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Granados et al, 2019
Selective Targeting of Myoblast Fusogenic Signaling and Differentiation-Arrest
Antagonizes Rhabdomyosarcoma Cells
Valerie A. Granados1, Usha Avirneni-Vadlamudi1, Pooja Dalal1, Samuel R.
Scarborough1, Kathleen A. Galindo1, Priya Mahajan2, and Rene L. Galindo1,2,3
Departments of Pathology1, Pediatrics2, and Molecular Biology3, University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines, Dallas, TX.
Correspondence: Rene L. Galindo, M.D., Ph.D.
Phone: 214.648.4116, Fax: 214.648.4070
E-mail: [email protected]
Classification/Manuscript Info: Priority Report
Word Count: Abstract- 240; Manuscript Length- 2,500 (not including References),
References - 27
Running Title: Selective Targeting of myoblast fusion signaling in RMS
Key Words: Rhabdomyosarcoma / PAX-FOXO1 / Myoblast Fusion / Akt / EGFR
The authors declare NO conflict of interest
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Granados et al, 2019
ABSTRACT
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is an aggressive soft tissue malignancy comprised
histologically of skeletal muscle-lineage precursors that fail to exit the cell-cycle and
fuse into differentiated syncytial muscle - the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms
for which remain unclear. In contrast to myogenic transcription factor signaling,
the molecular machinery that orchestrates the discrete process of myoblast fusion in
mammals is poorly understood, and unexplored in RMS. The fusogenic machinery
in Drosophila, however, is understood in much greater detail, where myoblasts are
divided into two distinct pools: Founder Cells (FCs) and fusion competent myoblasts
(fcms). Fusion is heterotypic and only occurs between FC and fcms. Here, we
interrogated a comprehensive RNA-seq database and found that human RMS
diffusely demonstrates an FC-lineage gene signature, revealing that RMS is a
disease of FC-lineage rhabdomyoblasts. We next exploited our Drosophila RMS-
related model to isolate druggable FC-specific fusogenic elements underlying RMS,
which uncovered the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) pathway. Using
RMS cells, we showed that EGFR inhibitors successfully antagonized RMS RD cells,
while other cell lines were resistant. EGFR inhibitor-sensitive cells exhibit decreased
activation of the EGFR intracellular effector Akt, while Akt activity remained
unchanged in inhibitor-resistant cells. We then demonstrate that Akt inhibition
antagonizes RMS – including RMS resistant to EGFR inhibition – and sustained
activity of the Akt1 isoform preferentially blocks rhabdomyoblast differentiation
potential in cell culture and in vivo. These findings point towards selective targeting
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Granados et al, 2019
of fusion- and differentiation-arrest via Akt as a broad RMS therapeutic
vulnerability.
PRECIS
EGFR and its downstream signaling mediator AKT1 play a role in the fusion and
differentiation processes of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cells, representing a therapeutic
vulnerability of RMS.
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Granados et al, 2019
INTRODUCTION
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a well-known problem in pediatric oncology, as children
with high-risk RMS endure a 3-year event-free survival rate of only 20% (1).
Histologically, RMS is comprised of neoplastic skeletal muscle-lineage precursors that
fail to exit the cell cycle and terminally differentiate. Rare for a somatic tissue, skeletal
muscle requires that precursor cells not only undergo lineage-specific differentiation, but
also fuse and form a syncytium. Though critical effort has been giving to deciphering
myogenic signaling in the settings of both muscle development and RMS, the
mechanisms orchestrating mammalian myoblast fusion are poorly understood.
In Drosophila, myoblast fusion is understood in greater detail (2), where myoblasts
are divided into two pools: Founder Cells (FCs) and fusion competent myoblasts (fcms).
FCs are seminal, establishing the position of each myofiber, while fcms seek out FCs and
fuse. FC-fcm recognition is mediated by IgSF receptors – the Kirre subfamily, unique for
FCs, and the fcm-specific Nephrin subfamily. Upon FC-fcm adhesion, the FC lineage-
restricted adaptor molecule Rols links the transmembrane signal to the cytoskeleton and
drives downstream fusion events. We and others have shown that Kirrel, Nephrin, and
Rols orthologs participate in vertebrate myoblast fusion (3-5). We additionally have
found that overexpression of mammalian Rols, named TANC1, influences RMS
pathobiology (5).
