[PDF][PDF] Pan-cancer convergence to a small-cell neuroendocrine phenotype that shares susceptibilities with hematological malignancies

NG Balanis, KM Sheu, FN Esedebe, SJ Patel, BA Smith… - Cancer cell, 2019 - cell.com
NG Balanis, KM Sheu, FN Esedebe, SJ Patel, BA Smith, JW Park, S Alhani, BN Gomperts
Cancer cell, 2019cell.com
Small-cell neuroendocrine cancers (SCNCs) are an aggressive cancer subtype.
Transdifferentiation toward an SCN phenotype has been reported as a resistance route in
response to targeted therapies. Here, we identified a convergence to an SCN state that is
widespread across epithelial cancers and is associated with poor prognosis. More broadly,
non-SCN metastases have higher expression of SCN-associated transcription factors than
non-SCN primary tumors. Drug sensitivity and gene dependency screens demonstrate that …
Summary
Small-cell neuroendocrine cancers (SCNCs) are an aggressive cancer subtype. Transdifferentiation toward an SCN phenotype has been reported as a resistance route in response to targeted therapies. Here, we identified a convergence to an SCN state that is widespread across epithelial cancers and is associated with poor prognosis. More broadly, non-SCN metastases have higher expression of SCN-associated transcription factors than non-SCN primary tumors. Drug sensitivity and gene dependency screens demonstrate that these convergent SCNCs have shared vulnerabilities. These common vulnerabilities are found across unannotated SCN-like epithelial cases, small-round-blue cell tumors, and unexpectedly in hematological malignancies. The SCN convergent phenotype and common sensitivity profiles with hematological cancers can guide treatment options beyond tissue-specific targeted therapies.
cell.com