Ankyrin Repeat Domain 1, ANKRD1 , a Novel Determinant of Cisplatin
Sensitivity Expressed in Ovarian Cancer
LyndeeL.Scurr,
1,2
AlexanderD.Guminski,
1,2,3
Yoke-EngChiew,
1,2
RosemaryL.Balleine,
1,5
RaghwaSharma,
4
YingLei,
1,2
KyliePryor,
1,2
GerardV.Wain,
2
AlisonBrand,
2
KarenByth,
6
CatherineKennedy,
1,2
HelenRizos,
1
PaulR.Harnett,
1,3
andAnnadeFazio
1,2
Abstract
Purpose: The standardof care for ovarian cancer includes platinum-based chemotherapy. It is
not possible, however, to predict clinical platinum sensitivity or to design rational strategies to
overcomeresistance.Weusedanovelapproachtoidentifyalteredgeneexpressionassociated
with high sensitivity to cisplatin, to define novel targets to sensitize tumor cells to platins and
ultimately improve the effectiveness of this widely used class of chemotherapeutics.
Experimental Design: Using differential display PCR, we identified genes differentially
expressed in a mutagenized cell line with unusual sensitivity to cisplatin.The most highly
differentially expressed gene was selected, and its role in determining cisplatin sensitivity
was validated by gene transfection and small interfering RNA (siRNA) approaches, by associ-
ation of expression levels with cisplatin sensitivity in cell lines, and by association of tumor
expression levels with survival in a retrospective cohort of 71patients with serous ovarian
adenocarcinoma.
Results: Themosthighlydifferentlyexpressedgeneidentifiedwas ANKRD1 ,ankyrinrepeat
domain1(cardiacmuscle). ANKRD1 mRNAlevelswerecorrelatedwithplatinumsensitivityincell
lines,andmostsignificantly,decreasing ANKRD1 usingsiRNAincreasedcisplatinsensitivity
>2-fold. ANKRD1 wasexpressedinthemajorityofovarianadenocarcinomastested(62/71,
87%),andhighertumorlevelsof ANKRD1 werefoundinpatientswithworseoutcome(overall
survival, P =0.013).
Conclusions: These findings suggest that ANKRD1, agenenotpreviouslyassociatedwith
ovariancancerorwithresponsetochemotherapy,isassociatedwithtreatmentoutcome,and
decreasing ANKRD1 expression, or function, is a potential strategy to sensitize tumors to
platinum-baseddrugs.
Platinum compounds are the worldwide standard chemother-
apy for epithelial ovarian carcinoma and are also widely used in
patients with cancers arising in other reproductive organs, the
lung, upper aerodigestive tract, and urothelium. Although these
agents are initially effective in the majority of ovarian cancer
patients, there are significant differences in the tumor response
among individuals. Consequently, although a small subgroup
of ovarian cancer patients are cured by primary treatment, the
more common experience is disease relapse after a variable
interval, and some patients with primary resistant disease
progress during first-line chemotherapy (1). Currently, it is not
possible to accurately predict the clinical course of ovarian
cancer patients, and a better understanding of the molecular
pathways involved is needed to improve treatment outcomes.
Although platins interact with many intracellular compo-
nents, their cytotoxic effect is attributed to the formation of
DNA interstrand and intrastrand cross-links (reviewed in ref. 2).
These platinum-DNA adducts are recognized by a number of
proteins, including those involved in nucleotide excision repair,
mismatch repair, and high-mobility-group proteins (such as
HMG1 and HMG2). Increasing resolution of these pathways
Cancer Therepy: Preclinical
Authors’ Affiliations:
1
WestmeadInstituteforCancerResearch,Universityof
SydneyattheWestmeadMillenniumInstitute;Departmentsof
2
Gynaecological
Oncology,
3
MedicalOncologyandPalliativeCare,and
4
AnatomicalPathology,
WestmeadHospital;
5
DepartmentofTranslationalOncology,Westmeadand
NepeanHospitals;and
6
WestmeadMillenniumInstitute,Westmead,NewSouth
Wales,Australia
Received12/18/07;revised4/18/08;accepted5/21/08.
Grant support: A.D.GuminskiwassupportedbyaNationalHealthandMedical
ResearchCouncilPost-GraduateMedicalScholarship;R.L.BalleineandH.Rizos
areCancerInstituteNSWFellows;theWestmeadGynaecologicalOncologyTissue
BankisamemberoftheAustralasianBiospecimensNetwork-Oncologygroup
whichisfundedbytheAustralianNationalHealthandMedicalResearchCouncil;
the project was also funded by the Gynaecological Oncology Research Fund,
WestmeadHospital,andtheCancerCouncilNewSouthWales.
Thecostsofpublicationofthisarticleweredefrayedinpartbythepaymentofpage
charges.Thisarticlemustthereforebeherebymarked advertisement inaccordance
with18U.S.C.Section1734solelytoindicatethisfact.
Note: SupplementarydataforthisarticleareavailableatClinicalCancerResearch
Online(http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/).
L.L.ScurrandA.D.Guminskicontributedequallytothiswork.
Requests for reprints: DepartmentofGynaecologicalOncology,TheUniversity
ofSydney,WestmeadHospital,Westmead,NSW2145,Australia.Phone: 61-2-
9845-7376;Fax:61-2-9845-7793;E-mail:anna__defazio@wmi.usyd.edu.au.
F 2008AmericanAssociationforCancerResearch.
doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-07-5189
www.aacrjournals.org Clin Cancer Res 2008;14(21) November 1, 2008 6924
Research.
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