Unknown, however, is whether misexpression of the FC program broadly underlies
RMS. Additionally, identifying fusion regulators relevant to RMS for which inhibitors
are available would suggest new therapeutic opportunities.
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MATERIALS AND METHODS
Additional information can be found in Supplemental Methods.
Drosophila Genetics
Transgenes and screen methods were as previously described (6, 7).
Cell culture and reagents
Cells lines were handled as previously described (5). RMS lines were used up to 30
passages, C2C12 up to 20. STR profiles for all lines were obtained at UTSW’s
sequencing core and verified as authentic. Mycoplasma testing regularly was negative.
Lines were obtained from: C2C12, ATCC; Rh30, M. Hatley (St. Jude); RD, E. Olson
(UTSW); SMS-CTR, C. Linardic (Duke). Please see Supplemental Methods for
information regarding drugs and vehicles used, and shRNA (Dharmacon) sequences.
MTT assays were performed using the Vibrant™ MTT Assay Kit (V-13154) (Molecular
Probes/Invitrogen). TUNEL was performed using the DeadEnd™ Fluorometric TUNEL
kit (Promega).
Indexes were calculated from cells cultured for six days in differentiation medium
(see Supplemental Methods) from three independent experiments. For differentiation,
the percentage of nuclei in MHC-positive tissue were scored. For fusion, the percentage
of nuclei present in MHC-positive bi- or multi-nucleated myotubes were counted. For
proliferation, the percentage of Ki67-positive cells were scored. For tumor sections,
mitotic figures or Ki67-positive nuclei were scored.
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Xenografts
Studies were supervised and approved by UTSW’s Institutional Animal Care and Use
Committee. Drugs were administered (see Supplemental Methods for dosing) when
tumor size reached ~100 mm3. An event was based on Pediatric Preclinical Testing
Program criteria: tumor volume quadrupling from a base volume [here, 200 mm3 for RD
(slower growing), 250 mm3 for RH30 (faster growing)].
Statistics
Type I error was evaluated by two-tailed Student’s t test. P values less than 0.05 was
considered significant. Type II was evaluated by Achieved Statistical Power (post hoc)
analysis, values greater than 0.80 was considered significant. Data are mean ± SEM.
Software used were Excel (Microsoft), Prism 7 (GraphPad), and G*Power 3 (Heinrich-
Heine-Universität).
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RESULTS
To probe for RMS FC/fcm-gene expression levels, we surveyed the Oncogenomics RNA-
seq database, derived from an extensive collection of human RMS specimens (8). As
mentioned above, each Drosophila myofiber forms from one FC cell, with the remainder
of the syncytium comprised of sequentially fused fcms. Thus, fcms dramatically
outnumber FCs. However, when querying FC-marker expression levels in the panel, we
found that TANC1 and KIRREL1 transcripts were broadly abundant in RMS negative
and positive for the PAX-FOXO (PF) oncoprotein, while KIRREL3 [the encoding gene
for which possesses a PF transcriptional activation site] is overexpressed in PF-positive
RMS (Fig. 1A) (9). In contrast, expression levels of the fcm-NEPRIN orthologs, NPHS1
and NPHS2, are downregulated (Fig. 1A). These findings are consistent with our
previous immunohistochemical analysis of RMS tumors, which showed diffuse positivity
for TANC1 (5). These data show that RMS associates with the FC-signature.
To isolate potentially targetable FC-signaling elements, we turned to our Drosophila
PAX-FOXO1 model (6, 7), which we exploit to uncover new influential RMS genetic
elements (5, 10)]. We identified two chromosomal deletions, Df(2L)pr-A16 and
Df(2R)Excel6076, that suppress PAX-FOXO1-based lethality (Fig. 1B). Df(2L)pr-A16
deletes EGFR, while Df(2R)Excel6076 deletes EGF (named spitz in flies). As EGFR
signaling is known to drive naïve Drosophila myoblasts to the FC-differentiation program
we tested individual loss-of-function alleles in EGFR or spitz, which similarly suppressed
PAX-FOXO1 lethality (Fig. 1B). These data identify EGFR signaling – a druggable
pathway – as a potential FC-based RMS target.
