Dataset Information

Resistance of HNSCC cell models to pan-FGFR inhibition depends on the EMT phenotype associating with clinical outcome.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Focal adhesion signaling involving receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) and integrins co-controls cancer cell survival and therapy resistance. However, co-dependencies between these receptors and therapeutically exploitable vulnerabilities remain largely elusive in HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Methods

The cytotoxic and radiochemosensitizing potential of targeting 10 RTK and β1 integrin was determined in up to 20 3D matrix-grown HNSCC cell models followed by drug screening and patient-derived organoid validation. RNA sequencing and protein-based biochemical assays were performed for molecular characterization. Bioinformatically identified transcriptomic signatures were applied to patient cohorts.

Results

Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR 1-4) targeting exhibited the strongest cytotoxic and radiosensitizing effects as monotherapy and combined with β1 integrin inhibition, exceeding the efficacy of the other RTK studied. Pharmacological pan-FGFR inhibition elicited responses ranging from cytotoxicity/radiochemosensitization to resistance/radiation protection. RNA sequence analysis revealed a mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) in sensitive cell models, whereas resistant cell models exhibited a partial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Accordingly, inhibition of EMT-associated kinases such as EGFR caused reduced adaptive resistance and enhanced (radio)sensitization to FGFR inhibition cell model- and organoid-dependently. Transferring the EMT-associated transcriptomic profiles to HNSCC patient cohorts not only demonstrated their prognostic value but also provided a conclusive validation of the presence of EGFR-related vulnerabilities that can be strategically exploited for therapeutic interventions.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that pan-FGFR inhibition elicits a beneficial radiochemosensitizing and a detrimental radioprotective potential in HNSCC cell models. Adaptive EMT-associated resistance appears to be of clinical importance, and we provide effective molecular approaches to exploit this therapeutically.

SUBMITTER: Broghammer F

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10880239 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Resistance of HNSCC cell models to pan-FGFR inhibition depends on the EMT phenotype associating with clinical outcome.

Broghammer Felix F Korovina Irina I Gouda Mahesh M Celotti Martina M van Es Johan J Lange Inga I Brunner Cornelia C Mircetic Jovan J Coppes Robert P RP Gires Olivier O Dahl Andreas A Seifert Michael M Cordes Nils N

Molecular cancer 20240221 1

<h4>Background</h4>Focal adhesion signaling involving receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) and integrins co-controls cancer cell survival and therapy resistance. However, co-dependencies between these receptors and therapeutically exploitable vulnerabilities remain largely elusive in HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).<h4>Methods</h4>The cytotoxic and radiochemosensitizing potential of targeting 10 RTK and β1 integrin was determined in up to 20 3D matrix-grown HNSCC cell model ...[more]

PMID: 38378518

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Project description:Background: Up to 40% of patients with estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer experience treatment resistance and disease recurrence, often caused by the upregulation of growth factor receptors. Understanding the mechanisms of resistance, and the identification of novel therapeutic targets is, therefore, of vital importance if breast cancer prognosis is to be further improved. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) is a potential driver of endocrine resistance; however, clinically successful attempts at targeting FGFR1 activity in breast cancer are rare and may result from an inability to correctly identify patients that could benefit from such treatment. The identification of additional genes associated with an FGFR1-mediated mechanism of resistance will provide a more precise classification scheme for FGFR1-dependency in breast cancer. Methods: Live cell imaging and RNA sequencing of ER+ breast cancer cell lines (CAMA1, T47D, tamoxifen resistant T47D) were used to investigate FGFR1-dependency in breast cancer, mechanisms of endocrine resistance and the effects of treatment with tamoxifen and erdafitinib. An FGFR1-amplified ER+ breast cancer patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model was used to assess the effects of targeting FGFR1 in vivo. Gene expression analysis of human breast cancer from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was used for clinical validation. Results: We evaluated the effects of targeting FGFR1 in ER+/HER2- breast cancer with aberrant FGFR1 amplification and/or overexpression. We found that the FGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) erdafitinib inhibited cell proliferation of FGFR1-amplified CAMA1 cells in vitro. Additionally, erdafitinib significantly enhanced the anti-proliferative effect of 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT) and its anti-tumor effect was also demonstrated in vivo. Further, we demonstrated that the proliferation of FGFR1-overexpressing tamoxifen-resistant T47D (TR-T47D) cells is dependent on FGFR1 activity. Moreover, these TR-T47D cells are re-sensitized to tamoxifen upon treatment with erdafitinib. Finally, we found that upregulation of genes related to epithelial-mesenchymal-transition (EMT) correlates with FGFR1 overexpression, and is reversed by FGFR inhibition. Conclusions: In this study we demonstrated that targeting FGFR1 in ER+/HER2- breast cancer with aberrant FGFR1 activity has the potential to inhibit tumor growth and to re-sensitize resistant tumors to tamoxifen. Furthermore, we identified a functional relationship between EMT, FGFR activity and endocrine resistance in breast tumorigenesis.

Dataset Information

Resistance of HNSCC cell models to pan-FGFR inhibition depends on the EMT phenotype associating with clinical outcome.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Resistance of HNSCC cell models to pan-FGFR inhibition depends on the EMT phenotype associating with clinical outcome.

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