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Oestrogen Non-Genomic Signalling is Activated in Tamoxifen-Resistant Breast Cancer.

ABSTRACT: Endocrine therapies targeting oestrogen signalling have significantly improved breast cancer management. However, their efficacy is limited by intrinsic and acquired resistance to treatment, which remains a major challenge for oestrogen receptor ? (ER?)-positive tumours. Though many studies using in vitro models of endocrine resistance have identified putative actors of resistance, no consensus has been reached. We demonstrated previously that oestrogen non-genomic signalling, characterized by the formation of the ER?/Src/PI3K complex, is activated in aggressive breast cancers (BC). We wondered herein whether the activation of this pathway is also involved in resistance to endocrine therapies. We studied the interactions between ER? and Src or PI3K by proximity ligation assay (PLA) in in-vitro and in-vivo endocrine therapy-resistant breast cancer models. We reveal an increase in ER?/Src and ER?/PI3K interactions in patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) with acquired resistance to tamoxifen, as well as in tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 cells compared to parental counterparts. Moreover, no interactions were observed in breast cancer cells resistant to other endocrine therapies. Finally, the use of a peptide inhibiting the ER?-Src interaction partially restored tamoxifen sensitivity in resistant cells, suggesting that such components could constitute promising targets to circumvent resistance to tamoxifen in BC.

SUBMITTER: Poulard C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6600329 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Oestrogen Non-Genomic Signalling is Activated in Tamoxifen-Resistant Breast Cancer.

Poulard Coralie C Jacquemetton Julien J Trédan Olivier O Cohen Pascale A PA Vendrell Julie J Ghayad Sandra E SE Treilleux Isabelle I Marangoni Elisabetta E Le Romancer Muriel M

International journal of molecular sciences 20190605 11

Endocrine therapies targeting oestrogen signalling have significantly improved breast cancer management. However, their efficacy is limited by intrinsic and acquired resistance to treatment, which remains a major challenge for oestrogen receptor α (ERα)-positive tumours. Though many studies using in vitro models of endocrine resistance have identified putative actors of resistance, no consensus has been reached. We demonstrated previously that oestrogen non-genomic signalling, characterized by t ...[more]

PMID: 31195751

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Project description:In the present study, we have taken the novel approach of using an in vitro model representative of tamoxifen-withdrawal subsequent to clinical relapse to achieve a greater understanding of the mechanisms that serve to maintain the resistant-cell phenotype, independent of any agonistic impact of tamoxifen, to identify potential novel therapeutic approaches for this disease state. Following tamoxifen withdrawal, tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 cells conserved both drug resistance and an increased basal rate of proliferation in an oestrogen deprived environment, despite reduced epidermal growth-factor receptor expression and reduced sensitivity to gefitinib challenge. Although tamoxifen-withdrawn cells retained ER expression, a sub-set of ER-responsive genes, including pS2 and progesterone receptor (PgR), were down-regulated by promoter DNA methylation, as confirmed by clonal bisulphite sequencing experiments. Following promoter demethylation with 5-Azacytidine (5-Aza), the co-addition of oestradiol (E2) restored gene expression in these cells. In addition, 5-Aza/E2 co-treatment induced a significant anti-proliferative effect in the tamoxifen-withdrawn cells, in-contrast to either agent used alone. Microarray analysis was undertaken to identify genes specifically up regulated by this co-treatment. Several anti-proliferative gene candidates were identified and their promoters were confirmed as more heavily methylated in the tamoxifen resistant vs sensitive cells. One such gene candidate, growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), was carried forward for functional analysis. The addition of 5-Aza/E2 was sufficient to de-methylate and activate GDF15 expression in the tamoxifen resistant cell-lines, whilst in parallel, treatment with recombinant GDF15 protein decreased cell survival. These data provide evidence to support a novel concept that long-term tamoxifen exposure induces epigenetic silencing of a cohort of oestrogen-responsive genes whose function is associated with negative proliferation control. Furthermore, reactivation of such genes using epigenetic drugs could provide a potential therapeutic avenue for the management of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer.