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To extrapolate this finding to mammals, we established that EGFR signaling is active
and regulated in wild-type cultured myoblasts (Fig. S1A). We questioned whether the
EGFR inhibitors Erlotinib (EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor) or Cetuximab (humanized
monoclonal interfering antibody) antagonize RMS, utilizing the PF-negative RD and
RH36 cell lines, and the RH30 PF-positive line (Fig. S1B). We profiled viability for each
line against each agent (Fig. S1C) [IC50 values were similar to human carcinoma cells
(11, 12)] and demonstrated that each inhibitor antagonized EGFR. Both inhibitors
interfered with RD cell proliferation, increased Myosin Heavy Chain (MHC)-positive
terminal differentiation (Fig. 2A & B) (Fig. S1D and E), and blocked anchorage
independent growth (Fig. S1F and G). TUNEL assay for apoptotic cell death was
negative (Fig. S1H). In vivo, tumorigenesis was inhibited, event-free survival increased,
mitotic activity decreased, and MHC-expression enhanced (Fig. 2C & D) (Fig. S1I-L).
RH36 and RH30 cells, however, were not antagonized (Fig. S1M).
As the RD line carries an oncogenic N-RAS mutation (Q61H), we hypothesized that
an intracellular signaling pathway other than RAS must be antagonized upon
Erlotinib/Cetuximab treatment. We analyzed inhibitor-treated cells and observed
downregulated Akt activation, whereas MEK/MAPK or STAT3 activation levels showed
no decrease (Fig. S2A). We next found that Akt activation levels remained unaltered in
EGFR-inhibitor resistant RH36 and RH30 cells (Fig. S2B). These results infer that Akt is
a critical RMS effector.
To test this notion, we treated the RMS cell lines with an allosteric Akt inhibitor,
MK-2206 [IC50 values were similar to human carcinoma cells (Fig. S3A) (13)]. We
additionally included a fourth line, SMS-CTR (PF-negative), found to be EGFR inhibitor
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resistant (Fig. S3B). We observed potent blockage of Akt activation in each cell line (Fig.
S3C), with all lines now exhibiting decreased proliferative activity and anchorage
independent growth (Fig. 3A and B) (Fig. S3D) (note - RH36 cells did not form colonies
in soft agar). TUNEL assays performed on RD and RH30 MK-2206-treated cells were
negative (Fig. S3E). In vivo, we observed inhibited tumorigenesis, increased event-free
survival, and decreased proliferation (Fig. 3C) (Fig. S3F and G). No difference in MHC-
positivity was observed, however (Fig. S3H). Together, these findings point towards Akt
as a broadly targetable RMS vulnerability.
Though transcripts for Akt1/2/3 are detectable in human skeletal muscle, only Akt1
and 2 protein are detected (14). As Akt1 has been shown to function early in myogenesis
and promote myoblast proliferation, while Akt2 downstream directs myoblast fusion and
differentiation (15), we hypothesized that the MK-2206 Akt inhibitor, though promoting
RMS cell cycle exit, failed to induce RMS rhabdomyoblast fusion and differentiation due
to dual blockage of Akt1/2. As differing roles for Akt1/2 in RMS are unexplored, we
silenced Akt1 or Akt2 (Fig. S4A) and found that Akt1-silenced RD cells exhibited a
marked rescue of fusion and differentiation potential when compared to control or Akt2-
silenced cells (Fig. 4A and B). In vivo, tumorigenesis was inhibited, event-free survival
increased, mitotic activity decreased, and MHC-expression enhanced (Fig. 4C) (Fig.
S4C). These results reveal that sustained Akt1 activity preferentially influences the
failure of RMS cells to complete the myogenic developmental program, and that
targeting of Akt1 is sufficient to rescue RMS cell differentiation-arrest.
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DISCUSSION
We previously reported that correcting FC-lineage TANC1 overexpression induces RMS
cells to terminally differentiate (5). Here, utilizing the Oncogenomics database, we now
reveal that RMS broadly demonstrate the FC-program gene signature. Collectively, these
findings argue that misexpression of FC-programming is a common RMS mechanism.
