PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Grosjean

Publications and source records attributed to J Grosjean.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

NF-kappaB inhibition sensitizes to starvation-induced cell death in high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia.

CD34(+) bone marrow blasts from high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients as well as MDS patient-derived cell lines (P39 and MOLM13) constitutively activate the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) pathway and undergo apoptosis when NF-kappaB is inhibited. Here, we show that the combination of conventional chemotherapeutic agents (daunorubicin, mitoxantrone, 5-azacytidine or camptothecin) with the NF-kappaB inhibitor BAY11-7082 did not yield a synergistic cytotoxicity. In contrast, BAY11-7082 (which targets the NF-kappaB-activating I-kappaB kinase (IKK) complex) or knockdown of essential components of the NF-kappaB system (such as the IKK1 and IKK2 subunits of the IKK complex and the p65 subunit of NF-kappaB), by small interfering RNAs sensitized MDS cell lines to starvation-induced apoptosis. The combination of BAY11-7082 and nutrient depletion synergistically killed the acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell line U937 as well as primary CD34(+) bone marrow blasts from AML and high-risk MDS patients. The synergistic killing by BAY11-7082, combined with nutrient depletion, led to cell death accompanied by all hallmarks of apoptosis, including an early loss of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential, the release of cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) from mitochondria, activation of caspase-3, phosphatidylserine exposure on the plasma membrane surface and nuclear chromatin condensation. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of numerous autophagic vacuoles in the cytoplasm before cells underwent nuclear apoptosis. Nonetheless, cell death was neither inhibited by the pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk nor by knockdown of AIF or of essential components of the autophagy pathway (ATG5, ATG6/Beclin-1, ATG10, ATG12). In contrast, external supply of glucose, insulin or insulin-like growth factor-I could retard the cell death induced by BAY11-7082 combined with starvation. These results suggest that in MDS cells, NF-kappaB inhibition can precipitate a bioenergetic crisis that leads to an autophagic stress response followed by apoptotic cell death.

Acute Disease↗

Inhibition of NEMO, the regulatory subunit of the IKK complex, induces apoptosis in high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia.

In high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), blasts constitutively activate the antiapoptotic transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB). Here, we show that this NF-kappaB activation relies on the constitutive activation of the IkappaB kinase (IKK) complex, which is formed by the IKKalpha, IKKbeta and IKKgamma/NF-kappaB essential modulator (NEMO) subunits. A cell-permeable peptide that mimics the leucine zipper subdomain of IKKgamma, thus preventing its oligomerization, inhibited the constitutive NF-kappaB activation and induced apoptotic cell death in a panel of human MDS and AML cell lines (P39, MOLM13, THP1 and MV4-11). Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of the p65 NF-kappaB subunit or the three IKK subunits including IKKgamma/NEMO also induced apoptotic cell death in P39 cells. Cell death induced by the IKKgamma/NEMO-antagonistic peptide involved the caspase-independent loss of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential as well as signs of outer mitochondrial membrane permeabilization with the consequent release of cytochrome c, apoptosis-inducing factor and endonuclease G. Primary bone marrow CD34(+) cells from high-risk MDS and AML patients also succumbed to the IKKgamma/NEMO-antagonistic peptide, but not to a mutated control peptide. Altogether, these data indicate that malignant cells in high-risk MDS and AML cells critically depend on IKKgamma/NEMO to survive. Moreover, our data delineate a novel procedure for their therapeutic removal, through inhibition of IKKgamma/NEMO oligomerization.

Acute Disease↗

Targeting NF-kappaB in hematologic malignancies.

The transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) can intervene in oncogenesis by virtue of its capacity to regulate the expression of a plethora of genes that modulate apoptosis, and cell survival as well as proliferation, inflammation, tumor metastasis and angiogenesis. Different reports demonstrate the intrinsic activation of NF-kappaB in lymphoid and myeloid malignancies, including preneoplastic conditions such as myelodysplastic syndromes, underscoring its implication in malignant transformation. Targeting intrinsic NF-kappaB activation, as well as its upstream and downstream regulators, may hence constitute an additional approach to the oncologist's armamentarium. Several small inhibitors of the NF-kappaB-activatory kinase IkappaB kinase, of the proteasome, or of the DNA binding of NF-kappaB subunits are under intensive investigation. Currently used cytotoxic agents can induce NF-kappaB activation as an unwarranted side effect, which confers apoptosis suppression and hence resistance to these drugs. Thus, NF-kappaB inhibitory molecules may be clinically useful, either as single therapeutic agents or in combination with classical chemotherapeutic agents, for the treatment of hematological malignancies.

Hematologic Neoplasms↗

[Ultra-late metastasis of ocular melanoma: about two cases].

INTRODUCTION: Ocular melanoma is associated with extended risk of metastases, mainly liver metastases. Nevertheless, the late and ultra-late recurrence (respectively 10 and 15 years after initial treatment) are exceptional events. EXEGESIS: We describe hereafter two cases. In the first case, the treatment is palliative chemotherapy with death 12 months after metastasis diagnosis. In the second case, the patient underwent two resections of metastases (lung and liver). This patient had excellent quality of live, and survived 11 months later after palliative surgery. DISCUSSION: Follow-up of ocular melanoma patients should include liver enzymes and ultrasonography of liver in the long run.

Aged↗

[Prognosis of post-irradiation soft-tissue sarcoma: case-control study].

PURPOSE: We describe clinical and pathological aspects and survival of 12 recent of radio-induced soft tissue sarcoma. METHOD: We performed a single center case-control study, with 23 control matched by grade (according to Federation nationale des centres de lutte contre le cancer Grading) and by location. Survival comparison used Log Rank test. RESULTS: The development of these 12 cases was a result of 12 previous cancer treatment (including 4 breast cancers and 2 cervix cancers) with radiotherapy (median dose of 58 Grays). The median latency period was 10 years. There were nine women and three men. The median age was 68.5 years. The main location was chest wall (5 cases). The two main histologic subtypes were malignant histiocytofibromas (6 cases) and angiosarcomas (3 cases). Five cases were high grade. Treatments were performed with curative intent in 9 cases, including complete resection in six cases. Clinical and pathological aspects and treatments of controls were similar, but postoperative radiotherapy was most frequent and malignant histiocytofibroma was less common. Median overall survival (47 months vs. 30 months, P = 0.6), median metastatic disease-free survival (37 vs. 15 m., P = 0.6) and median locoregional disease-free survival (14 vs. 24 m., P = 0.07) were similar for cases and control. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that prognosis of radio-induced soft-tissue sarcomas is similar as other soft tissue sarcoma of same grade and same location.

Adult↗