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Signaling pathways, Cell fate determination and cancer

Symposium organized by Spyros Artavanis-Tsakonas from 28 April to 4 May, 1996

Participants

Monique Arpin (Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM), Institut Curie, Paris), Spyros Artavanis-Tsakonas (Yale University, New Haven), David Baltimore (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, USA)Anton Berns (The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam)Irwin Bernstein (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle), Michael Bishop (University of California, Hooper Foundation, San Francisco), Jacques Camonis (INSERM, Institut Curie, Paris), Kathleen Cho (Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore),José Costa (Yale University, New Haven), Catherine Dargemont (INSERM, Institut Curie, Paris)Eric Fearon (University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor)Walter Gehring (Universitat Вasеl, Biozentrum, Basel), Iswar Hariharan (Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown)Ed Harlow (Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown)Nick Hastiе (Medical Research Center, Human Genetics Unit, Edinburgh)Daniel Louvard (Institut Curie, Paris), Matthias Peter (Institut suisse de recherche expérimentale sur le cancer (ISREC), Epalinges)Bruce Ponder (University of Cambridge, Great Britain)Gerald Rubin (University of California, Howard Hugues Medical Institute)Hugues de Thé (Institut Pasteur, Paris, et hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris), Tian Xu (Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven).

Summary

A new era of therapeutic approaches

Тhe past decade has witnessed a revolulion in the molecular analysis of the processes governing the development of multicellular organisms. The advent of recombinant DNA technology, along with unprecedented genetic analyses of model organisms, has uncovered fundamental principles and identified anу of the molecular underpinnings of eukaryotic development. Moreover, the astonishing conservation of basic biological mechanisms across species barriers is establishing flies, worms and even a unicellular organism, such as yeast, as useful models for hunxin biology. This gives us truly novel tools to approach and think about pathogenesis by allowing us to view medical problenis in a mechanistic way. There are many indications that a new era of therapeuties, based on the mechanistic understanding of disease, is coming closer. True to the spirit of the Treilles Biological Colloquia, winch has been exploring novel biological avenues for many years now, a group of developmental geneticists, molecular biologists and physicians have explored and discussed issues related to how signaling mechanisms dictate cell fate choices, especially as it is related to the genesis of tumors.

 

Report 

Cancer aid Developmental Genetics

If one considers cancer as a developmental biological problem, then some common properties of neoplastic cells seem to be emerging. Notwithstanding the fact that each type of cancer rnay have a distinct molecular and consequently clinical profile, all cancerous cells belong to proliferative, non-terminally differentiated populations in which normal growth and differentiation programs are improperly implemented. In addition, there is little doubt that neoplastic cells use normal cell signaling and proliferative mechanisms to maintain themselves. It seems clear that the development of more rational therapies for cancer will require an understanding of the biochemical anomalies that arise from tumorigenic mutations. It is just as important, however, to understand the cellular mechanisms responsible for maintaining neoplastic cells in a cancerous state. Thеraреuticallу, it may not be possible to correct an oncogenic mutation, but we may still be able to interfere with the mechanisms which are responsible for maintenance of a neoplastic cell. One can, for example, induce a cancerous cell to acquire a different différentiation state, thus eliminating their neoplastic qualities. This is the case in acute promyelocytic leukemia where the undifferentiated neoplastic cells are induced to differentiate with retinoic acid, resulting in a complete сlinical remission of the disease (Hugues de Thé).

Cancer research today has broadened to include themes that only a few years ago would not be considered relevant. Using invertebrates to discover novel tumor suppressor genes, using yeast to study cell cycle aid signaling pathways, or using Drosophila genetics to analyze pathways involved in human carcinogenesis are all novel approaches that offer a fresh look at fundamental biological aid medical problems. The themes covered in the meeting included better molecular characterization of specific cancers, the use of biochemical approaches that afford us a more profound understanding of how certain oncogenes act, and the use of genetic model organisms to dissect and understand mechanisms relevant to carcinogenesis. One of the most interesting, and potentially most important, links between developmental biology and cancer biochemistry is coming from the study of the mechanisms governing the transition of developmentally uncommitted cells to a more differentiated, mature state. The combination of developmental genetics, molecular biology and biochemistry is uncovering the biochemical nature of the mechanisms dictating developmental cell fate choices, as well as links between various cell signaling mechanisms hitherto unsuspected.

