The long-term objective of this project is to identify new, more effective, and less toxic therapies for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) and related cancers, by understanding the function and regulation of the p53 family members p63 and p73. The p53 family of proteins plays a key role in the pathogenesis of HNSCC. The p53 gene itself is a target of mutational inactivation in the majority of these tumors, and p53-mutant tumors are highly lethal regardless of treatment modality. In contrast, the related family member p63 is not mutated but is dramatically overexpressed and/or subject to genomic amplification in the majority of cases. P63 is a lineage-specific master regulator of normal epithelial development that we and others have demonstrated to function at the nexus of pathways controlling proliferation, differentiation and survival of malignant epithelial cells in HNSCC. By developing a physiologic mouse model of HNSCC we demonstrated that these tumors are addicted to high levels of p63, which critically activates a paracrine FGFR signaling axis that is essential for tumor cell survival. The physiologic significance of these observations is further supported by the demonstration that p63/p73 are direct mediators of chemosensitivity in HNSCC which is abrogated by Bcl-2 up-regulation, a mediator of therapeutic resistance. HNSCC exhibits extensive cellular heterogeneity within the neoplastic compartment, and successful therapy must target the regenerative population that maintains the self-renewing capacity of the tumor. Here we describe a novel and powerful transcriptional program mediated by p63 that drives regenerative proliferation in HNSCC.
In Aim 1 we will perform in vivo studies to credential a key p63-associated co-factor that is required for the regenerative program, test effects on chromatin, and identify the downstream transcriptional and functional contributions.
In Aim 2 we will validate an additional p63-associated co-factor and pharmacologic target which we hypothesize to mediate a central transcriptional program relevant to tumor progression.
In Aim 3 we describe molecular analysis of patient samples and in vitro drug screens, leading to our discovery of a new approach to treat platinum-resistant HNSCC that leverages cross-talk between oncogenic and MAP kinase pathways. We will pursue this approach by employing genetic models, clinical pharmacologic inhibitors, and correlative tissue studies with patients enrolled in early-phase clinical trials. In addition to improving our knowledge of the basic biology of HNSCC, these studies will advance the goal of uncovering novel and viable therapeutic targets to improve treatment outcomes in this disease.

Public Health Relevance

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) is a common form of human cancer for which little progress has been made in long-term treatment outcomes over the last 30 years. This project aims ultimately to improve treatment success in HNSCC and related tumors, by identifying molecular pathways that function as the tumor cell's Achilles' heel. Once identified, we propose to determine which of these pathways represent the most promising targets for new cancer therapies, using a variety of experimental tumor model systems.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DE015945-16
Application #
9976493
Study Section
Cancer Molecular Pathobiology Study Section (CAMP)
Program Officer
Wang, Chiayeng
Project Start
2004-04-01
Project End
2022-07-31
Budget Start
2020-08-01
Budget End
2021-07-31
Support Year
16
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Massachusetts General Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
073130411
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02114
Ellisen, Leif W (2018) Cognitive Computing to Guide Molecular-Based Therapy Selection: Steps Forward amid Abundant Need. Oncologist 23:145-146
Saladi, Srinivas Vinod; Ross, Kenneth; Karaayvaz, Mihriban et al. (2017) ACTL6A Is Co-Amplified with p63 in Squamous Cell Carcinoma to Drive YAP Activation, Regenerative Proliferation, and Poor Prognosis. Cancer Cell 31:35-49
Rodriguez Calleja, Lidia; Jacques, Camille; Lamoureux, François et al. (2016) ?Np63? Silences a miRNA Program to Aberrantly Initiate a Wound-Healing Program That Promotes TGF?-Induced Metastasis. Cancer Res 76:3236-51
Isakoff, Steven J; Mayer, Erica L; He, Lei et al. (2015) TBCRC009: A Multicenter Phase II Clinical Trial of Platinum Monotherapy With Biomarker Assessment in Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. J Clin Oncol 33:1902-9
McBride, Sean M; Rothenberg, S Michael; Faquin, William C et al. (2014) Mutation frequency in 15 common cancer genes in high-risk head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Head Neck 36:1181-8
Forster, Nicole; Saladi, Srinivas Vinod; van Bragt, Maaike et al. (2014) Basal cell signaling by p63 controls luminal progenitor function and lactation via NRG1. Dev Cell 28:147-60
Zhao, Rui; Fallon, Timothy R; Saladi, Srinivas Vinod et al. (2014) Yap tunes airway epithelial size and architecture by regulating the identity, maintenance, and self-renewal of stem cells. Dev Cell 30:151-65
He, Lei; Torres-Lockhart, Kristine; Forster, Nicole et al. (2013) Mcl-1 and FBW7 control a dominant survival pathway underlying HDAC and Bcl-2 inhibitor synergy in squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Discov 3:324-37
Ramsey, Matthew R; Wilson, Catherine; Ory, Benjamin et al. (2013) FGFR2 signaling underlies p63 oncogenic function in squamous cell carcinoma. J Clin Invest 123:3525-38
Gallant-Behm, Corrie L; Ramsey, Matthew R; Bensard, Claire L et al. (2012) ?Np63? represses anti-proliferative genes via H2A.Z deposition. Genes Dev 26:2325-36

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