The Genomic Landscape of Endocrine Resistant Advanced Breast Cancers.
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ABSTRACT: The genomic evolution of breast cancers exposed to systemic therapy and its effects on clinical outcome have not been broadly characterized. We integrated the genomic sequencing of 1918 breast cancers, including 1501 hormone receptor-positive tumors, with detailed clinical information and treatment outcomes. Functional mutations in ERBB2 and loss-of-function mutations in NF1 were more than twice as common in post-endocrine therapy tumors compared to treatment-naive tumors. Additional alterations in the MAPK pathway (EGFR, KRAS among others) and in estrogen receptor transcriptional regulators (MYC, CTCF, FOXA1 and TBX3) were also more common compared to hormonal therapy-naive tumors. To determine whether candidate genomic lesions in the MAPK pathway and estrogen receptor transcriptional regulators were present prior to therapy or whether such lesions arose under the selective pressure of therapy, we performed whole-exome sequencing in select patients who had adequate samples acquired prior to and after progression on endocrine therapy. In total, 95 specimens corresponding to 30 treatment-naive primary tumors, 35 post-treatment tumors, and 30 normal samples were sequenced from 30 patients with endocrine-resistant metastatic breast cancer.
REPOSITORIES: dbGaP
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Project description:*** This submission includes RNA data, with DNA files available under a different accession number*** Purpose: Endocrine therapy resistance remains the greatest challenge for treating hormone receptor positive breast cancer patients. We aim to identify molecular mechanisms underlying endocrine therapy resistance through in-depth genomic analysis of patient samples. Experimental Design: We collected tumors from 35 estrogen receptor positive breast cancer patients receiving endocrine therapy, of which 3 patients had intrinsic resistance and 19 patients developed acquired resistance. For each patient, multiple tumor specimens were collected during the course of treatment. We performed DNA whole exome sequencing and RNA sequencing on all tumor samples. DNA mutations, copy number alterations and RNA gene expression data were analyzed through supervised analyses comparing paired sensitive and resistant tumor samples to identify molecular features related to endocrine therapy resistance. Results: We identified mutations enriched in resistant tumors including ESR1 and GATA3. ESR1 D538G variant confers endocrine therapy resistance while E380Q variant confers hypersensitivity. We demonstrate that resistant tumors had distinct gene expression profiles and elevated signaling pathways including ER, HER2, GATA3, AKT, RAS and p63 signaling. Integrated analysis for individual patient highlighted the heterogeneity of endocrine therapy resistance mechanisms. Conclusions: Our results suggest that mechanisms underlying endocrine therapy resistance are highly heterogeneous with diverse changes in genomic and transcriptomic levels.
2022-09-01 | E-MTAB-9917 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Around two thirds of breast tumors are characterized by the expression of estrogen receptor α and are therapeutically treated by blocking estrogen signaling. First line endocrine therapeutics are Tamoxifen which displaces estrogen form its receptor preventing receptor activation and aromatase inhibitors which prevent the formation of estrogen and thereby hormone-deprive the tumors. Therapy resistance remains a major clinical problem, especially for patients with late-stage diagnoses. Tumor heterogeneity may promote therapy resistance either through the selection of pre-existing rare clones or by providing a repertoire of cells that may develop resistance over time. In order to study endocrine therapy resistance on a clonal level, we have developed barcoded (allowing the tracking of single cells) endocrine therapy sensitive and resistant breast cancer cell lines. From these complex cell pools, multiple single cells characterized by a specific barcode were isolated and grown out. We then subjected the clones to phosphoproteomics measurement by Mass spectrometry. Based on their phosphorylation pattern, the kinase activity profiles of endocrine therapy resistant clones were determined to identify differentially activated kinases with implications in therapy resistance.
