Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide [1]. The overall survival rate for SCCHN of approximately 50% in five years has not changed very much in recent decades, so there is a major need for new approaches for the prevention and treatment of SCCHN. With funding from this grant, we developed a novel mouse model of oral cavity carcinogenesis, the """"""""4-nitroquinoline-1 oxide (4-NQO) drinking water"""""""" model [2]. We used this model to establish that RA (all-trans retinoic acid) and/or 5-aza-dCdR (the DNA methyltransferase (DNMTase) inhibitor 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine) inhibit or delay the development of oral cavity SCC (squamous cell carcinoma). This is the first demonstration of a positive cancer preventive effect of 5-aza-dCdR (epigenetic therapy) in an oral cavity carcinogenesis model. Again, with funding from this grant, we have developed a knockout mouse model (LRAT null mice) in which vitamin A (retinol) deficiency can be generated quickly and easily. We have used these mice to establish that retinol deficiency increases the incidence of oral SCC.
In Aim 1, we will use a pharmacological approach to determine if retinoid and/or DNMTase inhibitors inhibit cancer progression in the 4-NQO model and to show how this inhibition occurs by measuring the expression of key molecular markers that are associated with cancer development. Specifically, we will test an improved dosing schedule of RA with 5-aza-dCdR. We will also test the RXR selective retinoids bexarotene (LG1069) and LG100268, which have achieved positive results in other cancer chemoprevention models. We will test zebularine, a potent inhibitor of DNMTases, which exhibits excellent drug stability and has shown positive results in other cancer prevention models. We will measure numbers and severity of oral cancer lesions and various molecular markers known to change in human SCCHN, e.g. p16, cyclin D1, cyclooxygenase-2, EGFR, phosphoSTAT3, and cell proliferation (BrdU or PCNA). We will also examine proteins that effect epigenetic changes, e.g. JMJD3.
In Aim 2, by using a transgenic strategy, we will permanently mark cells in the basal layer of the oral epithelium. We will test the hypothesis that these cells give rise to cancer, and use molecular markers to characterize these cells during the oral carcinogenesis process. To examine the effects of cancer chemopreventive agents at the cellular level, we will also follow the """"""""permanently marked"""""""" cells in 4-NQO treated mice that are then treated with the drugs described in Aim 1. To gain information about the mechanism(s) by which retinol deficiency leads to a higher incidence of oral SCCs, we will perform similar cell marking experiments by crossing K14/creER(Tam);LRAT null mice with Rosa(lacZ);LRAT mice. From this research we will understand more about the mechanisms by which these dietary and chemotherapeutic approaches can inhibit the development of oral SCC, develop rational approaches for oral cancer prevention, and identify the cells involved in the carcinogenesis process that are influenced by cancer chemopreventive drugs. Many cancer chemoprevention trials in humans have not been successful, pointing to the need to carry out more fundamental studies and to test the idea that combination therapy may be essential for successful chemoprevention.

Public Health Relevance

Human oral cavity cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, with a poor long-term survival rate. Thus, there is a strong need to understand how this type of cancer develops and to design improved cancer chemoprevention strategies. The proposed research will focus on the mechanisms by which dietary components and certain drugs can potentially reduce the incidence of oral cavity cancer.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DE010389-19
Application #
8469748
Study Section
Chemo/Dietary Prevention Study Section (CDP)
Program Officer
Venkatachalam, Sundaresan
Project Start
1992-06-01
Project End
2015-05-31
Budget Start
2013-06-01
Budget End
2014-05-31
Support Year
19
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$381,467
Indirect Cost
$155,747
Name
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Department
Pharmacology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
060217502
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10065
Laursen, Kristian B; Gudas, Lorraine J (2018) Combinatorial knockout of RAR?, RAR?, and RAR? completely abrogates transcriptional responses to retinoic acid in murine embryonic stem cells. J Biol Chem 293:11891-11900
Tang, Xiao-Han; Urvalek, Alison M; Osei-Sarfo, Kwame et al. (2015) Gene expression profiling signatures for the diagnosis and prevention of oral cavity carcinogenesis-genome-wide analysis using RNA-seq technology. Oncotarget 6:24424-35
Urvalek, Alison M; Osei-Sarfo, Kwame; Tang, Xiao-Han et al. (2015) Identification of Ethanol and 4-Nitroquinoline-1-Oxide Induced Epigenetic and Oxidative Stress Markers During Oral Cavity Carcinogenesis. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 39:1360-72
Trasino, Steven E; Tang, Xiao-Han; Jessurun, Jose et al. (2015) Obesity Leads to Tissue, but not Serum Vitamin A Deficiency. Sci Rep 5:15893
Trasino, Steven E; Benoit, Yannick D; Gudas, Lorraine J (2015) Vitamin A deficiency causes hyperglycemia and loss of pancreatic ?-cell mass. J Biol Chem 290:1456-73
Osei-Sarfo, Kwame; Urvalek, Alison M; Tang, Xiao-Han et al. (2015) Initiation of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in a murine 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide and alcohol carcinogenesis model. Oncotarget 6:6040-52
Urvalek, Alison; Laursen, Kristian Bruun; Gudas, Lorraine J (2014) The roles of retinoic acid and retinoic acid receptors in inducing epigenetic changes. Subcell Biochem 70:129-49
Marcinkiewicz, Katarzyna M; Gudas, Lorraine J (2014) Altered epigenetic regulation of homeobox genes in human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. Exp Cell Res 320:128-43
Tang, Xiao-Han; Osei-Sarfo, Kwame; Urvalek, Alison M et al. (2014) Combination of bexarotene and the retinoid CD1530 reduces murine oral-cavity carcinogenesis induced by the carcinogen 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 111:8907-12
Marcinkiewicz, Katarzyna M; Gudas, Lorraine J (2014) Altered histone mark deposition and DNA methylation at homeobox genes in human oral squamous cell carcinoma. J Cell Physiol 229:1405-16

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