1. Academic Validation
  2. Genetic landscape and ligand-dependent activation of sonic hedgehog-Gli1 signaling in chordomas: a novel therapeutic target

Genetic landscape and ligand-dependent activation of sonic hedgehog-Gli1 signaling in chordomas: a novel therapeutic target

  • Oncogene. 2020 Jun;39(24):4711-4727. doi: 10.1038/s41388-020-1324-2.
Chenlong Yang 1 Lei Yong 1 Chen Liang 1 Yan Li 2 Yunlong Ma 1 Feng Wei 1 Liang Jiang 1 Hua Zhou 1 Guanping He 1 Xiaoyu Pan 1 Bao Hai 1 Jian Wu 3 Yulun Xu 4 Zhongjun Liu 1 Xiaoguang Liu 5
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
  • 2 Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
  • 3 School of Clinical Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
  • 4 Department of Neurosurgery, China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
  • 5 Department of Orthopedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China. liuxg.puth@hotmail.com.
Abstract

Chordoma, a rare neoplasm derived from intraosseous notochordal remnants, is unresponsive to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) is a crucial fetal notochord-secreted morphogen that directs notochordal development. The aim of this study was to determine the functional roles and therapeutic potential of Shh-Gli1 signaling in chordomas. Tissue samples and clinical profiles were collected from 42 patients with chordoma. The chordoma cell lines U-CH1 and MUG-Chor1 were used for functional experiments. Shh-Gli1 signaling pathway genetic alterations were screened, and the functions of the identified novel variants were analyzed using in silico analyses, real-time quantitative PCR, and minigene assays. Ligand-dependent Shh-Gli1 signaling activation was assessed using single- and dual-label immunostaining, western blot analysis, and a Shh-responsive Gli-luciferase reporter assay. The small-molecule inhibitor vismodegib was used to target Shh-Gli1 signaling in vitro and in vivo. Overall, 44 genetic alterations were identified, including four novel variants (c.67_69dupCTG in Smo, c.-6_-4dupGGC and c.3306 + 83_3306 + 84insG in PTCH1, and c.183-67_183-66delinsA in SUFU). Shh, PTCH1, Smo, SUFU, and Gli1 were extensively expressed in chordomas, and higher Gli1 expression correlated with poorer prognosis. A luciferase reporter assay and dual-label immunostaining indicated the occurrence of juxtacrine ligand-dependent Shh-Gli1 signaling activation. Vismodegib significantly inhibited cell proliferation and induced Apoptosis and G1/S cell cycle arrest. In vivo investigation demonstrated that vismodegib effectively inhibited chordoma xenograft growth. This current preclinical evidence elucidates the therapeutic potential of Shh-Gli1 signaling pathway targeting for chordoma treatment. Vismodegib may be a promising targeted agent, and further clinical trials are warranted.

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