Project description:Given the recent reports on the role of AXL in mediating resistance to EGFR-targeted therapy, we generated cell line models of Erlotinib-resistance to investigate the effect of AXL inhibitors on EGFR TKI resistance. For this, EGFR-mutant PC9 cells were passed through a persister bottleneck by applying strong drug selection pressure to generate drug-tolerant erlotinib persister cells. We created four Erlotinib-resistant clones from one parental population; S1-34, S2-10, S2-17 and S2-30. Whole exome and RNA sequencing analyses were performed to probe the differences in Erlotinib-resistance mechanisms present in these persister-derived Erlotinib-resistant cells.
Project description:The non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line HCC827 harbors an activating EGFR mutation (exon 19 deletion) that confers sensitivity to the FDA-approved EGFR inhibitor erlotinib. By applying the ClonTracer barcoding system, we were able to show the presence of pre-existing sub-populations in HCC827 that contribute to erlotinib resistance. Prior studies implicated that MET amplification confers resistance to erlotinib in this cell line. Therefore we examined the effects of the c-Met inhibitor crizotinib on the barcoded HCC827 population when treated either sequentially or simultaneously with both inhibitors. Despite the significant reduction in barcode complexity, the erlotinib/crizotinib combination treatment failed to eradicate all of the resistant clones implying the presence of an erlotinib/crizotinib dual resistant subpopulation. We performed transcriptome profiling (RNA-seq) to elucidate the potential resistance mechanisms of the dual resistant subpopulation in comparison to vehicle-treated or single agent erlotinib-resistant HCC827 cell populations as controls. mRNA profiling of the subpopulations of human NSCLC cell line HCC827 that contribute to EGFR inhibitor erlotinib and MET inhibitor crizotinib resistance
Project description:Elevated expression and activity of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is associated with development and progression of head and neck cancer (HNC) and a poor prognosis. Clinical trials with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs; eg. erlotinib) have been disappointing in HNC. To investigate the mechanisms mediating resistance to these agents, we developed a HNC cell line (HN5-ER) with acquired erlotinib resistance. In contrast to parental HN5 HNC cells, HN5-ER cells exhibited an epithelial-mesenchymal (EMT) phenotype with increased migratory potential, reduced E-cadherin and epithelial-associated miRNAs, and elevated vimentin expression. Phosphorylated RTK profiling identified Axl activation in HN5-ER cells. Growth and migration of HN5-ER cells was blocked with a specific Axl inhibitor, R428, and R428 re-sensitized HN5-ER cells to erlotinib. Microarray analysis of HN5-ER cells confirmed the EMT phenotype associated with acquired erlotinib resistance, and identified activation of gene expression associated with cell migration and inflammation pathways. Moreover, increased expression and secretion of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 in HN5-ER cells suggested a role for inflammatory cytokine signaling in EMT and erlotinib resistance. Expression of the tumor suppressor miR-34a was reduced in HN5-ER cells and increasing its expression abrogated Axl expression and reversed erlotinib resistance. Finally, analysis of 302 HNC patients revealed that high tumor Axl mRNA expression was associated with poorer survival (HR 1.66, p=0.007). In summary, our results identify Axl as a key mediator of acquired erlotinib resistance in HNC and suggest that therapeutic inhibition of Axl by small molecule drugs or specific miRNAs might overcome anti-EGFR therapy resistance. Differential gene expression between parental and acquired erlotinib resistant head and neck cancer cell lines of HN5.
Project description:Elevated expression and activity of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is associated with development and progression of head and neck cancer (HNC) and a poor prognosis. Clinical trials with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs; eg. erlotinib) have been disappointing in HNC. To investigate the mechanisms mediating resistance to these agents, we developed a HNC cell line (HN5-ER) with acquired erlotinib resistance. In contrast to parental HN5 HNC cells, HN5-ER cells exhibited an epithelial-mesenchymal (EMT) phenotype with increased migratory potential, reduced E-cadherin and epithelial-associated miRNAs, and elevated vimentin expression. Phosphorylated RTK profiling identified Axl activation in HN5-ER cells. Growth and migration of HN5-ER cells was blocked with a specific Axl inhibitor, R428, and R428 re-sensitized HN5-ER cells to erlotinib. Microarray analysis of HN5-ER cells confirmed the EMT phenotype associated with acquired erlotinib resistance, and identified activation of gene expression associated with cell migration and inflammation pathways. Moreover, increased expression and secretion of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 in HN5-ER cells suggested a role for inflammatory cytokine signaling in EMT and erlotinib resistance. Expression of the tumor suppressor miR-34a was reduced in HN5-ER cells and increasing its expression abrogated Axl expression and reversed erlotinib resistance. Finally, analysis of 302 HNC patients revealed that high tumor Axl mRNA expression was associated with poorer survival (HR 1.66, p=0.007). In summary, our results identify Axl as a key mediator of acquired erlotinib resistance in HNC and suggest that therapeutic inhibition of Axl by small molecule drugs or specific miRNAs might overcome anti-EGFR therapy resistance.
