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Dual Targeting of Histone Methyltransferase G9a and DNA‐Methyltransferase 1 for the Treatment of Experimental Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Bárcena-Varela, M; Caruso, S; Llerena, S; Álvarez-Sola, G; Uriarte, I; Latasa, MU; Urtasun, R; ... Fernández-Barrena, MG; + view all (2019) Dual Targeting of Histone Methyltransferase G9a and DNA‐Methyltransferase 1 for the Treatment of Experimental Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Hepatology , 69 (2) pp. 587-603. 10.1002/hep.30168. Green open access

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Abstract

Epigenetic modifications like DNA and histone methylation functionally cooperate fostering tumor growth, including that of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Pharmacological targeting of these mechanisms may open new therapeutic avenues. We aimed to determine the therapeutic efficacy and potential mechanism of action of our new dual G9a histone-methyltransferase and DNA-methytransferase 1 (DNMT1) inhibitor in human HCC cells and their crosstalk with fibrogenic cells. The expression of G9a and DNMT1, along with that of their molecular adaptor ubiquitin-like with PHD and RING finger domains-1 (UHRF1), was measured in human HCCs (n=268), peritumoral tissues (n=154) and HCC cell lines (n=32). We evaluated the effect of individual and combined inhibition of G9a and DNMT1 on HCC cells growth by pharmacological and genetic approaches. The activity of our lead compound, CM-272, was examined in HCC cells under normoxia and hypoxia, human hepatic stellate cells and LX2 cells, and xenograft tumors formed by HCC or combined HCC+LX2 cells. We found a significant and correlative overexpression of G9a, DNMT1 and UHRF1 in HCCs in association with poor prognosis. Independent G9a and DNMT1 pharmacological targeting synergistically inhibited HCC cell growth. CM-272 potently reduced HCC and LX2 cells proliferation and quelled tumor growth, particularly in HCC+LX2 xenografts. Mechanistically, CM-272 inhibited the metabolic adaptation of HCC cells to hypoxia, and induced a differentiated phenotype in HCC and fibrogenic cells. The expression of the metabolic tumor suppressor gene fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBP1), epigenetically repressed in HCC, was restored by CM-272. CONCLUSION: Combined targeting of G9a/DNMT1 with compounds like CM-272 is a promising strategy for HCC treatment. Our findings also underscore the potential of differentiation therapy in HCC. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Type: Article
Title: Dual Targeting of Histone Methyltransferase G9a and DNA‐Methyltransferase 1 for the Treatment of Experimental Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Location: United States
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1002/hep.30168
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.30168
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Liver cancer, differentiation therapy, epigenetic therapy, tumor metabolism, tumor-stroma interaction
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Medicine
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Medicine > Inst for Liver and Digestive Hlth
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10056993
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