scholarly journals miR-200c suppresses stemness and increases cellular sensitivity to trastuzumab in HER2+ breast cancer

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cailu Song ◽  
Jin Wang ◽  
Hua Wang ◽  
Peng Liu ◽  
Longzhong Liu ◽  
...  

AbstractResistance to trastuzumab remains a major obstacle in HER2-overexpressing breast cancer treatment. miR-200c is important for many functions in cancer stem cells (CSCs), including tumor recurrence, metastasis and resistance. We hypothesized that miR-200c contributes to trastuzumab resistance and stemness maintenance in HER2-overexpressing breast cancer. In this study, we used HER2-positive SKBR3, HER2-negative MCF-7, and their CD44+CD24- phenotype mammospheres SKBR3-S and MCF-7-S to verify. Our results demonstrated that miR-200c was weakly expressed in breast cancer cell lines and cell line stem cells. Overexpression of miR-200c resulted in a significant reduction in the number of tumor spheres formed and the population of CD44+CD24- phenotype mammospheres in SKBR3-S. Combining miR-200c with trastuzumab can significantly reduce proliferation and increase apoptosis of SKBR3 and SKBR3-S. Overexpression of miR-200c also eliminated its downstream target genes. These genes were highly expressed and positively related in breast cancer patients. Overexpression of miR-200c also improved the malignant progression of SKBR3-S and SKBR3 in vivo. miR-200c plays an important role in the maintenance of the CSC-like phenotype and increases drug sensitivity to trastuzumab in HER2+ cells and stem cells.Summary statementmiRNAs are critical in stemness maintenance and drug resistance. These data link maintenance of the stemness-related phenotype and the sensitivity of HER2+ breast cancer to miR-200c in response to trastuzumab.

MicroRNA ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evita Maria Lindholm ◽  
Suvi-Katri Leivonen ◽  
Eldri Undlien ◽  
Daniel Nebdal ◽  
Anna Git ◽  
...  

Background: HER2 positive Breast Cancers (BC) have aggressive behavior and poor prognosis. Previously, we have identified miR-342-5p as an upstream regulator of HER2 signaling, as well as inhibitor of HER2 positive BC cell line growth. Objective: Here, we aimed to further investigate the molecular mechanisms behind miR-342-5pinduced HER2 pathway deregulation. </P><P> Method: Two HER2 amplified breast cancer cell lines were transiently transfected with miR-342-5p mimic or negative control, and gene expression was analyzed by Agilent microarrays. Three clinical datasets with BC patients were used to identify correlations between candidate genes and miR-342- 5p, and associations with survival. Results: Pathway analyses of all deregulated genes revealed a significant suppression of the HER2 downstream pathways ERK/MAPK and SAPK/JNK, whereas the miR-342-5p predicted target genes were enriched for pathways associated with cell motility.Biological functions linked to mitochondrial stability were ranked among the top toxicological functions in both gene lists. Among the most deregulated genes, Cytochrome B5 Reductase 3 (CYB5R3) and Rap Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor 6 (RAPGEF6) significantly anticorrelated and correlated, respectively, with miR-342-5p in all three clinical BC datasets. Low CYB5R3 levels and high RAPGEF6 levels were significantly associated with survival, although this was not directly associated with HER2 expression. Conclusion: Our data suggest that miR-342-5p overexpression in HER2 positive BC cell lines elicits broad effects on HER2 downstream signaling, cell motility and mitochondrial stability. Together these effects may render cells less proliferative and more sensitive to cellular stress.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lili Jiang ◽  
Liangliang Ren ◽  
Han Chen ◽  
Jinyuan Pan ◽  
Zhuojun Zhang ◽  
...  

AbstractHER2+ breast cancer (BC) is characterized by rapid growth, early recurrence, early metastasis, and chemoresistance. Trastuzumab is the most effective treatment for HER2+ BC and effectively reduces the risk of recurrence and death of patients. Resistance to trastuzumab results in cancer recurrence and metastasis, leading to poor prognosis of HER2+ BC. In the present study, we found that non-structural maintenance of chromosome condensin 1 complex subunit G (NCAPG) expression was highly upregulated in trastuzumab-resistant HER2+ BC. Ectopic NCAPG was positively correlated with tumor relapse and shorter survival in HER2+ BC patients. Moreover, overexpression of NCAPG promoted, while silencing of NCAPG reduced, the proliferative and anti-apoptotic capacity of HER2+ BC cells both in vitro and in vivo, indicating NCAPG reduces the sensitivity of HER2+ BC cells to trastuzumab and may confer trastuzumab resistance. Furthermore, our results suggest that NCAPG triggers a series of biological cascades by phosphorylating SRC and enhancing nuclear localization and activation of STAT3. To summarize, our study explores a crucial role for NCAPG in trastuzumab resistance and its underlying mechanisms in HER2+ BC, and suggests that NCAPG could be both a potential prognostic marker as well as a therapeutic target to effectively overcome trastuzumab resistance.


