Publikation
Oncogenic hijacking of a developmental transcription factor evokes vulnerability toward oxidative stress in Ewing sarcoma
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel/Review - 15.05.2020
Marchetto Aruna, Dallmayer Marlene, Romero-Pérez Laura, Hölting Tilman L B, Amatruda James F, Cossarizza Andrea, Henssen Anton G, Kirchner Thomas, Moretti Matteo, Cidre-Aranaz Florencia, Sannino Giuseppina, Musa Julian, Baldauf Michaela, Gerke Julia S, Ohmura Shunya, Orth Martin F, Knott Maximilian M L, Colombo Maria V, Arrigoni Chiara, Bardinet Victor, Saucier David, Wehweck Fabienne S, Li Jing, Stein Stefanie, Grünewald Thomas G P
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Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is an aggressive childhood cancer likely originating from mesenchymal stem cells or osteo-chondrogenic progenitors. It is characterized by fusion oncoproteins involving EWSR1 and variable members of the ETS-family of transcription factors (in 85% FLI1). EWSR1-FLI1 can induce target genes by using GGAA-microsatellites as enhancers.Here, we show that EWSR1-FLI1 hijacks the developmental transcription factor SOX6 - a physiological driver of proliferation of osteo-chondrogenic progenitors - by binding to an intronic GGAA-microsatellite, which promotes EwS growth in vitro and in vivo. Through integration of transcriptome-profiling, published drug-screening data, and functional in vitro and in vivo experiments including 3D and PDX models, we discover that constitutively high SOX6 expression promotes elevated levels of oxidative stress that create a therapeutic vulnerability toward the oxidative stress-inducing drug Elesclomol.Collectively, our results exemplify how aberrant activation of a developmental transcription factor by a dominant oncogene can promote malignancy, but provide opportunities for targeted therapy.