Signaling aid Cell Fates

A fundamental cell interaction mechanism controlling the fate of precursor cells is defined by the Notch signaling pathway, which controls the ability of non-terminally differentiated cells to respond to differentiation and possibly to proliferation signals (Spyros Artavanis Tsakonas, Michael Bishop, Irwin Bernstein). The molecular dissection of this pathway has been accomplished to a large extent in fruit flies but has been shown to be fully conserved in humans, where malfunction can lead to abnormalities in cell differentiation, including neoplastic conditions. The manipulation of Notch activity ray offer a novel tool for differentiation therapy approaches since it appears to provide an opportunity to effectively manipulate undifferentiated cells. By the same token, Notch activity ray also prove to be useful for inducing the renewal of stem cells. For example, the ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells would have substantial practical value for generating increased numbers of stem cells in order to overcome myeloablative therapies such as radiation, or, upon genetic modification, for treating genetic diseases. We heard that this pathway offers a good paradigm of how lower eukaryotic model systems can be used in human biology.

The most important experimenlal tool offered by such lower eukaryotes is the ability to carry out genetic analysis. The studies described by Lswar Hariharan and Matthias Peter who use, respectively, Drosophila and yeast to identify and study genes involved in the arrest of cell cyclе, illustrated the power of this approach. The Drosophila analysis led to the identification of novel genes involved in the control of cell proliferation, while the yeast analysis showed how a gene involved in cell cycle arrest is also capable of controlling the orientation of cell polarity within a morphogenetic gradient, providing a link between signal transduction and сеll cycle. The interplay between distinct signaling pathways, the synergistic interaction between gene activities in the cell, and the pleiotropic developmental action of single genes were recurring themes throughout the colloquium.

The current models of carcinogenesis emphasize the successive accumulation of genetic alterations and their role in generating cloning dominance. However, little is known about the genetic variation that can be found in tumors during the earliest stages of carcinogenesis and about the selective forces that determine which combination of genes will eventually act in tumors (José Costa). Examination of the synergy between the various genetic factors necessary to attain an oncogenic state is the subject of intensive study. Anton Berns described how insertunal mutagenesis, using a particular leukemia virus, is used to accelerate tumorigenesis in mice by inducing successive mutations. Molecular cloning of the corresponding genes allows the identification of genes whose mutant synergistic action can lead to cancer. The accumulation of multiple genetic alterations required for the induction of solid tumors was also supported by the study of cervical cancers associated with human papilloma virus infections presented by Kathleen Cho.

From Flies to Humans

A gene which has been associated with solid tumors is ras, which encodes a protein essential for the transmission of developmental signais in a variety of cells. In more than 30 % of solid tumors, ras is mutated. Hence the search for genes integrated in ras-mediated cell signaling has been an area of exceptionally intense study. Most of the ras signaling cascade has been elucidated in files, worms and yeast, and subsequently shown to be fully conserved in humans. The search for ras pathway genes is important because thеу can potentially be targets for drugs that interfere with ras signaling in tumors. Gerald Rubin presented a genetic screen in Oies that led to the identification of a novel ras pathway member, showing again the unique power of the genetic approach.
Fruit flies are not only used for dissecting pathways. As we heard from Tian Xu, the ability to genetically manipulate this organism can also serve as an ingenious gene discovery tool. The ability to examine the activity of mutant genes in small tissue patches overcomes the difficulty of analyzing the developmental areas of lethal mutations, which per definition kill the animal and limit our ability to examine mutant phenotypes. The efficient generation of such mosaic animals, where the overproliferation phenotype can be readily identified in patches of mutant cells, is used to identify novel tumor suppressor genes or negative regulators of cell proliferation. Several novel tumor suppressor genes have thus been identified and their human homologues have been isolated (Tian Xu) .
Connections between cancer and development continued to be obvious in the discussion of specific genes that have been dirеctly or indîrectly associated with tumors. Wilrns tumor is a developmental abnormality in kidneys that arises through loss of function of a tumor suppressor gene encoding for proteins involved in transcription as well as in splicing (Nick Hastie). Eric Fearon explained that the involvement of the gene called DCC (Deleted in Colon Cancer) in tumorigenesis is unclear. Moreover, its biochemical role is unclear. He did demonstrate however that when the human gene is expressed in the developing fly eye, it can disrupt normal development. Such ectopic expressions of heterologous genes can, at least theoretically, provide a unique tool to explore genes of unknown function and help identify and dissect their genetic circuitry.