Author(s):  
María del Mar Noblejas-López ◽  
Cristina Nieto-Jiménez ◽  
Eva M. Galán-Moya ◽  
David Tebar-García ◽  
Juan Carlos Montero ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Although the anti-HER2 antibody trastuzumab augments patient survival in HER2+ breast cancer, a relevant number of patients progress to this treatment. In this context, novel drug combinations are needed to increase its antitumor activity. In this work, we have evaluated the efficacy of proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) compounds based on BET inhibitors (BETi) to augment the activity of trastuzumab in HER2+ breast cancer models. Methods BT474 and SKBR3 HER2+ breast cancer cell lines were used. The effects of trastuzumab and the BET-PROTAC MZ1 either alone or in combination, were evaluated using MTT proliferation assays, three-dimensional invasion and adhesion cultures, flow cytometry, qPCR and Western blot. In vivo studies were carried out in a xenografted model in mice. Finally, a Clariom_S_Human transcriptomic array was applied to identify deregulated genes after treatments. Results MZ1 induced a higher antiproliferative effect compared to the BETi JQ1. The combination of MZ1 and -trastuzumab significantly decreased cell proliferation, the formation of three-dimensional structures and cellular invasion compared to either of the drugs alone. Evaluation of apoptosis resulted in an increase of cell death following treatment with the combination, and biochemical studies displayed modifications of apoptosis and DNA damage components. In vivo administration of agents alone or combined, to tumors orthotopically xenografted in mice, resulted in a decrease of the tumor volume only after MZ1-Trastuzumab combination treatment. Results from a transcriptomic array indicated a series of newly described transcription factors including HOXB7, MEIS2, TCERG1, and DNAJC2, that were associated to poor outcome in HER2+ breast cancer subtype and downregulated by the MZ1-trastuzumab combination. Conclusions We describe an active novel combination that includes the BET-PROTAC MZ1 and trastuzumab, in HER2+ tumors. Further studies should be performed to confirm these findings and pave the way for their future clinical development.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Zabkiewicz ◽  
L Ye ◽  
R Hargest

Abstract Introduction HER2 over-expression denotes poor prognosis in breast cancers.Bone morphogenetic protein(BMP) signalling is known to interact with EGF signalling, co-regulating breast cancer progression.BMP antagonist Gremlin-1 may influence breast cancer disease progression, but this remains unexplored in HER2 positive breast cancers. Method GREM1 and HER2 expression, and clinical outcomes were examined in clinical cohorts.GREM1 overexpression or pEF control plasmid were transduced into BT474 HER2+breast cancer cells. In vitro function tests using BT474 pEF and BT474GREM1cells include 2D/3D growth, migration, and expression of epithelial to mesenchymal transition(EMT)markers. Signalling cascades were examined in BT474 treated with RhGremlin-1. In vivo, BALB/c nude mice underwent either mammary injection or intra-cardiac injection of BT474pEF or BT474GREM1 cells and disease burden assessed. Result GREM1 expression correlates with HER2 in breast tumours(p=0.03) and is higher in metastatic HER2 positive cancers (p = 0.04). HER2 positive patients with high GREM1 have poor survival(p = 0.0002). BT474GREM1cells have up-regulated markers of EMT compared to control. BT474 RhGremlin-1 treated cells have active AKT pathway signalling, independent of BMP signalling. In vitro,  BT474GREM1cells significantly proliferate and migrate compared to control(p&lt;0.05 and p &lt; 0.001).This is confirmed in vivo,  BT474GREM1 mice grew significantly larger mammary tumours(p&lt;0.05) and had more PETCT metastatic hotspots. Conclusion Gremlin-1 is correlated with poor outcomes in HER2 patients and promotes breast cancer cellular growth, migration and metastasis.Gremlin-1 is a novel area of research with potential as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for personalised, effective, breast cancer outcomes. Take-home message BMP antagonists are gaining interest for their potential in breast cancer prognosis and therapeutics.This novel area of research shows BMP antagonist Gremlin-1 is of importance in HER2 positive breast cancers. DRAGONS DEN


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 2974 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasmin M. Attia ◽  
Samia A. Shouman ◽  
Salama A. Salama ◽  
Cristina Ivan ◽  
Abdelrahman M. Elsayed ◽  
...  

Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)-7 inhibitors are emerging as promising drugs for the treatment of different types of cancer that show chemotherapy resistance. Evaluation of the effects of CDK7 inhibitor, THZ1, alone and combined with tamoxifen is of paramount importance. Thus, in the current work, we assessed the effects of THZ1 and/or tamoxifen in two estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer cell lines (MCF7) and its tamoxifen resistant counterpart (LCC2) in vitro and in xenograft mouse models of breast cancer. Furthermore, we evaluated the expression of CDK7 in clinical samples from breast cancer patients. Cell viability, apoptosis, and genes involved in cell cycle regulation and tamoxifen resistance were determined. Tumor volume and weight, proliferation marker (Ki67), angiogenic marker (CD31), and apoptotic markers were assayed. Bioinformatic data indicated CDK7 expression was associated with negative prognosis, enhanced pro-oncogenic pathways, and decreased response to tamoxifen. Treatment with THZ1 enhanced tamoxifen-induced cytotoxicity, while it inhibited genes involved in tumor progression in MCF-7 and LCC2 cells. In vivo, THZ1 boosted the effect of tamoxifen on tumor weight and tumor volume, reduced Ki67 and CD31 expression, and increased apoptotic cell death. Our findings identify CDK7 as a possible therapeutic target for breast cancer whether it is sensitive or resistant to tamoxifen therapy.


Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 434
Author(s):  
Ilona Rybinska ◽  
Marco Sandri ◽  
Francesca Bianchi ◽  
Rosaria Orlandi ◽  
Loris De Cecco ◽  
...  

We previously identified an extracellular matrix (ECM) gene expression pattern in breast cancer (BC), called ECM3, characterized by a high expression of genes encoding structural ECM proteins. Since ECM is reportedly implicated in response to therapy of BCs, the aim of this work is to investigate the prognostic and predictive value of ECM3 molecular classification in HER2-positive BCs. ECM3 resulted in a robust cluster that identified a subset of 25–37% of HER2-positive tumors with molecular aggressive features. ECM3 was significantly associated with worse prognosis in two datasets of HER2-positive BCs untreated with adjuvant therapy. Analyses carried out on two of our cohorts of patients treated or not with adjuvant trastuzumab showed association of ECM3 with worse prognosis only in patients not treated with trastuzumab. Moreover, investigating a dataset that includes gene profile data of tumors treated with neoadjuvant trastuzumab plus chemotherapy or chemotherapy alone, ECM3 was associated with increased pathological complete response if treated with trastuzumab. In the in vivo experiments, increased diffusion and trastuzumab activity were found in tumors derived from injection of HER2-positive cells with Matrigel that creates an ECM-rich tumor environment. Taken together, these results indicate that HER2-positive BCs classified as ECM3 have an aggressive phenotype but they are sensitive to trastuzumab treatment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 612-620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rutugandha Paranjpe ◽  
Dima Basatneh ◽  
Gabriel Tao ◽  
Carmine De Angelis ◽  
Sobia Noormohammed ◽  
...  

Objective:To review the chemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of neratinib in human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2)+ breast cancer (BC). Data Sources: A PubMed search was performed using the term neratinib between September 12, 2018, and November 21, 2018. References of published articles and reviews were also assessed for additional information. Study Selection and Data Extraction: English-language preclinical and clinical studies on the chemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of neratinib were evaluated. Data Synthesis: Neratinib, an irreversible inhibitor of HER1, HER2, and HER4, is Food and Drug Administration approved for the extended adjuvant treatment of stage I-III HER2+ BC to follow trastuzumab-based therapy. A phase III study has demonstrated statistically significant improvement in 5-year disease-free survival rate (90.2 vs 87.7; hazard ratio = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.57-0.92, P = 0.0083). Its most common adverse effect is diarrhea, observed in more than 90% of patients. The incidence of grade 3/4 diarrhea (~40%) is reduced by half with loperamide prophylaxis, which is recommended for the first 8 weeks of neratinib therapy. Other common adverse reactions are nausea and fatigue. The patients need to be monitored for liver function tests and drug interactions with acid-reducing agents, CYP3A4 inhibitors/inducers, and P-glycoprotein substrates with narrow therapeutic window. Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice: American Society of Clinical Oncology and National Comprehensive Cancer Network clinical guidelines suggest the use of neratinib for extended adjuvant therapy following 1-year trastuzumab in stage I to III HER2+ BC. Diarrhea remains a clinically significant but manageable adverse event. Conclusion: Neratinib significantly improves treatment outcomes and has manageable toxicity in stage I to III HER2+ BC patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Gaibar ◽  
Laura Beltrán ◽  
Alicia Romero-Lorca ◽  
Ana Fernández-Santander ◽  
Apolonia Novillo