Project description:The non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line HCC827 harbors an activating EGFR mutation (exon 19 deletion) that confers sensitivity to the FDA-approved EGFR inhibitor erlotinib. By applying the ClonTracer barcoding system, we were able to show the presence of pre-existing sub-populations in HCC827 that contribute to erlotinib resistance. Prior studies implicated that MET amplification confers resistance to erlotinib in this cell line. Therefore we examined the effects of the c-Met inhibitor crizotinib on the barcoded HCC827 population when treated either sequentially or simultaneously with both inhibitors. Despite the significant reduction in barcode complexity, the erlotinib/crizotinib combination treatment failed to eradicate all of the resistant clones implying the presence of an erlotinib/crizotinib dual resistant subpopulation. We performed transcriptome profiling (RNA-seq) to elucidate the potential resistance mechanisms of the dual resistant subpopulation in comparison to vehicle-treated or single agent erlotinib-resistant HCC827 cell populations as controls.
Project description:Although Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed in 90% of Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. Clinical trials with EGFR-targeted small molecule inhibitors such as erlotinib have shown a modest activity in recurrent or advanced HNSCC. To investigate the acquired mechanisms of erlotinib resistance we employed SILAC-based total proteomic analysis of an isogenic pair of erlotinib sensitive (SCC-S) and resistant (SCC-R) HNSCC cell line. This resulted in the identification of 5,427 proteins of which 532 proteins were overexpressed and 527 proteins were downregulated in SCC-R cells as compared to SCC-S cells (≥2 fold). Several proteins known to mediate erlotinib resistance in HNSCC and lung cancer were found to be dysregulated. Bioinformatics analysis of differentially expressed proteins showed enrichment of proteins involved in focal adhesion kinase (FAK) pathway downstream of EGFR. We identified CUB-domain containing protein 1 (CDCP1) and integrin β1 as upstream regulators of FAK signalling pathway to be overexpressed. We further demonstrated that CDCP1 and FAK can be targeted in combination as an alternative to erlotinib in HNSCC.
Project description:Activating mutations of EGFR have been characterized as important mechanisms for carcinogenesis in a subset of EGFR-dependent non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), such as erlotinib and gefitinib, have dramatic clinical effects on EGFR-addicted lung cancers and are used as first-line therapy for EGFR-mutant tumors. However, eventually all tumors acquire secondary resistance to the drugs and progress. We established a model to better understand mechanisms of acquired resistance. NCI- HCC827 cells are EGFR-mutant and highly erlotinib-sensitive. In this study we exposed HCC827 cells to increasing concentrations of erlotinib and two highly erlotinib-resistant subclones were developed (ER3 and T15-2). In these subclones no acquired alterations of EGFR or MET were found. We hereby performed a gene expression microarray studies to understand changes that might explain mechanisms of resistance. Through these studies we demonstrated in one resistant clone (ER3) overexpression of AXL, a tyrosine kinase implicated in imatinib and lapatinib resistance. Gene expression profilings were measured in NSCLC cell line HCC827 and two erlotinib-resistant HCC827-originated sublines ER3 and T15-2.
Project description:Analysis of human, adult, dermal fibroblasts following treatment with 100nM or 1 uM of erlotinib, a tryrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that targets the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibiting EGFR activation and signaling. Erlotinib is widely used to effectively treat patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer but treatment with erlotinib and other EGFR TKIs are associated with a painful skin rash. Results identified significantly differentially expressed genes in fibroblasts treated with erlotinib providing insight into how the drug alters the transcriptome in ways that may contribute to the TKI-related rash.
Project description:Despite the role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) development and progression, clinical trials involving EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have yielded poor results in HNSCC patients. Mechanisms of acquired resistance to the EGFR TKI erlotinib was investigated by developing erlotinib-resistant HNSCC cell lines (Cal-27, SCC-25, FaDu, and SQ20B) and comparing their gene expression profiles with their parental erlotinib-sensitive HNSCC cell lines using microarray analyses. Subsequent pathway and network analyses displayed a significant upregulation in immune response pathways. Role of immune/inflammatory signaling in acquired resistance to erlotinib in HNSCC was investigated.