Since it remains unclear the extent to which the lineage-restricted process of Drosophila
myoblast fusion is precisely conserved in mammals, unknown is whether human RMS
tumor initiation occurs in FC-lineage cells, or whether misexpression of the FC-program
occurs downstream during tumor progression.
Utilizing our Drosophila model, we probed for FC-elements that possess druggable
human orthologs and uncovered EGFR, which [though studied in cultured RMS cells (16,
17)] has not been functionally probed in vivo. Though EGFR inhibitors demonstrated
efficacy against RD cells, EGFR inhibition was ineffective against the remaining lines
tested. As numerous receptor kinases (e.g., FGFR4, c-MET) have been shown to
influence RMS (1), we speculate that the RMS cells resistant to EGFR inhibition do not
rely upon EGFR for growth-promoting signaling. Interestingly, we note that a subset of
fly myoblasts utilizes an FGFR4 ortholog for FC program activation. We thus speculate
that PF-positive RMS – FGFR4 is a direct target of the PF transcription factor – and the
subset of PF-negative RMS possessing activating FGFR4 mutations [~10% (8, 18)]
instead rely upon FGFR4 for FC-program dysregulation. Whether EGFR inhibitor
sensitivity is common or limited in PF-negative RMS remains an open question.
MK-2206, however, broadly antagonized RMS, including RMS driven by oncogenic
N-RAS (RD cells), mutationally activated FGFR4 (RH36), PAX3-FOXO1 (RH30), and
10
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Granados et al, 2019
oncogenic H-RAS (SMS-CTR) (19). Though Akt-mediated phosphorylation has been
shown to inhibit the activity of PF (20), other studies have demonstrated that synthetic
lethality in RMS can be induced by dual inhibition of the PI3K pathway (PI3K/mTOR or
TORC1/2 inhibition) and either RAS or Hedgehog signaling (21-24), and that
PI3K/mTOR inhibitors demonstrate efficacy against FGFR4-driven RMS (25). Here we
newly reveal that mono-targeting of Akt is both effective and sufficient to antagonize
RMS and point towards Akt as a critical RMS nodal point. We additionally found that
sustained Akt1 activity preferentially incites RMS differentiation-arrest, suggesting that
inhibitors specific for Akt1 would be similarly effective against RMS, and presumably
with less overall toxicity than pan-Akt inhibitors.
Focusing on the mechanisms that underlie RMS cell differentiation-arrest, the read-
outs surveyed in these studies focus on myoblast maturation, and not cytotoxicity. Thus,
we suggest that scoring for tumor regression (which requires cytotoxicity) is not the most
appropriate metric, and that event-free-survival is a better preclinical gauge. This notion
differs in part from the Pediatric Preclinical Testing Program (PPTP), which tests for
cytotoxicity and tumor regression, and thus reported MK-2206 as not inducing greater
than 50% tumor volume regression. Neither Erlotinib or Cetuximab has been tested by
the PTPP. We next anticipate testing EGFR and Akt inhibitors in the context of
conventional chemotherapy agents, as an emphasis has been placed on identifying agents
that enhance outcomes in combination with current therapeutic protocols. As both MK-
2206 and Erlotinib have been successfully Phase I tested in pediatric patients (26, 27), we
speculate that these agents, when combined with established protocols, will improve
RMS outcomes.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We are grateful to S. Skapek, J. Amatruda, C. Linardic, L. Crose for critical review of
data and manuscript. Studies were supported by: RLG - American Cancer Society
(124717-RSG-13-194-01-DDC), Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas
(RP120685), NIH/NCI (R01CA193339), Wipe-out Kid’s Cancer Foundation, Live Like
Bella Foundation; VAG- Pharmacology Training Grant (T32GM007062). We apologize
to the studies and authors that we were unable to discuss or cite due to space limitations.