In one of every four or five cases of breast cancer, the human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) gene is overexpressed. These carcinomas are known as HER2-positive. HER2 overexpression is linked to an aggressive phenotype and a lower rate of disease-free and overall survival. Drugs such as trastuzumab, pertuzumab, lapatinib, neratinib, and the more recent afatinib target the deregulation of HER2 expression. Some authors have attributed somatic mutations in HER2, a role in resistance to anti-HER2 therapy as differential regulation of HER2 has been observed among patients. Recently, studies in metastatic ER + tumors suggest that some HER2 mutations emerge as a mechanism of acquired resistance to endocrine therapy. In an effort to identify possible biomarkers of the efficacy of anti-HER2 therapy, we here review the known single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the HER2 gene found in HER2-positive breast cancer patients and their relationship with clinical outcomes. Information was recompiled on 11 somatic HER2 SNPs. Seven polymorphisms are located in the tyrosine kinase domain region of the gene contrasting with the low number of mutations found in extracellular and transmembrane areas. HER2-positive patients carrying S310F, S310Y, R678Q, D769H, or I767M mutations seem good candidates for anti-HER2 therapy as they show favorable outcomes and a good response to current pharmacological treatments. Carrying the L755S or D769Y mutation could also confer benefits when receiving neratinib or afatinib. By contrast, patients with mutations L755S, V842I, K753I, or D769Y do not seem to benefit from trastuzumab. Resistance to lapatinib has been reported in patients with L755S, V842I, and K753I. These data suggest that exploring HER2 SNPs in each patient could help individualize anti-HER2 therapies. Advances in our understanding of the genetics of the HER2 gene and its relations with the efficacy of anti-HER2 treatments are needed to improve the outcomes of patients with this aggressive breast cancer.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 175883591878685 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Umehara ◽  
Yoshimi Maekawa ◽  
Fumito Koizumi ◽  
Makiko Shimizu ◽  
Toshio Ota ◽  
...  

Background: KW-2450 is an oral dual insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor/insulin receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor. We investigated the in vitro and in vivo preclinical activity of KW-2450 plus lapatinib and letrozole and conducted a phase I trial of the triple-drug combination in one male and 10 postmenopausal female patients with advanced/metastatic hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer. Methods: A series of in vitro and in vivo animal studies was undertaken of KW-2450 in combination with lapatinib and hormonal agents. The phase I trial was conducted to establish the safety, tolerability, and recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of KW-2450 administered in combination with lapatinib and letrozole. Results: Preclinical studies showed KW-2450 and lapatinib act synergistically to induce in vitro apoptosis and inhibit growth of HER2-positive MDA-MB-361 and BT-474 breast cancer cell lines. This combined effect was confirmed in vivo using the MDA-MB-361 xenograft model. KW-2450 showed synergistic in vitro growth inhibition with letrozole and 4-hydroxytamoxifen in ER-positive MCF-7 breast cancer cells and MCF-7-Ac1 aromatase-transfected MCF-7 cells. In the phase I study, dose-limiting toxicity (DLT; grade 3 rash and grade 3 hyperglycemia, respectively) occurred in two of three patients at the dose of KW-2450 25 mg/day plus lapatinib 1500 mg/day and letrozole 2.5 mg/day. The RP2D of the triple-drug combination was established as KW-2450 25 mg/day, lapatinib 1250 mg/day, and letrozole 2.5 mg/day with no DLT at this dose level. Conclusions: The proposed phase II study of the RP2D for the triple-drug combination did not progress because of anticipated difficulty in patient enrollment and further clinical development of KW-2450 was terminated.


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