Project description:Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations have shown a dramatic response to EGFR inhibitors (EGFR-TKI). EGFR T790M mutation and MET amplification have been recognized as major mechanisms of acquired resistance to EGFR-TKI. Therefore, MET inhibitors have recently been used in NSCLC patients in clinical trials. In this study, we tried to identify the mechanism of acquired resistance to MET inhibitor. We analyzed the antitumor effects of two MET inhibitors, PHA-665752 and crizotinib, in 10 NSCLC cell lines. EBC1 cells with MET amplification were the only cells that were sensitive to both MET inhibitors. We established PHA-665752-resistant EBC1 cells, namely EBC1-R cells. EBC1-R cells showed overexpression of ATP-binding cassette sub-family B member 1 (ABCB1) as well as phosphorylation of MET. EBC1-R cells grew as cell spheres that exhibited cancer stem cell-like (CSC) properties and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). The levels of two miRNAs, miR-374a and miR-138 which targeted ABCB1, were decreased in EBC1-R cells. ABCB1 siRNA and ABCB1 inhibitor elacridar could reduce sphere numbers and suppress EMT. Elacridar could also reverse the resistance to PHA-665752 in EBC1-R cells. Our study demonstrated that ABCB1 overexpression which was associated with CSC properties and EMT was involved in the acquired resistance to MET inhibitor. Inhibition of ABCB1 might be a novel therapeutic strategy for NSCLC patients with acquired resistance to MET inhibitor.
Project description:Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide and reports innate and acquired therapeutic resistance to cisplatin. Metformin (MET), an antidiabetic agent with potential antitumor activity, overcomes cisplatin resistance in some cancers through AMPK-dependent and independent mechanisms. MET is a potential treatment in cells with LKB1 mutation, even with the impairment of AMPK and overactivation of mTOR signaling. The present study investigated the role of mTOR signaling and other signaling pathways after MET treatment in control and resistant A549 cells, mapping pathways and possible targets for cisplatin sensitivity induced by metformin.
Project description:Targeted therapies have the potential to revolutionize cancer care by providing personalized treatment strategies that are less toxic and more effective but it is clear that for most solid tumors suppression of a single target is not sufficient to prevent development of resistance. A powerful method to identify mechanisms of resistance and targets for combination therapy is to use an in vivo genetic approach. We have developed a novel retroviral gene delivery mouse model of melanoma that permits control of gene expression post-delivery using the tetracycline (tet)-regulated system. In this study we used this melanoma model to select for resistant tumors following genetic inhibition of mutant NRAS. Analysis of tumors that became resistant to NRAS suppression revealed that the most common mechanism of resistance was overexpression of the Met receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK). Importantly, inhibition of Met overcomes NRAS resistance in this context. Analysis of NRAS mutant human melanoma cells revealed that inhibition of MEK is also associated with adaptive RTK signaling. Furthermore, co-inhibition of RTK signaling and MEK overcomes acquired MEK inhibitor resistance in NRAS mutant melanoma. These data suggest that combined inhibition of RTK and MEK signaling is a rational therapeutic strategy in mutant NRAS driven melanoma. Reversible NRAS Q61R expression in the melanocytes of DCT-TVA;Ink4a/Arf lox/lox mice (FVB/n) was achieved by transducing the animals with Tet-off and TRE-NRASQ61R-IRES-Cre avian leukosis viruses. After tumor initiation, the expression of NRAS Q61R was turned off by administrating doxycycline. Despite initial regression, tumors in 40% of mice developed resistance to NRAS Q61R withdraw. Seven resistant tumors and one control tumor where NRAS Q61R expression was not interrupted were subjected to genome-wide gene expression profiling.
Project description:Targeted therapies have the potential to revolutionize cancer care by providing personalized treatment strategies that are less toxic and more effective but it is clear that for most solid tumors suppression of a single target is not sufficient to prevent development of resistance. A powerful method to identify mechanisms of resistance and targets for combination therapy is to use an in vivo genetic approach. We have developed a novel retroviral gene delivery mouse model of melanoma that permits control of gene expression post-delivery using the tetracycline (tet)-regulated system. In this study we used this melanoma model to select for resistant tumors following genetic inhibition of mutant NRAS. Analysis of tumors that became resistant to NRAS suppression revealed that the most common mechanism of resistance was overexpression of the Met receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK). Importantly, inhibition of Met overcomes NRAS resistance in this context. Analysis of NRAS mutant human melanoma cells revealed that inhibition of MEK is also associated with adaptive RTK signaling. Furthermore, co-inhibition of RTK signaling and MEK overcomes acquired MEK inhibitor resistance in NRAS mutant melanoma. These data suggest that combined inhibition of RTK and MEK signaling is a rational therapeutic strategy in mutant NRAS driven melanoma.
Project description:EGFR mutant non-small cell lung cancer patients disease demonstrates remarkable responses to EGFR targeted therapy, but inevitably they succumb to acquired resistance, which can be complex and difficult to treat. Analyzing acquired resistance through broad molecular testing is crucial to understanding the resistance mechanisms and developing new treatment options. We performed diverse clinical testing on a patient with successive stages of acquired resistance, first to an EGFR inhibitor with MET gene amplification and then subsequently to combination EGFR and MET targeted therapies. A patient-derived cell line obtained at the time of disease progression was used to identify NRAS gene amplification as an additional driver of drug resistance to combination EGFR/MET therapies. Analysis of downstream signaling revealed ERK activation that could only be eliminated by trametinib treatment, while Akt activation could be modulated by various combinations of MET, EGFR and PI3K inhibitors. Combination of an EGFR inhibitor with a MEK inhibitor was identified as a possible treatment option to overcome drug resistance related to NRAS gene amplification.
