único neste receptor. Mostramos que este peptídeo é capaz de inibir a proliferação de células endoteliais induzida por Ang1, um ligante bem caracterizado de Tie2 que também modula a atividade de Tie1. Além disso, também mostramos que este peptídeo inibe a angiogênese in vivo num modelo animal bastante relevante para estudo de doenças humanas, o modelo da retinopatia induzida por oxigênio. Uma vez que este peptídeo liga-se a um sítio único e seletivo para Tie1, hipotetizamos que o mesmo poderia mimetizar possíveis ligantes naturais deste receptor. Para identificá-los, proteínas com mimetopo cruzado com este peptídeo foram identificadas em extrato proteico de diferentes linhagens celulares. Tais proteínas são possíveis candidatos a interação com Tie1. Em resumo, demonstramos que o domínio extracelular de Tie1 é importante para a angiogênese patológica e identificamos proteínas como possíveis ligantes deste receptor, o que poderá contribuir para um melhor entendimento da participação de Tie1 na formação de vasos. O peptídeo aqui identificado poderá ser ainda uma ferramenta útil para o desenvolvimento de novas terapias anti-angiogênicas com importantes aplicações à saúde humana. / Tie1 is a tyrosine kinase receptor expressed by endothelial cells and important in angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones. This receptor belongs to a small family of receptors composed of two members only (Tie1 and Tie2) to which angiopoietins have been identified as ligands for Tie2. On the other hand, Tie1 is still an orphan receptor with no ligand identified to date. Thus, it is difficult to assess Tie1 mechanism of action in neovascularization without a known ligand. Nevertheless, gene deletion studies have shown that Tie1 is essential in angiogenesis, and plays an important role in retinal and tumoral vascularization. The aim of our study was to evaluate the participation of Tie1 extracellular domain in angiogenesis, and in the process, to identify putative ligands for this receptor. Utilizing phage display, we have identified and characterized a Tie1 specific and selective ligand peptide, which suggests the existence of a binding site unique to this receptor and not shared by other family members. We show that this peptide prevents endothelial cells proliferation, induced by angiopoetin-1, a ligand for Tie2 but which also modulates Tie1 activity. Using a well-accepted mouse model for human diseases, the oxygen induced retinopathy model, we show that this peptide inhibits angiogenesis in vivo. Since this peptide maps to a unique binding site in Tie1, we hypothesized that it might mimic a natural ligand for this receptor. To identify them, proteins with cross reactive epitopes with an anti-peptide sera were identified by proteomic approaches. These proteins are thus possible ligands for Tie1. In summary, we have shown that Tie1 extracellular domain is important in angiogenesis and we have identified putative ligand for this receptor, which might contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms associated with Tie1 in blood vessel formation. The peptide here characterized may also be an important tool for the development of novel anti-angiogenesis therapeutic approaches for disesase with an angiogenic component.