Growth Factor Stimulation Induces a Distinct ERα Cistrome Underlying Breast Cancer Endocrine Resistance
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ABSTRACT: Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) expression in breast cancer is predictive of response to endocrine therapy, however resistance is common in ERα-positive tumors that over-express the growth factor receptor ERBB2. Even in the absence of estrogen, ERα can be activated by growth factors including the epidermal growth factor (EGF). EGF induces a transcriptional program distinct from estrogen, however the mechanism of the stimulus-specific response is unknown. Here we show that the EGF-induced ERα genomic targets, its cistrome, are distinct from those induced by estrogen in a process dependent on the transcription factor AP-1. The EGF-induced ERα cistrome specifically regulates genes found over-expressed in ERBB2-positive human breast cancers. This provides a potential molecular explanation for the endocrine therapy resistance seen in ERα-positive breast cancers that over-express ERBB2. These results suggest a central role for ERα in hormone-refractory breast tumors dependent on growth factor pathway activation and favors the development of therapeutic strategies completely antagonizing ERα as opposed to blocking its estrogen responsiveness alone.
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE26081 | GEO | 2010/12/29
SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA135217
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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