Project description:In an effort to understand the mechanisms of acquired resistance to BRAF inhibitors, we isolated clones that acquired resistance to the BRAF inhibitor GSK2118436 derived from the A375 BRAF V600E mutant melanoma cell line. This resistance clones acquired mutations in NRAS and MEK1. One clones, 16R6-4, acquired two mutations in NRAS – Q61K and A146T. Proliferation and western blot analyses demonstrated that these clones were insensitive to single agent GSK2118436 or GSK1120212 (an allosteric MEK inhibitor) but were sensitive to the combination of GSK2118436 and GSK1120212. To further characterize this combination, global transcriptomic analysis was performed in A375 and 16R6-4 after 24 hour treatment with GSK2118436, GSK1120212 or the combination of GSK2118436 and GSK1120212. This data set was published in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics with the title “Combined inhibition of BRAF and MEK, BRAF and PI3K/mTOR, or MEK and PI3K/mTOR overcomes acquired resistance to the BRAF inhibitor GSK2118436, mediated by NRAS or MEK mutations” by Greger, J.G., et.al. A375 and 16R6-4 (an A375 derived GSK2118436 resistance clone) were treated for 24 hours with 0.1 micromolar GSK2118436, 1 micromolar GSK2118436, 0.01 micromolar GSK1120212, 0.1 micromolar GSK2118436 + 0.01 micromolar GSK1120212, or 1 micromolar GSK2118436 + 0.01 micromolar GSK1120212.
Project description:The onset of secondary resistance represents a major limitation to long term efficacy of target therapies in cancer patients. Thus, the identification of mechanisms mediating secondary resistance is key to the rational design of alternative therapeutic strategies for resistant patients. MiRNA profiling combined with RNA-seq in MET-addicted gastric and lung cancer cell lines led us to identify the miR-205/ERRFI1 (ERBB receptor feedback inhibitor-1) axis as a novel mediator of resistance to MET tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). In cells resistant to MET-TKIs, increased miR-205 expression determined the downregulation of the EGFR inhibitor ERRFI1, which, in turn, caused EGFR activation and MET-TKI resistance. MiR-205/ERRFI1 driven EGFR activation rendered MET-TKI resistant cells sensitive to combined MET/EGFR inhibition. As a proof of concept of the clinical relevance of this newly identified mechanism of adaptive resistance, we report that a patient with a MET amplified lung adenocarcinoma displayed deregulation of the miR-205/ERRFI1 axis in concomitance with the onset of clinical resistance to anti-MET therapy.
Project description:Adenocarcinoma is the most common histologic subtype of lung cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer death. We and others previously identified TTF-1, a lineage-specific transcription factor required for branching morphogenesis and physiological lung functions, as a lineage-survival oncogene in lung adenocarcinoma. However, how TTF-1 mediates survival signals remains elusive. Here we show that TTF-1 induces receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1), which in turn mediates TTF-1 survival signaling in lung adenocarcinoma. Inhibition of ROR1 impaired prosurvival signaling through the PI3K-AKT pathway and induced nuclear accumulation of FOXO1. These were found to be imposed, at least in part, through PTEN inactivation via c-Src, while ROR1 was shown to physically interact with and phosphorylate c-Src. ROR1 inhibition also elicited marked p38 activation, provoking ill-balance between prosurvival and proapoptotic signaling, and consequential “oncogenic shock.” In addition, we found that ROR1 is crucially involved in EGFR- and MET-mediated prosurvival signaling. ROR1 knockdown effectively induced apoptosis in lung adenocarcinoma cell lines with acquired EGFR TKI resistance conferred by a secondary T790M EGFR mutation, or HGF-elicited MET signaling and resultant switching of the addicted receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). Taken together, our findings indicate that ROR1 RTK is a very promising molecular target for development of a novel therapeutic means to treat this hard-to-cure cancer. Dye-swap experiment, vector control vs. stable TTF-1 transfectant of HPL1D, immortalized human peripheral lung epithelial cell line.
Project description:In an effort to understand the mechanisms of acquired resistance to BRAF inhibitors, we isolated clones that acquired resistance to the BRAF inhibitor GSK2118436 derived from the A375 BRAF V600E mutant melanoma cell line. This resistance clones acquired mutations in NRAS and MEK1. One clones, 16R6-4, acquired two mutations in NRAS – Q61K and A146T. Proliferation and western blot analyses demonstrated that these clones were insensitive to single agent GSK2118436 or GSK1120212 (an allosteric MEK inhibitor) but were sensitive to the combination of GSK2118436 and GSK1120212. To further characterize this combination, global transcriptomic analysis was performed in A375 and 16R6-4 after 24 hour treatment with GSK2118436, GSK1120212 or the combination of GSK2118436 and GSK1120212. This data set was published in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics with the title “Combined inhibition of BRAF and MEK, BRAF and PI3K/mTOR, or MEK and PI3K/mTOR overcomes acquired resistance to the BRAF inhibitor GSK2118436, mediated by NRAS or MEK mutations” by Greger, J.G., et.al.