Abstract
Acquired cetuximab resistance is a challenge for oncologists treating advanced head and neck carcinoma (HNC). While intrinsic cetuximab resistance mechanism in colorectal cancer is known, resistance in HNC is unclear. We established two different cetuximab resistant HNC cell lines by culturing epidermal growth factor (EGFR) expressing UM–SCC–1 and UM–SCC–6 cell lines in the presence of 5 μg/ml cetuximab. We then explored potential mechanisms of resistance. We found that the 2 cell lines developed resistance by different mechanisms. Specifically, we found that UM–SCC–1 resistant cells (UM–SCC–1R) showed enhanced EGF-induced downstream signals while UM–SCC–6 resistant cells (UM–SCC–6R) demonstrated EGF-independent signaling. Global kinase activity (kinomic) profiling revealed unique signaling differences in the two resistant cell lines. However, both of the resistant lines demonstrated increased phospho-serine 727 and total STAT3 expression compared to the parental lines. STAT3 knockdown promoted increased cytotoxicity both in the presence and absence of cetuximab in the resistant lines suggesting that STAT3 may be a common target in cetuximab resistance.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 36-42 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications |
Volume | 517 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 10 2019 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Christopher D. Willey, M.D., Ph.D.: Consultant for LifeNet Health, Inc., and receives research funding from LifeNet Health, Inc.
Funding Information:
Eddy S. Yang, M.D., Ph.D.: Consultant for AstraZeneca, advisory board for AstraZeneca, and receives research funding from Eli Lilly and AstraZeneca.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier Inc.
Keywords
- Cetuximab
- Epidermal growth factor receptor
- Head and neck cancer
- Kinomic profiling
- STAT3
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biophysics
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology