A microRNA gene expression signature predicts response to erlotinib in epithelial cancer cell lines and targets EMT

J. L. Bryant; J. Britson; J. M. Balko; M. Willian; R. Timmons; A. Frolov; E. P. Black

doi:10.1038/bjc.2011.465

A microRNA gene expression signature predicts response to erlotinib in epithelial cancer cell lines and targets EMT

J. L. Bryant, J. Britson, J. M. Balko, M. Willian, R. Timmons, A. Frolov, E. P. Black

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

84 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors can result in clinical response in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) for some unselected patients. EGFR and KRAS mutation status, amplification of EGFR, or gene expression predictors of response can forecast sensitivity to EGFR inhibition. Methods: Using an NSCLC cell line model system, we identified and characterised microRNA (miRNA) gene expression that predicts response to EGFR inhibition. Results: Expression of 13 miRNA genes predicts response to EGFR inhibition in cancer cell lines and tumours, and discriminates primary from metastatic tumours. Signature genes target proteins that are enriched for epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) genes. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition predicts EGFR inhibitor resistance and metastatic behaviour. The EMT transcription factor, ZEB1, shows altered expression in erlotinib-sensitive NSCLC and PDAC, where many signature miRNA genes are upregulated. Ectopic expression of mir-200c alters expression of EMT proteins, sensitivity to erlotinib, and migration in lung cells. Treatment with TGFΒ1 changes expression of signature miRNA and EMT proteins and modulates migration in lung cells. Conclusion: From these data, we hypothesise that the tumour microenvironment elicits TGFΒ1 and stimulates a miRNA gene expression program that induces resistance to anti-EGFR therapy and drives lung tumour cells to EMT, invasion, and metastasis.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	148-156
Number of pages	9
Journal	British Journal of Cancer
Volume	106
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.2011.465
State	Published - Jan 3 2012

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported with funding from the National Center for Research Resources (2P20 RR-16481) to the University of Kentucky and an award from the Lung Cancer Research Fund to EPB. We thank Joe Pulliam, MD, of the UK Biospecimen core facility for assistance in identification and procurement of tumour samples.

Keywords

biomarker
invasion
metastasis
targeted therapy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Oncology
Cancer Research

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1038/bjc.2011.465

Cite this

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title = "A microRNA gene expression signature predicts response to erlotinib in epithelial cancer cell lines and targets EMT",

abstract = "Background: Treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors can result in clinical response in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) for some unselected patients. EGFR and KRAS mutation status, amplification of EGFR, or gene expression predictors of response can forecast sensitivity to EGFR inhibition. Methods: Using an NSCLC cell line model system, we identified and characterised microRNA (miRNA) gene expression that predicts response to EGFR inhibition. Results: Expression of 13 miRNA genes predicts response to EGFR inhibition in cancer cell lines and tumours, and discriminates primary from metastatic tumours. Signature genes target proteins that are enriched for epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) genes. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition predicts EGFR inhibitor resistance and metastatic behaviour. The EMT transcription factor, ZEB1, shows altered expression in erlotinib-sensitive NSCLC and PDAC, where many signature miRNA genes are upregulated. Ectopic expression of mir-200c alters expression of EMT proteins, sensitivity to erlotinib, and migration in lung cells. Treatment with TGFΒ1 changes expression of signature miRNA and EMT proteins and modulates migration in lung cells. Conclusion: From these data, we hypothesise that the tumour microenvironment elicits TGFΒ1 and stimulates a miRNA gene expression program that induces resistance to anti-EGFR therapy and drives lung tumour cells to EMT, invasion, and metastasis.",

keywords = "biomarker, invasion, metastasis, targeted therapy",

author = "Bryant, {J. L.} and J. Britson and Balko, {J. M.} and M. Willian and R. Timmons and A. Frolov and Black, {E. P.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported with funding from the National Center for Research Resources (2P20 RR-16481) to the University of Kentucky and an award from the Lung Cancer Research Fund to EPB. We thank Joe Pulliam, MD, of the UK Biospecimen core facility for assistance in identification and procurement of tumour samples.",

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doi = "10.1038/bjc.2011.465",

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AU - Bryant, J. L.

AU - Britson, J.

AU - Balko, J. M.

AU - Willian, M.

AU - Timmons, R.

AU - Frolov, A.

AU - Black, E. P.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported with funding from the National Center for Research Resources (2P20 RR-16481) to the University of Kentucky and an award from the Lung Cancer Research Fund to EPB. We thank Joe Pulliam, MD, of the UK Biospecimen core facility for assistance in identification and procurement of tumour samples.

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N2 - Background: Treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors can result in clinical response in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) for some unselected patients. EGFR and KRAS mutation status, amplification of EGFR, or gene expression predictors of response can forecast sensitivity to EGFR inhibition. Methods: Using an NSCLC cell line model system, we identified and characterised microRNA (miRNA) gene expression that predicts response to EGFR inhibition. Results: Expression of 13 miRNA genes predicts response to EGFR inhibition in cancer cell lines and tumours, and discriminates primary from metastatic tumours. Signature genes target proteins that are enriched for epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) genes. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition predicts EGFR inhibitor resistance and metastatic behaviour. The EMT transcription factor, ZEB1, shows altered expression in erlotinib-sensitive NSCLC and PDAC, where many signature miRNA genes are upregulated. Ectopic expression of mir-200c alters expression of EMT proteins, sensitivity to erlotinib, and migration in lung cells. Treatment with TGFΒ1 changes expression of signature miRNA and EMT proteins and modulates migration in lung cells. Conclusion: From these data, we hypothesise that the tumour microenvironment elicits TGFΒ1 and stimulates a miRNA gene expression program that induces resistance to anti-EGFR therapy and drives lung tumour cells to EMT, invasion, and metastasis.

AB - Background: Treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors can result in clinical response in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) for some unselected patients. EGFR and KRAS mutation status, amplification of EGFR, or gene expression predictors of response can forecast sensitivity to EGFR inhibition. Methods: Using an NSCLC cell line model system, we identified and characterised microRNA (miRNA) gene expression that predicts response to EGFR inhibition. Results: Expression of 13 miRNA genes predicts response to EGFR inhibition in cancer cell lines and tumours, and discriminates primary from metastatic tumours. Signature genes target proteins that are enriched for epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) genes. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition predicts EGFR inhibitor resistance and metastatic behaviour. The EMT transcription factor, ZEB1, shows altered expression in erlotinib-sensitive NSCLC and PDAC, where many signature miRNA genes are upregulated. Ectopic expression of mir-200c alters expression of EMT proteins, sensitivity to erlotinib, and migration in lung cells. Treatment with TGFΒ1 changes expression of signature miRNA and EMT proteins and modulates migration in lung cells. Conclusion: From these data, we hypothesise that the tumour microenvironment elicits TGFΒ1 and stimulates a miRNA gene expression program that induces resistance to anti-EGFR therapy and drives lung tumour cells to EMT, invasion, and metastasis.

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A microRNA gene expression signature predicts response to erlotinib in epithelial cancer cell lines and targets EMT

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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