Increased lactate secretion by cancer cells sustains non-cell-autonomous adaptive resistance to MET and EGFR targeted therapies.
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ABSTRACT: Microenvironment is known to influence cancer drug response and sustain resistance to therapies targeting receptor-tyrosine kinases. However if and how tumor microenvironment can be altered during treatment, contributing to resistance onset is not known. Here we show that, under prolonged treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), EGFR- or MET-addicted cancer cells displayed a metabolic shift towards increased glycolysis and lactate production. We identified secreted lactate as the key molecule able to instruct Cancer Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) to produce Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) in a NF-KB dependent manner. Increased HGF, activating MET-dependent signaling in cancer cells, sustained resistance to TKIs. Functional targeting or pharmacological inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase prevented and overcame in vivo resistance, demonstrating the crucial role of this metabolite in the adaptive process. This non-cell-autonomous, adaptive resistance mechanism was observed in NSCLC patients progressed on EGFR TKIs, demonstrating the clinical relevance of our findings and opening novel scenarios in the challenge to drug resistance
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:Despite initial and often dramatic responses of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-addicted lung tumors to the EGFR-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), gefitinib and erlotinib, nearly all develop resistance and relapse. To explore novel mechanisms mediating acquired resistance, we employed non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines bearing activating mutations in EGFR and rendered them resistant to EGFR-specific TKIs through chronic adaptation in tissue culture. In addition to previously observed resistance mechanisms including EGFR-T790M 'gate-keeper' mutations and MET amplification, a subset of the seven chronically adapted NSCLC cell lines including HCC4006, HCC2279 and H1650 cells exhibited marked induction of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 2 and FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1) mRNA and protein. Also, adaptation to EGFR-specific TKIs was accompanied by an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) as assessed by changes in CDH1, VIM, ZEB1 and ZEB2 expression and altered growth properties in Matrigel. In adapted cell lines exhibiting increased FGF2 and FGFR1 expression, measures of growth and signaling, but not EMT, were blocked by FGFR-specific TKIs, an FGF-ligand trap and FGFR1 silencing with RNAi. In parental HCC4006 cells, cell growth was strongly inhibited by gefitinib, although drug-resistant clones progress within 10 days. Combined treatment with gefitinib and AZD4547, an FGFR-specific TKI, prevented the outgrowth of drug-resistant clones. Thus, induction of FGF2 and FGFR1 following chronic adaptation to EGFR-specific TKIs provides a novel autocrine receptor tyrosine kinase-driven bypass pathway in a subset of lung cancer cell lines that are initially sensitive to EGFR-specific TKIs. The findings support FGFR-specific TKIs as potentially valuable additions to existing targeted therapeutic strategies with EGFR-specific TKIs to prevent or delay acquired resistance in EGFR-driven NSCLC. Examination of mRNA levels in DMSO and gefitinib-resistant cultures of HCC4006 and HCC827. Each group has two replicates.
Project description:EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) induce a dramastic response in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with the EGFR mutation.However, acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs in lung cancer cells
Project description:Therapeutic resistance to VEGFR signaling inhibitors is a major obstacle in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We investigated the contribution of stromal and tumor cells to resistance of NSCLC to VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Gene expression analysis of stromal (mouse) and tumor (human) compartments enabled us to identify the HGF/c-MET pathway as a driver and a potential biomarker of VEGFR TKI resistance.
Project description:Lung adenocarcinoma cells harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are sensitive to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Prolonged cancer treatment will induce the development of acquired resistance to EGFR TKI. To gain insight into the molecular mechanisms of EGFR-TKIs resistance, we generate EGFR-TKI-resistant HCC827-8-1 cells to be analyzed by microarray with their parental HCC827cells. gefitinib resistant HCC827-8-1 cells with three replications; gefitinib-sensitive HCC827 cells with three replications
Project description:MET, the receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), is involved in wide variety of biological events and its aberrant activation is implicated in the pathogenesis of cancer. Especially, MET signaling is associated with resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), key drugs in therapy of non-small cell lung cancer. MET has 11 potential N-glycosylation sites, however, the site-specific roles of N-glycans have not been elucidated. Here, we report that N-glycans regulate proteolytic processing of MET and HGF induced MET signaling, site specifically. N-glycosylation inhibitors suppressed processing and trafficking of endogenous MET in H1975 and EBC-1 lung cancer cells and exogenous MET in CHO cells. We purified the recombinant extracellular domain of human MET and determined the site-specific N-glycan structures and occupancy using nanoflow liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The results indicated that most sites were fully glycosylated and the dominant population were complex-type which were rich in sialic acids and core fucoses. To examine the effects of N-glycan deletion of MET, we prepared endogenous-MET-knockout Flp-In CHO cells and transfected with series of N-glycan deletion mutants of MET. It was found that several N-glycans are implicated in processing of MET. It was also suggested that the N-glycans of -subunit of MET positively regulate HGF signaling, and the N-glycans of β-subunit negatively regulate HGF signaling. In all-N-glycan deletion mutant, processing and signaling were significantly suppressed. It was observed that the cell proliferation rate was suppressed in all-N-glycan deletion mutant, although the cell surface expression levels of MET were not completely diminished. We examined the HGF biding affinity for the recombinant extracellular domain of MET and found that peptide N-glycosidase F treatment did not affect the ligand binding affinity. It was suggested that N-glycans of MET affect the status and the function of the receptor site-specifically.