A powerful reminder that genetic analysis without a thorough biochemical backing has limited value came from Ed Harlow and David Baltimore. The analysis of the retinobastota protein, one of the best understood oncogenes, almost entirely relied on biochemical analysis, which is only now starting to use genetic techniques to further dissect its genetic circuitry (Ed. Harlow). Similarly, the NFkB and CD40 signaling cascades have been largely analyzed biochemically (David Baltimore). In fact, Catherine Dargemont used the biochemi- ca1 paradigms developed during the study of NFkB signaling to study nuclei-cytopksinic shuttling, a phenomenon of central importance in eukaryotic biology. Finally, Ionique Arpin and Daniel Louvard discussed the involvement of the 4.1 superfa- тilу of proteins in tumors. These proteins were shown to be involved in Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The 4.1 family seems to provide a link between surface receptors and the cytoskeleton, influencing cell adhesion and migration, phenomena intimately related to metastasis.
In summary, the colloquium provided a platform for fertile discussion. True to what by now is tradition, the Fondation des Treilles encouraged interdisciplinary dialogue and helped define scientific trends and avenues which a lot are immediately obvious.

Communications

Ionique Alpin – The morphogenetic signals transduced by HGF/SF in epithelial cells arе radiated by ezrin, a membrane cytoskeleton link
Spyros Artavanis-Tsakonas – Notch signaling
David Baltimore – Signafing pathways : CD40 and 513
Anion Berns – Identification of cooperating oncogenes
Irwin Bemstein – Regulation of early hematopoietic development
Michael Bishop – Proto-oncogenes and cell signaling
Jacques Camons – A two hybrid approach as an Arianе’s thread in the transduction labуrinth : joy and beguilement
Kathleen Cho – The role of human papillomaviruses in cell fate determination in cervical cancer
José Costa Microevolution and tumor formation
Catherine Dargemont – Nucleocytoplasmic transport: mechanisms and role in the regulation of transcription
Erie Fearon – Studies of the DDC gene in cancer and development
Walter Gehring – Induction on the eye morphogenetic pathway
Lswar Hariharan – Regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation in Drosophila
Ed Harlow – The retinoblastoma protein
Nick Hastiе – Wilms tumor – a case of disrupted development
Daniel Louvard – Role of membrane-miсrofilament interactions in cell polarity and signaling
Matthias Peter – Signal transduction and cell cyde arrest in response to mating pheromones in yeast
Bruce Ponder – Tumor and developmental syndroms associated with mutation of the RET receptor tyrosine kinase
Gerald Rubin – Ras-mediated signaling in Drosophile
Hugues de Thé – Physiopathological models of acute promyelocyticleukemia
Tian Xu – Tumor suppressors and Drosophile


OpenEdition vous propose de citer ce billet de la manière suivante :
ldiebold (4 mai 1996). Signaling pathways, Cell fate determination and cancer. Les carnets de la Fondation des Treilles. Consulté le 8 février 2025 à l’adresse https://doi.org/10.58079/qutl