摘要：SummaryMelanoma is a highly aggressive skin cancer that frequently metastasizes, but current therapies only benefit some patients. Here, we demonstrate that the serine/threonine kinase cell division cycle 7 (CDC7) is overexpressed in melanoma, and patients with higher expression have shorter survival. Transcription factor ELK1 regulates CDC7 expression, and CDC7 inhibition promotes cell cycle arrest, senescence, and apoptosis, leading to inhibition of melanoma tumor growth and metastasis. Our chemical genetics screen with epigenetic inhibitors revealed stronger melanoma tumor growth inhibition when XL413 is combined with the EZH2 inhibitor GSK343 or BRPF1/2/3 inhibitor OF1. Mechanistically, XL413 with GSK343 or OF1 synergistically altered the expression of tumor-suppressive genes, leading to higher apoptosis than the single agent alone. Collectively, these results identify CDC7 as a driver of melanoma tumor growth and metastasis that can be targeted alone or in combination with EZH2 or BRPF1/2/3 inhibitors.Graphical abstractDisplay OmittedHighlights•CDC7 is overexpressed in melanoma and predicts reduced patient survival•ELK1 regulates CDC7 expression in melanoma•CDC7 inhibition attenuates melanoma tumor growth and metastasis•XL413 co-operates with GSK343 and OF1 to potently inhibit melanoma growthChemistry; Epigenetics; Cell biology; Cancer