Project description:Despite initial and often dramatic responses of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-addicted lung tumors to the EGFR-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), gefitinib and erlotinib, nearly all develop resistance and relapse. To explore novel mechanisms mediating acquired resistance, we employed non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines bearing activating mutations in EGFR and rendered them resistant to EGFR-specific TKIs through chronic adaptation in tissue culture. In addition to previously observed resistance mechanisms including EGFR-T790M 'gate-keeper' mutations and MET amplification, a subset of the seven chronically adapted NSCLC cell lines including HCC4006, HCC2279 and H1650 cells exhibited marked induction of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 2 and FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1) mRNA and protein. Also, adaptation to EGFR-specific TKIs was accompanied by an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) as assessed by changes in CDH1, VIM, ZEB1 and ZEB2 expression and altered growth properties in Matrigel. In adapted cell lines exhibiting increased FGF2 and FGFR1 expression, measures of growth and signaling, but not EMT, were blocked by FGFR-specific TKIs, an FGF-ligand trap and FGFR1 silencing with RNAi. In parental HCC4006 cells, cell growth was strongly inhibited by gefitinib, although drug-resistant clones progress within 10 days. Combined treatment with gefitinib and AZD4547, an FGFR-specific TKI, prevented the outgrowth of drug-resistant clones. Thus, induction of FGF2 and FGFR1 following chronic adaptation to EGFR-specific TKIs provides a novel autocrine receptor tyrosine kinase-driven bypass pathway in a subset of lung cancer cell lines that are initially sensitive to EGFR-specific TKIs. The findings support FGFR-specific TKIs as potentially valuable additions to existing targeted therapeutic strategies with EGFR-specific TKIs to prevent or delay acquired resistance in EGFR-driven NSCLC.
Project description:Lung adenocarcinoma cells harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are sensitive to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Prolonged cancer treatment will induce the development of acquired resistance to EGFR TKI. To gain insight into the molecular mechanisms of EGFR-TKIs resistance, we generate EGFR-TKI-resistant HCC827-8-1 cells to be analyzed by microarray with their parental HCC827cells.
Project description:Introduction: Overcoming of acquired resistance to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) is an intractable obstacle for many clinical oncologists. The mechanisms of resistance to EGFR-TKIs are very complex. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) may play an important role in cancer development and metastasis. However, the biological process between lncRNAs and drug resistance to EGFR mutated lung cancer largely unknown. Methods: Osimertinib and afatinib-resistant EGFR-mutated lung cancer cells were established using by a stepwise method. Microarray analysis of non-coding and coding RNAs was performed using parental and resistant EGFR-mutant NSCLC cells. Results: Microarray analysis was evaluated by bioinformatics analysis through medical-industrial collaboration. CRNDE and DGCR5 lncRNAs were highly expressed in EGFR-TKIs-resistant cells. CRNDE binds to eIF4A3 protein, down-regulates eIF4A3 and MUC1 expression, and down-regulates p-EGFR expression. CRNDE inhibition activated the eIF4A3/MUC1/EGFR signaling pathway and apoptotic activity and restored sensitivity to EGFR-TKIs. Conclusions: We identified lncRNA CRNDE associated with resistance to EGFR-TKIs in EGFR-mutant NSCLC cells. CRNDE may be a novel therapeutic target for EGFR mutant NSCLC patients.
Project description:Aberrant overexpression or activation of EGFR drives the development of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and acquired resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) by secondary EGFR mutations or c-MET amplification/activation remains as a major hurdle for NSCLC treatment. We previously identified WDR4 as a substrate adaptor of Cullin 4 ubiquitin ligase and an association of WDR4 high expression with poor prognosis of lung cancer. Here, using an unbiased ubiquitylome analysis, we uncover PTPN23, a component of the ESCRT complex, as a substrate of WDR4- based ubiquitin ligase. WDR4-mediated PTPN23 ubiquitination leads to its proteasomal degradation, thereby suppressing lysosome trafficking and degradation of wild type EGFR, EGFR mutant, and c-MET. Through this mechanism, WDR4 sustains EGFR and c-MET signaling to promote NSCLC proliferation, migration, invasion, stemness, and metastasis. Clinically, PTPN23 is downregulated in lung cancer and its low expression correlates with WDR4 high expression and poor prognosis. Targeting WDR4-mediated PTPN23 ubiquitination by a peptide that competes with PTPN23 for binding WDR4 promotes EGFR and c-MET degradation to block the growth and progression of EGFR TKI-resistant NSCLC. These findings identify a central role of WDR4/PTPN23 axis in EGFR and c-MET trafficking and a potential therapeutic target for treating EGFR TKI-resistant NSCLC.