R01DE030350

Defining the β-Catenin/CBP-Catenin/CBP Axis in Head and Neck Cancer

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a devastating malignancy associated with severe morbidity, high mortality, and limited treatment options. The main subsite of HNSCC is the oral cavity, where the disease presents primarily as tobacco- and alcohol-associated HPV(-) oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Despite great progress in the understanding of genomic alterations in OSCC, the molecular details underlying the progression of non-invasive oral lesions to advanced disease with lymph node metastasis remain poorly understood.

To gain insights into the mechanisms that contribute to OSCC progression to metastasis, we have studied the interaction between nuclear β-catenin and cAMP-response element-binding (CREB)-binding protein (CBP) in OSCC. We applied our newly developed computational methodologies coupled with genomic, epigenetic, molecular, biochemical, and functional analyses. Our published and preliminary studies show that inhibition of β-catenin/CBP activity with small molecule antagonists, ICG-001 and E7386, in a panel of OSCC cell lines inhibits cell proliferation and mesenchymal phenotype while inducing cellular differentiation.

Similarly, inhibition of β-catenin/CBP signaling in human OSCC cell line-derived tumor xenografts in nude mice inhibits tumor growth and metastasis and abrogates rapid metastases driven by subpopulations of OSCC stem cell-like cells, or cancer stem cells (CSCs), in embryonic zebrafish. Our recent global chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) studies show that β-catenin/CBP collaborates with the histone methyltransferase, MLL1, to promote global H3K4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) at transcription start sites (TSS) of numerous CSC genes.

This finding is supported by our recent genomic analyses based on RNA-seq and scRNA-seq data showing that β-catenin/CBP activity is associated with aggressive cell states, including CSCs. Preliminary analyses also suggest that β-catenin/CBP complexes include the Hippo pathway effectors YAP and TAZ (YAP/TAZ), which, like β-catenin, are associated with resistance to both chemotherapy and cetuximab in HNSCC.

Using well-characterized OSCC cell lines, we integrated gene expression signatures associated with the inhibition of the β-catenin/CBP axis with OSCC data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to show that β-catenin/CBP activity is associated with progressive disease and reduced patient survival. Building on these collective findings, we hypothesize that aberrant activation of β-catenin/CBP signaling underlies the expansion of CSCs during HNSCC progression to metastatic disease and that its antagonism may inhibit advanced disease.

This hypothesis will be tested in two aims that will: 1) define the role of the β-catenin/CBP axis in HNSCC progression to advanced disease; and 2) determine the molecular mechanisms underlying β-catenin/CBP activity in the induction of CSC phenotypes. Our studies will generate a dynamic integrated map aligning β-catenin/CBP activity with distinct aggressive cell states and their associated gene signatures, signaling networks, and protein assemblies and provide a rationale for the development of new treatment strategies to combat this malignancy.

