Beyond the Influence of <i>IDH </i>Mutations: Exploring Epigenetic Vulnerabilities in Chondrosarcoma

• Main Authors: Sanne Venneker, Alwine B. Kruisselbrink, Zuzanna Baranski, Ieva Palubeckaite, Inge H. Briaire-de Bruijn, Jan Oosting, Pim J. French, Erik H.J. Danen, Judith V.M.G. Bovée
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-11-01
• Series: Cancers
• Subjects: sarcoma; enchondroma; chondrosarcoma; isocitrate dehydrogenase; epigenetics; histone deacetylase
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/12/12/3589

Mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase (<i>IDH1</i> or <i>IDH2</i>) genes are common in enchondromas and chondrosarcomas, and lead to elevated levels of the oncometabolite D-2-hydroxyglutarate causing widespread changes in the epigenetic landscape of these tumors. With the use of a DNA methylation array, we explored whether the methylome is altered upon progression from <i>IDH</i> mutant enchondroma towards high-grade chondrosarcoma. High-grade tumors show an overall increase in the number of highly methylated genes, indicating that remodeling of the methylome is associated with tumor progression. Therefore, an epigenetics compound screen was performed in five chondrosarcoma cell lines to therapeutically explore these underlying epigenetic vulnerabilities. Chondrosarcomas demonstrated high sensitivity to histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition in both 2D and 3D in vitro models, independent of the <i>IDH</i> mutation status or the chondrosarcoma subtype. siRNA knockdown and RNA expression data showed that chondrosarcomas rely on the expression of multiple HDACs, especially class I subtypes. Furthermore, class I HDAC inhibition sensitized chondrosarcoma to glutaminolysis and Bcl-2 family member inhibitors, suggesting that HDACs define the metabolic state and apoptotic threshold in chondrosarcoma. Taken together, HDAC inhibition may represent a promising targeted therapeutic strategy for chondrosarcoma patients, either as monotherapy or as part of combination treatment regimens.