2024-01-26 | PXD040478 | Pride
Project description:One of the greatest advances in therapy of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer has been the development of endocrine therapy. More than two thirds of primary breast tumors express estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and their growth is mainly dependent on estrogen receptor activity. Several therapeutic approaches have thus been designed to inhibit ER activity in breast tissue. Tamoxifen, a selective ER modulator, is one of the main treatment options for premenopausal women with advanced ER positive breast cancer, and has also become well established as adjuvant therapy in the early breast cancer setting (Davies et al., 2011; Group, 1998; Jaiyesimi et al., 1995). In contrast to tamoxifen, which in other tissues such as bone and endometrium, can exert partial agonistic activity (Braithwaite et al., 2003; Fisher et al., 1994; Pietras, 2006), the selective ER downregulator, fulvestrant, is a potent ER antagonist. Binding of fulvestrant to ER inhibits receptor dimerization and nuclear uptake, prevents estrogen-response element binding and accelerates ER degradation (Dauvois et al., 1993; Dowsett et al., 2005; Fawell et al., 1990; Wakeling et al., 1991). Fulvestrant is approved for treatment of postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer who have relapsed or progressed on first-line endocrine therapy (Howell et al., 2002; Osborne et al., 2002; Robertson et al., 2003). Estrogen deprivation by treatment with aromatase inhibitors (such as letrozole, anastrozole or exemestane) which block synthesis of estrogens is another effective therapy option in postmenopausal women (Bonneterre et al., 2000; Cuzick et al., 2010; Dowsett et al., 2010; Mouridsen et al., 2001; Nabholtz et al., 2000). The large majority of patients with ER+ breast cancer experience an initial response to endocrine therapy, however, in many of these patients, the disease subsequently progresses and eventually anti-estrogen therapy ceases to have effect. Biomarkers predicting response to estrogen deprivation and new alternative treatments targeting the pathways supporting estrogen independent growth are therefore urgently needed (Patani and Martin, 2014; Patani et al., 2013). In order to understand how tumors respond to withdrawal of their main growth signal, a comparison of molecular features of tumor before and during endocrine therapy is necessary, and the fate of individual cancer cell sub-clones should be monitored. Since studies of cellular dynamics are very difficult to perform with clinical material, we made use of a patient derived, estrogen dependent, orthotopically growing luminal-like primary breast cancer xenograft model (PDX) (Bergamaschi et al., 2009; Huuse et al., 2012). This PDX model is a representative model for luminal breast cancers as the molecular characteristics, cellular heterogeneity and estrogen dependency of the primary tumor are retained over many passages. Functionally different subpopulations of cancer cells were previously defined by expression of the markers CD24 and SSEA-4 in this model (Skrbo et al., 2014), and it is therefore a suitable model for comparison of cellular and molecular effects of estrogen deprivation and ER-signaling inhibition. In this study, a quantitative MS-based proteomic analysis using SILAC and a label-free approach were performed, aiming to map changes in protein expression induced by endocrine therapy. Inhibition of ER-signaling seemed to induce CD24 and SSEA-4 expression on residual tumor cells. Proteomic analysis revealed overexpression of enzymes involved in TCA cycle, oxidative phosphorylation and fatty acid beta-oxidation following endocrine treatment when compared to untreated tumors. These results indicated possible reprogramming of cell metabolism and utilization of aerobic respiration, i.e. oxidative phosphorylation, in response to endocrine therapy.
2022-02-28 | PXD002352 | Pride
Project description:MCM3 is one of several genes whose expression profile is markedly altered in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cell lines. We observed that increased MCM3 expression is associated with tamoxifen resistance. Knockdown of MCM3 resulted in increased susceptibility of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cell lines. Moreover, MCM3 expression is significantly associated with clinical outcome of endocrine treated receptor positive breast cancer. To understand the effect of MCM3 on the mechanism of endocrine resistance, we performed gene expression array on tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cell lines. Here we show that MCM3 knockdown affects the expression of hundreds of genes. Resistance to endocrine therapy in estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer is a major clinical problem with poorly understood mechanisms. There is an unmet need for prognostic and predictive biomarkers to allow appropriate therapeutic targeting. We evaluated the mechanism by which minichromosome maintenance protein 3 (MCM3) influences endocrine resistance and its predictive/prognostic potential in ER+ breast cancer. We discovered that ER+ breast cancer cells survive tamoxifen and letrozole treatments through upregulation of minichromosome maintenance proteins (MCMs), including MCM3, which are key molecules in cell cycle and DNA replication. Lowering MCM3 expression in endocrine-resistant cells restored drug sensitivity and altered phosphorylation of cell cycle regulators, including p53(Ser315,33), CHK1(Ser317) and cdc25b(Ser323), suggesting that the interaction of MCM3 with cell cycle proteins is an important mechanism of overcoming replicative stress and anti-proliferative effects of endocrine treatments. Evaluation of MCM3 levels in primary tumors from four independent cohorts of breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant tamoxifen mono-therapy or no adjuvant treatment, including the Stockholm tamoxifen (STO-3) trial, showed MCM3 to be an independent prognostic adding information beyond Ki67. In addition, MCM3 was shown to be a predictive marker of response to endocrine treatment. Our study reveals a coordinated signaling network centered around MCM3 that limits response to endocrine therapy in ER+ breast cancer and identifies MCM3 as a clinically useful prognostic and predictive biomarker that allows personalized treatment of ER+ breast cancer patients.