Project description:A functional genetic screen to identify genes causing tamoxifen resistance in an estrogen-dependent human breast cancer cell model was performed. By insertion of defective retrovirus into the genome, individual genetic changes were introduced at random in ZR-75-1 cells. Subsequently, infected cells were selected for their ability to proliferate while being exposed to tamoxifen, and from these cultures stable cell lines were established. The retrovirus insertion sites were mapped enabling the identification of several candidate breast cancer anti-estrogen resistance (BCAR) genes. By cDNA transfection of estrogen-dependent cells resulting in their transformation into a tamoxifen-resistant phenotype, proof was provided for the causative role of BCAR genes.A functional genetic screen to identify genes causing tamoxifen resistance in an estrogen-dependent human breast cancer cell model was performed. By insertion of defective retrovirus into the genome, individual genetic changes were introduced at random in ZR-75-1 cells. Subsequently, infected cells were selected for their ability to proliferate while being exposed to tamoxifen, and from these cultures stable cell lines were established. The retrovirus insertion sites were mapped enabling the identification of several candidate breast cancer anti-estrogen resistance (BCAR) genes identified. By cDNA transfection of estrogen-dependent cells resulting in their transformation into a tamoxifen-resistant phenotype, proof was provided for the causative role of BCAR genes (Van Agthoven et al, Breast Cancer Res Treat DOI:10.1007/s10549-008-9969-5, 2008). To elucidate the mechanisms how these individual BCAR genes induce cell proliferation in growth-arrested ZR-75-1 cells, we assessed the gene expression patterns between the different groups of cell lines. Keywords: Expression profiling, reference design RNA was isolated from two independent cultures of 69 tamoxifen-resistant cell lines. Detailed information regarding these cell lines with respect to the viral integration sites, was described previously (Van Agthoven et al, Breast Cancer Res Treat DOI:10.1007/s10549-008-9969-5, 2008). Each sample was hybridized in duplicate/triplicate and once in a dye-swap. The mixture of cell lines used as a reference was detailed previously (Jansen et al, J Clin Oncol 23, 732, 2005).

Project description:Tamoxifen, an antagonist to estrogen receptor (ER), is a first line drug used in breast cancer treatment. However, this therapy is complicated by the fact that a substantial number of patients exhibit either de novo or acquired resistance. To characterize the signaling mechanisms underlying the resistance to tamoxifen, we established a tamoxifen-resistant cell line by treating the MCF7 breast cancer cell line with tamoxifen for over 6 months. We showed that this cell line exhibited resistance to tamoxifen both in vitro and in vivo. In order to quantify the phosphorylation alterations associated with tamoxifen resistance, we performed SILAC-based quantitative phosphoproteomic profiling on the resistant and vehicle-treated sensitive cell lines where we identified >5,600 unique phosphopeptides. We found phosphorylation levels of 1,529 peptides were increased (>2 fold) and 409 peptides were decreased (<0.5-fold) in tamoxifen resistant cells compared to tamoxifen sensitive cells. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that focal adhesion pathway was the top enriched signaling pathway activated in tamoxifen resistant cells. We observed hyperphosphorylation of the focal adhesion kinases FAK1 and FAK2 in the tamoxifen resistant cells. Of note, FAK2 was not only hyperphosphorylated but also transcriptionally upregulated in tamoxifen resistant cells. Suppression of FAK2 by specific siRNA knockdown could sensitize the resistant cells to the treatment of tamoxifen. We further showed that inhibiting FAK activity using the small molecule inhibitor PF562271 repressed cellular proliferation in vitro and tumor formation in vivo. More importantly, our survival analysis revealed that high expression of FAK2 significantly associated with short metastasis-free survival of ER-positive breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen-based hormone therapy. Our studies suggest that FAK2 is a great potential target for the development of therapy for the treatment of hormone refractory breast cancers.

