Blockade of the pro-fibrotic reaction mediated by the miR-143/-145 cluster enhances the responses to targeted therapy in melanoma
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ABSTRACT: Lineage dedifferentiation towards a mesenchymal-like state displaying myofibroblast and fibrotic features is a common mechanism of adaptive and resistance to targeted therapy in melanoma. Here we show that the anti-fibrotic drug Nintedanib is active to normalize the fibrous ECM network, enhance the efficacy of MAPK-targeted therapy and delay tumor relapse in a pre-clinical model of melanoma. Acquisition of this resistant phenotype and its reversion by Nintedanib pointed to miR-143/-145 pro-fibrotic cluster as a driver of this mesenchymal-like phenotype. Upregulation of the miR-143/-145 cluster under BRAFi/MAPKi therapy was observed in melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo and was associated with an invasive/undifferentiated profile. The 2 mature miRNAs generated from this cluster, miR-143-3p and miR-145-5p collaborated to mediate transition towards a drug resistant undifferentiated mesenchymal-like state by targeting Fascin actin-bundling protein 1 (FSCN1), modulating the dynamic crosstalk between the actin cytoskeleton and the ECM through the regulation of focal adhesion dynamics and mechanotransduction pathways. Our study brings insights into a novel miRNA-mediated regulatory network that contributes to non-genetic adaptive drug resistance and provides proof-of-principle that preventing MAPKi-induced pro-fibrotic stromal response is a viable therapeutic opportunity for patients on targeted therapy.
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE171883 | GEO | 2021/12/29
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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