Trustees Of Boston University

NIDCR EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH PROVIDES RESEARCH FUNDS TO SUPPORT BASIC, TRANSLATIONAL, AND CLINICAL RESEARCH IN DENTAL, ORAL, AND CRANIOFACIAL HEALTH AND DISEASE THROUGH GRANTS, COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS, AND CONTRACTS THAT SUPPORT SCIENTISTS WORKING IN INSTITUTIONS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND INTERNATIONALLY. EXTRAMURAL PROGRAMS PLAN, DEVELOP, AND MANAGE SCIENTIFIC PRIORITIES THROUGH PORTFOLIO ANALYSES AND CONSULTATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS, ENCOURAGING THE MOST PROMISING DISCOVERIES AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES FOR RAPID TRANSLATION TO CLINICAL APPLICATIONS. THE INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES PROGRAMS SUPPORTS BASIC AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS ON ORAL MICROBIOLOGY, SALIVARY BIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, ORAL AND SALIVARY GLAND CANCERS, NEUROSCIENCE OF OROFACIAL PAIN AND TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS, MINERALIZED TISSUE PHYSIOLOGY, DENTAL BIOMATERIALS, AND TISSUE ENGINEERING AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE. THE BRANCH AIMS TO ACCELERATE PROGRESS IN BASIC AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH IN THESE AREAS, AND FURTHER STIMULATE THE DISCOVERY PIPELINE BASED ON CLINICAL NEEDS. THE TRANSLATIONAL GENOMICS RESEARCH PROGRAMS SUPPORTS BASIC AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH IN GENETICS, GENOMICS, DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY, AND DATA SCIENCE TOWARD THE GOAL OF IMPROVING DENTAL, ORAL, AND CRANIOFACIAL HEALTH. THE FOCUS IS ON DECIPHERING THE GENETIC, MOLECULAR, AND CELLULAR MECHANISMS UNDERLYING DENTAL, ORAL, AND CRANIOFACIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ANOMALIES. THE BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES RESEARCH PROGRAMS SUPPORTS BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCH TO PROMOTE ORAL HEALTH, TO PREVENT ORAL DISEASES AND RELATED DISABILITIES, AND TO IMPROVE MANAGEMENT OF CRANIOFACIAL CONDITIONS, DISORDERS, AND INJURY. THE PROGRAM PRIORITIZES MECHANISTIC RESEARCH THAT CONTRIBUTES TO A CUMULATIVE SCIENCE OF BEHAVIOR CHANGE, TO MAXIMIZE THE RIGOR, RELEVANCE, AND DISSEMINATION OF EFFICACIOUS BEHAVIOR CHANGE INTERVENTIONS. THE CLINICAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS SUPPORTS PATIENT-ORIENTED, POPULATION, AND COMMUNITY BASED RESEARCH AIMED AT IMPROVING THE DENTAL, ORAL, AND CRANIOFACIAL HEALTH OF THE NATION. THE CENTER FOCUSES ON A VARIETY OF DISEASES AND CONDITIONS THROUGH CLINICAL TRIALS, EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDIES, PRACTICE-BASED RESEARCH, THE HIV/AIDS AND ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM, AND STUDIES OF ORAL HEALTH DISPARITIES AND INEQUITIES IN ALL AREAS OF NIDCR PROGRAMMATIC INTEREST. THE PROGRAM ENCOURAGES INVESTIGATIONS THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO TRANSLATE FINDINGS INTO EVIDENCE-BASED CLINICAL APPLICATIONS. THE RESEARCH TRAINING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT EXTRAMURAL PROGRAMS SPAN THE CAREER STAGES OF SCIENTISTS, SUPPORTING RESEARCH TRAINING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT FOR PHD AND DUAL DEGREE DDS/DMD-PHD STUDENTS, POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLARS, AND EARLY CAREER, MIDCAREER, AND ESTABLISHED INVESTIGATORS. THE PROGRAMS MANAGE SUPPORT FOR FELLOWSHIPS, RESEARCH TRAINING GRANTS, CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND CAREER TRANSITION AWARDS, NIH LOAN REPAYMENT AWARDS, AND DIVERSITY SUPPLEMENTS TO SUPPORT RESEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH INVESTIGATORS. NIDCR PARTICIPATES IN THE SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) AND SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAMS. THE SBIR PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION.THE STTR PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO STIMULATE AND FOSTER SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. EXTRAMURAL PROGRAMS ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE USE OF TAXPAYER FUNDS TO SUPPORT RESEARCH ON DENTAL, ORAL, AND CRANIOFACIAL DISEASES AND DISORDERS AND IMPROVING THE ORAL HEALTH OF ALL AMERICANS. EXTRAMURAL PROGRAMS SUPPORT RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING TO ESTABLISH THE FOUNDATION FOR SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES THAT INCLUDE TRANSPARENT AND RIGOROUS PLANNING, PRIORITY SETTING, CONTINUOUS AND CONSISTENT REVIEWS OF PROGRESS, AND FOCUS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DIVERSE, HIGHLY SKILLED, AND NIMBLE WORKFORCE THAT CAN RAPIDLY RESPOND TO SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGHS AND PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGES. EXTRAMURAL PROGRAMS ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE USE OF TAXPAYER FUNDS TO SUPPORT RESEARCH ON DENTAL, ORAL, AND CRANIOFACIAL DISEASES AND EMPLOY EVALUATION DOMAINS, FROM NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGIC PLANNING TO IMPLEMENTATION AND PROCESS EVALUATION, PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT, AND OUTCOMES AND IMPACT ANALYSIS TO EVALUATE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

93.121 - Oral Diseases and Disorders Research

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) [HHS - NIH]

Massachusetts United States

State-Wide

Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PA-19-056)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 472% from $563,548 to $3,223,525.