Targeting MYCN-driven transcription by BET-bromodomain inhibition Journal Article


Authors: Henssen, A.; Althoff, K.; Odersky, A.; Beckers, A.; Koche, R.; Speleman, F.; Schäfers, S.; Bell, E.; Nortmeyer, M.; Westermann, F.; De Preter, K.; Florin, A.; Heukamp, L.; Spruessel, A.; Astrahanseff, K.; Lindner, S.; Sadowski, N.; Schramm, A.; Astorgues-Xerri, L.; Riveiro, M. E.; Eggert, A.; Cvitkovic, E.; Schulte, J. H.
Article Title: Targeting MYCN-driven transcription by BET-bromodomain inhibition
Abstract: Purpose: Targeting BET proteins was previously shown to have specific antitumoral efficacy against MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma. We here assess the therapeutic efficacy of the BET inhibitor, OTX015, in preclinical neuroblastoma models and extend the knowledge on the role of BRD4 in MYCN-driven neuroblastoma. Experimental Design: The efficacy of OTX015 was assessed in in vitro and in vivo models of human and murine MYCN-driven neuroblastoma. To study the effects of BET inhibition in the context of high MYCN levels, MYCN was ectopically expressed in human and murine cells. The effect of OTX015 on BRD4-regulated transcriptional pause release was analyzed using BRD4 and H3K27Ac chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with DNA sequencing (ChIP-Seq) and gene expression analysis in neuroblastoma cells treated with OTX015 compared with vehicle control. Results: OTX015 showed therapeutic efficacy against preclinical MYCN-driven neuroblastoma models. Similar to previously described BET inhibitors, concurrent MYCN repression was observed in OTX015-treated samples. Ectopic MYCN expression, however, did not abrogate effects of OTX015, indicating that MYCN repression is not the only target of BET proteins in neuroblastoma. When MYCN was ectopically expressed, BET inhibition still disrupted MYCN target gene transcription without affecting MYCN expression. We found that BRD4 binds to superenhancers and MYCN target genes, and that OTX015 specifically disrupts BRD4 binding and transcription of these genes. Conclusions: We show that OTX015 is effective against mouse and human MYCN-driven tumor models and that BRD4 not only targets MYCN, but specifically occupies MYCN target gene enhancers as well as other genes associated with super-enhancers. © 2016 American Association for Cancer Research.
Journal Title: Clinical Cancer Research
Volume: 22
Issue: 10
ISSN: 1078-0432
Publisher: American Association for Cancer Research  
Date Published: 2016-05-15
Start Page: 2470
End Page: 2781
Language: English
DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-15-1449
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 26631615
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 2 June 2016 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Richard Patrick Koche
    174 Koche
  2. Anton George Henssen
    10 Henssen