Project description:BackgroundThe mechanisms of endocrine resistance are complex, and deregulation of several oncogenic signalling pathways has been proposed. We aimed to investigate the role of the EGFR and Src-mediated STAT3 signalling pathway in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells.MethodsThe ER-positive luminal breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and T47D, were used. We have established an MCF-7-derived tamoxifen-resistant cell line (TamR) by long-term culture of MCF-7 cells with 4-hydroxytamoxifen. Cell viability was determined using an MTT assay, and protein expression levels were determined using western blot. Cell cycle and annexin V staining were analysed using flow cytometry.ResultsTamR cells showed decreased expression of estrogen receptor and increased expression of EGFR. TamR cells showed an acceleration of the G1 to S phase transition. The protein expression levels of phosphorylated Src, EGFR (Y845), and STAT3 was increased in TamR cells, while phosphorylated Akt was decreased. The expression of p-STAT3 was enhanced according to exposure time of tamoxifen in T47D cells, suggesting that activation of STAT3 can cause tamoxifen resistance in ER-positive breast cancer cells. Both dasatinib (Src inhibitor) and stattic (STAT3 inhibitor) inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in TamR cells. However, stattic showed a much stronger effect than dasatinib. Knockdown of STAT3 expression by siRNA had no effect on sensitivity to tamoxifen in MCF-7 cells, while that enhanced sensitivity to tamoxifen in TamR cells. There was not a significant synergistic effect of dasatinib and stattic on cell survival. TamR cells have low nuclear p21(Cip1) expression compared to MCF-7 cells and inhibition of STAT3 increased the expression of nuclear p21(Cip1) in TamR cells.ConclusionsThe EGFR and Src-mediated STAT3 signalling pathway is activated in TamR cells, and inhibition of STAT3 may be a potential target in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer. An increase in nuclear p21(Cip1) may be a key step in STAT3 inhibitor-induced cell death in TamR cells.

Project description:IntroductionOestrogens can mediate some of their cell survival properties through a nongenomic mechanism that involves the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. The mechanism of this rapid signalling and its dependence on a membrane bound oestrogen receptor (ER), however, remains controversial. The role of G-protein-coupled receptor and epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor in an ER-independent signalling pathway modulated by oestrogen was investigated.MethodsER-positive and ER-negative breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and SKBR3) and primary breast cancer cell cultures were used in this study. Cell proliferation was assessed using standard MTT assays. Protein and cAMP levels were detected by Western blotting and ELISA, respectively. Antigen localization was performed by immunocytochemistry, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Protein knockdown was achieved using small interfering RNA technologies.ResultsEGF and oestrogen, alone and in combination, induced cell proliferation and phosphorylation of MAPK proteins Raf and ERK (extracellular signal regulated kinase)1/2 in both ER-negative SKBR3 and ER-positive MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines. Increased Raf phosphorylation was also observed in primary human breast cultures derived from ER-positive and ER-negative breast tumours. Oestrogen induced an increase in intracellular cAMP in ER-negative SKBR3 human breast cancer cells. Oestrogen-mediated cell growth and phosphorylation of MAPK was modified by the EGF receptor antagonist AG1478, the G-protein antagonist pertussis toxin, and the angiotensin II receptor antagonist saralasin. Knockdown of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1) protein expression with small interfering RNA attenuated oestrogen-induced Raf phosphorylation in ER-negative cells. AT1 receptor was found to be expressed in the cell membrane of breast tumour epithelial cells.ConclusionThese findings provide evidence that, in breast cancer cells, oestrogen can signal through AT1 to activate early cell survival mechanisms in an ER-independent manner.

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Oestrogen Non-Genomic Signalling is Activated in Tamoxifen-Resistant Breast Cancer.

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Oestrogen Non-Genomic Signalling is Activated in Tamoxifen-Resistant Breast Cancer.

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