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REFERENCES
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15. Heron-Milhavet L, Franckhauser C, Rana V, Berthenet C, Fisher D, Hemmings BA, et al. Only Akt1 is required for proliferation, while Akt2 promotes cell cycle exit through p21 binding. Mol Cell Biol. 2006;26(22):8267-80. 16. De Giovanni C, Landuzzi L, Frabetti F, Nicoletti G, Griffoni C, Rossi I, et al. Antisense epidermal growth factor receptor transfection impairs the proliferative ability of human rhabdomyosarcoma cells. Cancer Res. 1996;56(17):3898-901. 17. Ricci C, Polito L, Nanni P, Landuzzi L, Astolfi A, Nicoletti G, et al. HER/erbB receptors as therapeutic targets of immunotoxins in human rhabdomyosarcoma cells. J Immunother. 2002;25(4):314-23. 18. Chen X, Stewart E, Shelat AA, Qu C, Bahrami A, Hatley M, et al. Targeting oxidative stress in embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. Cancer cell. 2013;24(6):710- 24. 19. Hinson AR, Jones R, Crose LE, Belyea BC, Barr FG, and Linardic CM. Human rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines for rhabdomyosarcoma research: utility and pitfalls. Front Oncol. 2013;3:183. 20. Wachtel M, and Schafer BW. PAX3-FOXO1: Zooming in on an "undruggable" target. Semin Cancer Biol. 2018;50:115-23. 21. Graab U, Hahn H, and Fulda S. Identification of a novel synthetic lethality of combined inhibition of hedgehog and PI3K signaling in rhabdomyosarcoma. Oncotarget. 2015;6(11):8722-35. 22. Renshaw J, Taylor KR, Bishop R, Valenti M, De Haven Brandon A, Gowan S, et al. Dual blockade of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR (AZD8055) and RAS/MEK/ERK (AZD6244) pathways synergistically inhibits rhabdomyosarcoma cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Clin Cancer Res. 2013;19(21):5940-51. 23. Guenther MK, Graab U, and Fulda S. Synthetic lethal interaction between PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Ras/MEK/ERK pathway inhibition in rhabdomyosarcoma. Cancer Lett. 2013;337(2):200-9. 24. Yohe ME, Gryder BE, Shern JF, Song YK, Chou HC, Sindiri S, et al. MEK inhibition induces MYOG and remodels super-enhancers in RAS-driven rhabdomyosarcoma. Sci Transl Med. 2018;10(448). 25. McKinnon T, Venier R, Yohe M, Sindiri S, Gryder BE, Shern JF, et al. Functional screening of FGFR4-driven tumorigenesis identifies PI3K/mTOR inhibition as a therapeutic strategy in rhabdomyosarcoma. Oncogene. 2018;37(20):2630-44. 26. Jakacki RI, Hamilton M, Gilbertson RJ, Blaney SM, Tersak J, Krailo MD, et al. Pediatric phase I and pharmacokinetic study of erlotinib followed by the combination of erlotinib and temozolomide: a Children's Oncology Group Phase I Consortium Study. J Clin Oncol. 2008;26(30):4921-7. 27. Fouladi M, Perentesis JP, Phillips CL, Leary S, Reid JM, McGovern RM, et al. A phase I trial of MK-2206 in children with refractory malignancies: a Children's Oncology Group study. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2014;61(7):1246-51.
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FIGURE LEGENDS
Fig. 1. FC-genes in RMS.
(A) RMS demonstrates an FC- signature. Relative abundance levels in a human RMS
tumor cohort profiled by RNA-seq. DESMIN is a muscle-specific intermediate filament,
while GFAP and KRT20 are filament markers for glial and gastrointestinal
adenocarcinoma neoplasms, respectively. PAX3-variant fusion (PAX3-INO80D or -
NCOA1) specimens are shown separately.