2020-11-17 | GSE148878 | GEO
Project description:Transcriptionally active ESR1 fusions promote endocrine therapy (ET)-resistant growth and metastasis of estrogen receptor-alpha positive (ERα+) breast cancer. Currently, there are no targeted treatment options for tumors harboring active fusions because the ESR1 ligand binding domain (LBD) has been replaced with non-drug binding sequences from the 3’ partner gene. A mass spectrometry (MS)-based Kinase Inhibitor Pulldown Assay (KIPA) demonstrated an increase of multiple receptor tyrosine kinases including RET in T47D cells expressing active ESR1 fusions. Integrated proteogenomics defined tumor subsets that could be responsive to RET and CDK4/6 directed therapy from 22 biologically heterogeneous ERα+ patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumors. Inhibition of RET by repurposing an FDA-approved drug significantly suppressed ESR1 fusion-driven growth of cell, PDX-derived organoid (PDXO) and PDX models. CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment showed similar tumor reductions to RET inhibition. Here, we reveal therapeutic kinase vulnerabilities in ESR1 fusion-driven tumors, which will lay the framework for future clinical trials.
2023-10-24 | PXD033339 | Pride
Project description:Endocrine therapy is the main therapeutic option for patients with estrogen receptor alpha positive (ER+) breast cancer. Nevertheless, most of them become estrogen-independent and relapse after the treatment. Ret is a tyrosine kinase receptor that shows elevated expression levels in ER+ human breast tumors. In this study, we demonstrate that activation of the Ret receptor promotes proliferation as well as cell migration irrespective of endocrine therapy. Microarray data show that Ret activation involves changes in the expression of inflammatory- and motility-related genes. In vivo treatment with a Ret pathway inhibitor in a ER+/Ret+ mouse mammary cancer model, reduces tumor growth and lung metastasis even after endocrine therapy. Additionally, we show a connection between Ret and inflammatory pathways. The pro-inflamatory cytokine IL6 lies at the core of this regulation, which involves a positive feedback loop with IL6 and the Ret pathway reciprocally stimulating each other to further leading metastasis risk. Our findings provide insight into endocrine resistance mechanism and point at the Ret pathway as a potential target for future therapies.
2013-09-25 | GSE41405 | GEO
Project description:Estrogen Receptor alpha (ERα) is a ligand-inducible transcription factor that mediates estrogen signaling in hormone-responsive breast cancer (BC) and is the primary target of specific anticancer therapies that although effective can generate resistance phenomena that represents a crucial problem in clinical management of patients affected by this disease. DOT1 Like Histone Lysine Methyltransferase (DOT1L) and Menin 1 (MEN1) have been identified as functional component of the ERα mechanism of action. To investigate the involvement of DOT1L and MEN1 in mediating ERα actions in hormone-responsive and endocrine-resistant BC, interaction proteomics was applied to map the DOT1l and MEN1 nuclear interacting partners in MCF7 breast cancer cell nuclei in order to the identifiy new possible therapeutic targets for a more effective pharmacological treatment of endocrine therapy-resistant tumors.
