Lsd1 as a therapeutic target in Gfi1-activated medulloblastoma

Nat Commun. 2019 Jan 18;10(1):332. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-08269-5.

Abstract

Drugs that modify the epigenome are powerful tools for treating cancer, but these drugs often have pleiotropic effects, and identifying patients who will benefit from them remains a major clinical challenge. Here we show that medulloblastomas driven by the transcription factor Gfi1 are exquisitely dependent on the enzyme lysine demethylase 1 (Kdm1a/Lsd1). We demonstrate that Lsd1 physically associates with Gfi1, and that these proteins cooperate to inhibit genes involved in neuronal commitment and differentiation. We also show that Lsd1 is essential for Gfi1-mediated transformation: Gfi1 proteins that cannot recruit Lsd1 are unable to drive tumorigenesis, and genetic ablation of Lsd1 markedly impairs tumor growth in vivo. Finally, pharmacological inhibitors of Lsd1 potently inhibit growth of Gfi1-driven tumors. These studies provide important insight into the mechanisms by which Gfi1 contributes to tumorigenesis, and identify Lsd1 inhibitors as promising therapeutic agents for Gfi1-driven medulloblastoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / therapeutic use
  • Carcinogenesis / drug effects*
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / genetics
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / therapy
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Doxorubicin / therapeutic use
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Histone Demethylases / genetics
  • Histone Demethylases / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Medulloblastoma / genetics
  • Medulloblastoma / pathology*
  • Medulloblastoma / therapy
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, SCID
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Oncogenic Viruses
  • Retroviridae
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • GFI1 protein, human
  • Transcription Factors
  • Doxorubicin
  • Histone Demethylases
  • KDM1a protein, mouse