(B) EGF or EGFR loss-of-function alleles suppress PAX-FOXO1. Based on Mendelian
ratios, the F1 population should be 50% control and 50% PAX7-FOXO1-expressing
adults (“Expected”). PAX7-FOXO1 causes lethality, as PAX7-FOXO1 adults comprise
~20% of F1 adults (“control”; n = 124). Chromosomal deletions Df(2L)pr-A16 (n = 47)
or Df(2R)Excel6076 (n = 77) suppresses PAX-FOXO1 lethality, as do two EGF (named
spitz in Drosophila) [spiDG04705 (n = 55) spis3547 (n = 66)] or two EGFR [Egfrf2 (n = 66)
and Egfrt1 (n = 60)] loss-of-function alleles (though the Egfrt1 allele showed a P value of
0.067). rolsP1729 is the loss-of-function allele previously isolated as a PAX-FOXO1
suppressor. Df(2L)ed1 (n = 160) (third column) and DF(3R)23D1 (n = 74) (red column)
are unrelated chromosomal deletions included as controls to demonstrate examples of a
non-modifier and genetic enhancer, respectively. P values: *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 versus
Control.
Fig. 2. Erlotinib and Cetuximab block tumorigenicity in RD RMS cells.
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(A,B) Erlotinib- or Cetuximab-treated RD cells show decreased proliferation and
enhanced differentiation. Cells were stained with Ki67 or MHC antibody, and DAPI.
Erlotinib concentration = 10 M, Cetuximab concentration = 1 g/mL.
(C,D) Erlotinib or Cetuximab antagonizes tumorigenesis. Shown are tumor growth and
event-free survival (see Methods) for “Control” (6% Captisol) (n = 3) versus Erlotinib-
treated (n = 4) (Panel C), and “Control” (PBS) (n = 3) versus Cetuximab-treated (n = 3)
tumors (Panel D). Achieved Statistical Power for “tumor volume” and “event-free
analyses were 0.99 and 0.82, respectively, for the Erlotinib study; for Cetuximab, 0.97
and 0.95, respectively. Myosin Heavy Chain IHC shows enhanced differentiation within
Erlotinib- or Cetuximab-treated xenografts.
Scale bar = 100 m. P values: *P < 0.05 versus Control.
Fig. 3. MK-2206 blocks tumorigenicity in PF-negative and -positive RMS.
(A) MK-2206 antagonizes RMS proliferation in culture. RD, RH36, RH30, and SMS-
CTR cells were each cultured with MK-2206 (0.5 uM) and stained with Ki67 antibody
and DAPI.
(B) MK-2206-treated RMS cells show decreased colony formation in soft agar. Shown
are average number of colonies per 20×-objective field.
(C) MK-2206 antagonizes tumorigenesis. Shown are tumor growth and event-free
survival (see Methods) plots for “Control” (15% Captisol) (n = 4) and MK-2206-treated
(n = 4) RD or RH30 tumors. Achieved Statistical Power for RD and RH30 tumor volume
17
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Granados et al, 2019
and event-free survival analyses were 1.00 and 0.95 (RD), and 1.00 and 0.93 (RH30),
respectively.
P values: **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 versus Control.
Fig. 4. Akt1 silencing rescues RMS cell differentiation-arrest in vitro and in vivo.
(A,B) Akt1 silencing rescues RD cell fusion- and differentiation-arrest. RD cells
expressing shRNA (transient transfection) against GFP (Control), Akt1, or Akt2 are
shown, stained with MHC antibody and DAPI (panel A). Fusion and differentiation
indexes (panel B) show that Akt1-silenced RD cells exhibited rescue of fusion and
differentiation when compared to control or Akt2-silenced cells.
(C) Akt1 silencing antagonizes tumorigenesis. Stable RD cell lines that conditionally
express shRNA against eGFP, Akt1, or Akt2 upon doxycycline administration were
generated. Shown are tumor growth and event-free survival plots for “Control”
(shRNA>>eGFP) (n = 4), shAkt1 (shRNA>>Akt1) (n = 3), and shAkt2 (shRNA>>Akt2)
expressing (n = 3) RD tumors. Achieved Statistical Power for RD Control versus Akt1
tumor volume and event-free survival analyses were 0.97 and 0.97, respectively.
P values: *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, *** P < 0.001 versus Control.
18
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Selective Targeting of Myoblast Fusogenic Signaling and Differentiation-Arrest Antagonizes Rhabdomyosarcoma Cells
Valerie A Granados, Usha Avirneni-Vadlamudi, Pooja Dalal, et al.
Cancer Res Published OnlineFirst July 22, 2019.
Updated version Access the most recent version of this article at: doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-18-2096
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