2022-08-12 | PXD026864 | Pride
Project description:PURPOSE: To develop a predictive test for response and survival following neoadjuvant taxane-anthracycline chemotherapy for HER2-negative invasive breast cancer. METHODS: We developed a microarray-based gene expression test from pre-treatment tumor biopsies (310 patients) to predict favorable outcome based on estrogen receptor (ER) status,pathologic response to chemotherapy, 3-year disease outcomes, and sensitivity to endocrine therapy. Tumors were classified as treatment-sensitive if predicted to have pathologic response (and not resistance) to chemotherapy, or sensitive to endocrine therapy. We tested predictive accuracy, with 95% confidence interval (CI), for pathologic response (PPV, positive predictive value), distant relapse-free survival (DRFS), and absolute risk reduction at median follow-up in 198 other patients. Independence from clinical-pathologic factors was assessed in a multivariate Cox regression analysis based on the likelihood ratio test. Other evaluable, published response predictors (genomic grade index (GGI), intrinsic subtype (PAM50), pCR predictor (DLDA30)) were compared. Neoadjuvant validation cohort of 198 HER2-negative breast cancer cases treated with taxane-anthracycline chemotherapy pre-operatively and endocrine therapy if ER-positive. Response was assessed at the end of neoadjuvant treatment and distant-relapse-free survival was followed for at least 3 years post-surgery.
2011-05-11 | E-GEOD-25065 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:PURPOSE: To develop a predictive test for response and survival following neoadjuvant taxane-anthracycline chemotherapy for HER2-negative invasive breast cancer. METHODS: We developed a microarray-based gene expression test from pre-treatment tumor biopsies (310 patients) to predict favorable outcome based on estrogen receptor (ER) status,pathologic response to chemotherapy, 3-year disease outcomes, and sensitivity to endocrine therapy. Tumors were classified as treatment-sensitive if predicted to have pathologic response (and not resistance) to chemotherapy, or sensitive to endocrine therapy. We tested predictive accuracy, with 95% confidence interval (CI), for pathologic response (PPV, positive predictive value), distant relapse-free survival (DRFS), and absolute risk reduction at median follow-up in 198 other patients. Independence from clinical-pathologic factors was assessed in a multivariate Cox regression analysis based on the likelihood ratio test. Other evaluable, published response predictors (genomic grade index (GGI), intrinsic subtype (PAM50), pCR predictor (DLDA30)) were compared. Neoadjuvant study of 310 HER2-negative breast cancer cases treated with taxane-anthracycline chemotherapy pre-operatively and endocrine therapy if ER-positive. Response was assessed at the end of neoadjuvant treatment and distant-relapse-free survival was followed for at least 3 years post-surgery.
2011-05-11 | E-GEOD-25055 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Endocrine therapy is the main therapeutic option for patients with estrogen receptor alpha positive (ER+) breast cancer. Nevertheless, most of them become estrogen-independent and relapse after the treatment. Ret is a tyrosine kinase receptor that shows elevated expression levels in ER+ human breast tumors. In this study, we demonstrate that activation of the Ret receptor promotes proliferation as well as cell migration irrespective of endocrine therapy. Microarray data show that Ret activation involves changes in the expression of inflammatory- and motility-related genes. In vivo treatment with a Ret pathway inhibitor in a ER+/Ret+ mouse mammary cancer model, reduces tumor growth and lung metastasis even after endocrine therapy. Additionally, we show a connection between Ret and inflammatory pathways. The pro-inflamatory cytokine IL6 lies at the core of this regulation, which involves a positive feedback loop with IL6 and the Ret pathway reciprocally stimulating each other to further leading metastasis risk. Our findings provide insight into endocrine resistance mechanism and point at the Ret pathway as a potential target for future therapies. In order to model letrozole-sensitive breast cancer we use aromatase expressing MCF7 cells (MCF7/Aro). Six-day treatment (6 days) of cultures with letrozole (L) or fulvestrant (F) reversed the proliferative effects of the exposure to the estrogen (E2) precursor androstenedione (D4A). The addition of only EtOH (E) to the cells was used as control condition of deprivation. Treatment with the Ret ligand GDNF (G) partially rescues the inhibition of estrogen-dependent proliferation in these cells. To go deeper insight into the pathways involved, we decided to perform a microarray following different treatments (1-8: E, E+G, D, D+G, L, L+G, F, F+G) used in proliferation assays. Three biological replicates (rep 1-3) were used to the array.
2013-09-25 | E-GEOD-41405 | biostudies-arrayexpress