Project description:Understanding the complex molecular mechanisms underlying resistance to endocrine therapy is a major challenge in the treatment of estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancers. We have previously demonstrated that glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) signaling via the receptor tyrosine kinase RET promotes estrogen independent activation of ER. Here we have addressed the relevance of GDNF-RET signaling in response to aromatase inhibitor treatment and explored the efficacy of using RET inhibitors in breast cancer models of aromatase inhibitor response and resistance. A GDNF-response gene set, identified from gene expression profiling, was demonstrated to be an independent prognostic marker of poor patient outcome and, importantly, to be predictive of poor response to aromatase inhibitor treatment and development of resistance. The relevance of these findings was validated first by demonstrating an association of RET protein expression in an independent cohort of aromatase inhibitor resistant patient samples. Second, in in vitro models, GDNF-mediated RET signaling was demonstrated to enhance the survival of aromatase inhibitor resistant cells and to increase resistance in aromatase inhibitor sensitive cells. These effects could be reversed by targeting GDNF/RET signaling with the RET selective inhibitor NVP-BBT594 thus identifying GDNF-RET signaling as a potential therapeutic target, particularly in breast cancers resistant to aromatase inhibitors.<br>MCF7 cells were E2-deprived by culturing in phenol red-free RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% DCC for 3 days and then serum-starved overnight in the presence or absence of fulvestrant (ICI182,780) (100 nM). The following day, cells were treated with GDNF (20 ng/ml) for 0, 4, 8, 24 and 48 hours in the presence or absence of fulvestrant (ICI182,780) (100 nM).
Project description:PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase)/AKT and RAS/MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathway coactivation in the prostate epithelium promotes both epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), which is currently incurable. To study the dynamic regulation of the EMT process, we developed novel genetically defined cellular and in vivo model systems from which epithelial, EMT and mesenchymal-like tumor cells with Pten deletion and Kras activation can be isolated. When cultured individually, each population has the capacity to regenerate all three tumor cell populations, indicative of epithelial–mesenchymal plasticity. Despite harboring the same genetic alterations, mesenchymal-like tumor cells are resistant to PI3K and MAPK pathway inhibitors, suggesting that epigenetic mechanisms may regulate the EMT process, as well as dictate the heterogeneous responses of cancer cells to therapy. Among differentially expressed epigenetic regulators, the chromatin remodeling protein HMGA2 is significantly upregulated in EMT and mesenchymal-like tumors cells, as well as in human mCRPC. Knockdown of HMGA2, or suppressing HMGA2 expression with the histone deacetylase inhibitor LBH589, inhibits epithelial–mesenchymal plasticity and stemness activities in vitro and markedly reduces tumor growth and metastasis in vivo through successful targeting of EMT and mesenchymal-like tumor cells. Importantly, LBH589 treatment in combination with castration prevents mCRPC development and significantly prolongs survival following castration by enhancing p53 and androgen receptor acetylation and in turn sensitizing castration-resistant mesenchymal-like tumor cells to androgen deprivation therapy. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that cellular plasticity is regulated epigenetically, and that mesenchymal-like tumor cell populations in mCRPC that are resistant to conventional and targeted therapies can be effectively treated with the epigenetic inhibitor LBH589.
Project description:PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase)/AKT and RAS/MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathway coactivation in the prostate epithelium promotes both epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), which is currently incurable. To study the dynamic regulation of the EMT process, we developed novel genetically defined cellular and in vivo model systems from which epithelial, EMT and mesenchymal-like tumor cells with Pten deletion and Kras activation can be isolated. When cultured individually, each population has the capacity to regenerate all three tumor cell populations, indicative of epithelial–mesenchymal plasticity. Despite harboring the same genetic alterations, mesenchymal-like tumor cells are resistant to PI3K and MAPK pathway inhibitors, suggesting that epigenetic mechanisms may regulate the EMT process, as well as dictate the heterogeneous responses of cancer cells to therapy. Among differentially expressed epigenetic regulators, the chromatin remodeling protein HMGA2 is significantly upregulated in EMT and mesenchymal-like tumors cells, as well as in human mCRPC. Knockdown of HMGA2, or suppressing HMGA2 expression with the histone deacetylase inhibitor LBH589, inhibits epithelial–mesenchymal plasticity and stemness activities in vitro and markedly reduces tumor growth and metastasis in vivo through successful targeting of EMT and mesenchymal-like tumor cells. Importantly, LBH589 treatment in combination with castration prevents mCRPC development and significantly prolongs survival following castration by enhancing p53 and androgen receptor acetylation and in turn sensitizing castration-resistant mesenchymal-like tumor cells to androgen deprivation therapy. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that cellular plasticity is regulated epigenetically, and that mesenchymal-like tumor cell populations in mCRPC that are resistant to conventional and targeted therapies can be effectively treated with the epigenetic inhibitor LBH589.
Project description:We performed RNA sequencing analysis to see gene expression changes after estrogen treatment for an aromatase inhibitor-resistant PDX model (named GS3).
Project description:In order to study the mechanism of histone acetylation affecting development of ocular melanoma, we treated ocular melanoma cells with histone deacetylatase inhibitor LBH589. The results showed that the METTL14 was increased after LBH589 treatment. The study aims to reveal the interaction between histone acetylation and m6A modification, and to further explore the relationship between the expression level of METTL14 and the survival time of ocular melanoma patients, hopefully providing new ideas for the treatment of malignant tumors.
Project description:To identify the genes which have relation to aromatase-inhibitor-resistance, we compared the gene expression of aromatase-inhibitor-resistant cell, A3, with that of parent cell line, T-47D.
Project description:To identify the genes which have relation to aromatase-inhibitor-resistance, we compared the gene expression of aromatase-inhibitor-resistant cell, A3, with that of parent cell line, T-47D.
Project description:LBH589 is a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, treatment and changes in acetylated histones alters gene expression Gastric cancer cell line AGS was treated with 100nM LBH589 for 24h.