Acquired resistance to cetuximab is mediated by increased PTEN instability and leads cross-resistance to gefitinib in HCC827 NSCLC cells - PubMed (original) (raw)

. 2010 Oct 28;296(2):150-9.

doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2010.04.006. Epub 2010 May 4.

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Acquired resistance to cetuximab is mediated by increased PTEN instability and leads cross-resistance to gefitinib in HCC827 NSCLC cells

Sun Mi Kim et al. Cancer Lett. 2010.

Abstract

EGFR inhibitors, including the small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as gefitinib, and the monoclonal antibodies directed at the receptor such as cetuximab, have demonstrated promising effects in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, we generated cetuximab-resistant cell lines (HCC827-CR) from HCC827 NSCLC cells to investigate acquired resistance mechanisms to cetuximab. In HCC827-CR cells, Akt was hyperactivated and its activity was persistent upon cetuximab treatment. Blockade of PI3K/Akt activity restored cetuximab sensitivity in HCC827-CR cells. Further investigation revealed that increased PTEN instability mediates constitutive Akt activation. By 1microM proteosomal inhibitor, MG-132, PTEN protein levels were restored and Akt activity was dramatically reduced. Overexpression of PTEN by transfection could not restore cetuximab sensitivity in HCC827-CR because overexpressed PTEN was degraded rapidly ( approximately 72h). The increased PTEN instability was confirmed by the treatment of HCC827-CR with a protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide. In the presence of cycloheximide, overexpressed PTEN was degraded more rapidly ( approximately 12h) in HCC827-CR cells. Interestingly, HCC827-CR cells also revealed de novo resistance to gefitinib. Inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway restored sensitivity to gefitinib in HCC827-CR cells. Taken together, these data show that PTEN instability-mediated constitutive Akt activation is involved in acquired resistance mechanisms to cetuximab and also induces de novo resistance to gefitinib. Importantly, these findings suggest emergence of cross-resistance between two agents as a potential serious problem in the clinical setting.

2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

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