Surgery (RMH) - Research Publications

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    Combined Treatment with a WNT Inhibitor and the NSAID Sulindac Reduces Colon Adenoma Burden in Mice with Truncated APC
    Faux, MC ; Weinstock, J ; Gogos, S ; Prato, E ; Azimpour, AI ; O'Keefe, R ; Cathcart-King, Y ; Garnham, AL ; Ernst, M ; Preaudet, A ; Christie, M ; Putoczki, TL ; Buchert, M ; Burgess, AW (AMER ASSOC CANCER RESEARCH, 2022-02)
    UNLABELLED: Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) truncations occur in many colorectal cancers and are often associated with immune infiltration. The aim of this study was to determine whether a combination of Wnt inhibition with anti-inflammatory (sulindac) and/or proapototic (ABT263) drugs can reduce colon adenomas. Apc min/+ and doublecortin-like kinase 1 (Dclk1)Cre/+ ;Apc fl/fl mice were exposed to dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) in their drinking water to promote the formation of colon adenomas. Mice were then treated with either a Wnt-signaling antagonist pyrvinium pamoate (PP), an anti-inflammatory agent sulindac or proapoptotic compound ABT263 or a combination of PP+ABT263, or PP+sulindac. Colon adenoma frequency, size, and T-cell abundance were measured. DSS treatment resulted in significant increases in colon adenoma number (P < 0.001, n > 5) and burden in Apc min/+ (P < 0.01, n > 5) and Dclk1 Cre/+ ;Apc fl/fl (P < 0.02, n > 5) mice. There was no effect on adenomas following treatment with PP in combination with ABT263. Adenoma number and burden were reduced with PP+sulindac treatment in Dclk1 Cre/+;Apc fl/fl mice (P < 0.01, n > 17) and in Apc min/+ mice (P < 0.001, n > 7) treated with sulindac or PP+sulindac with no detectable toxicity. PP treatment of Apc min/+ mice increased the frequency of CD3+ cells in the adenomas. The combination of Wnt pathway inhibition with sulindac was more effective in Dclk1 Cre/+;Apc fl/fl mice and provides an opportunity for killing Apc-mutant colon adenoma cells, indicating a strategy for both colorectal cancer prevention and potential new treatments for patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Outcomes from the results of this study may be translatable to the clinic for management of FAP and other patients with a high risk of developing colorectal cancer. SIGNIFICANCE: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide with limited therapeutic options. APC and other Wnt signaling mutations occur in the majority of colorectal cancers but there are currently no Wnt inhibitors in the clinic. The combination of Wnt pathway inhibition with sulindac provides an opportunity for killing Apc-mutant colon adenoma cells and suggests a strategy for colorectal cancer prevention and new treatments for patients with advanced colorectal cancer.
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    Loss of Bcl-G, a Bcl-2 family member, augments the development of inflammation-associated colorectal cancer
    Nguyen, PM ; Dagley, LF ; Preaudet, A ; Lam, N ; Giam, M ; Fung, KY ; Aizel, K ; van Duijneveldt, G ; Tan, CW ; Hirokawa, Y ; Yip, HYK ; Love, CG ; Poh, AR ; D' Cruz, A ; Burstroem, C ; Feltham, R ; Abdirahman, SM ; Meiselbach, K ; Low, RRJ ; Palmieri, M ; Ernst, M ; Webb, AI ; Burgess, T ; Sieber, OM ; Bouillet, P ; Putoczki, TL (NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP, 2020-02)
    Gastrointestinal epithelial cells provide a selective barrier that segregates the host immune system from luminal microorganisms, thereby contributing directly to the regulation of homeostasis. We have shown that from early embryonic development Bcl-G, a Bcl-2 protein family member with unknown function, was highly expressed in gastrointestinal epithelial cells. While Bcl-G was dispensable for normal growth and development in mice, the loss of Bcl-G resulted in accelerated progression of colitis-associated cancer. A label-free quantitative proteomics approach revealed that Bcl-G may contribute to the stability of a mucin network, which when disrupted, is linked to colon tumorigenesis. Consistent with this, we observed a significant reduction in Bcl-G expression in human colorectal tumors. Our study identifies an unappreciated role for Bcl-G in colon cancer.