Myosin II Reactivation and Cytoskeletal Remodeling as a Hallmark and a Vulnerability in Melanoma Therapy Resistance

Publication date: 13 January 2020Source: Cancer Cell, Volume 37, Issue 1Author(s): Jose L. Orgaz, Eva Crosas-Molist, Amine Sadok, Anna Perdrix-Rosell, Oscar Maiques, Irene Rodriguez-Hernandez, Jo Monger, Silvia Mele, Mirella Georgouli, Victoria Bridgeman, Panagiotis Karagiannis, Rebecca Lee, Pahini Pandya, Lena Boehme, Fredrik Wallberg, Chris Tape, Sophia N. Karagiannis, Ilaria Malanchi, Victoria Sanz-MorenoSummaryDespite substantial clinical benefit of targeted and immune checkpoint blockade-based therapies in melanoma, resistance inevitably develops. We show cytoskeletal remodeling and changes in expression and activity of ROCK-myosin II pathway during acquisition of resistance to MAPK inhibitors. MAPK regulates myosin II activity, but after initial therapy response, drug-resistant clones restore myosin II activity to increase survival. High ROCK-myosin II activity correlates with aggressiveness, identifying targeted therapy- and immunotherapy-resistant melanomas. Survival of resistant cells is myosin II dependent, regardless of the therapy. ROCK-myosin II ablation specifically kills resistant cells via intrinsic lethal reactive oxygen species and unresolved DNA damage and limits extrinsic myeloid and lymphoid immunosuppression. Efficacy of targeted therapies and immunotherapies can be improved by combination with ROCK inhibitors.Graphical Abstract
Source: Cancer Cell - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research