Abstract 2100: Resistance of gastric carcinoma cells towards c-met inhibition is mediated by compensatory HER3 upregulation involving SATB1 and PKC

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: In patients with gastric cancer expressing high levels of c-met, inhibitors of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) c-met are explored as targeted therapeutics. Unfortunately, clinical trials have failed to improve survival so far. This might be due to compensatory stimulation of other oncogenic RTKs. Here, we highlight the role of HER3 upregulation and its specific stimulation as resistance mechanism. On the mechanistic side, we demonstrate the genome regulator special AT-rich sequence-binding protein-1 (SATB1) as a critical mediator of this HER3 upregulation, with further manipulation being executed by contrary roles of Protein kinase C (PKC) and Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). Methods: We used gastric cancer cell lines with a c-met amplification and evaluated the impact of pharmacological or siRNA-mediated c-met inhibition on cellular proliferation and survival. Moreover, we analyzed the expression of HER family receptors after inhibitor treatment. Furthermore, we used transient knockdown of SATB1 as well as inhibitors of PKC and PI3K to gain insight into signaling mechanisms. Results: The use of c-met kinase inhibitors or RNAi-induced downregulation of c-met led to a complete disruption of cellular proliferation. Without addition of c-met inhibitors, the investigated gastric cancer cells expressed HER1, HER2, and HER3 receptors, but no HER3 ligands. After pretreatment with c-met inhibitors, HER3 expression was markedly upregulated. Treatment of gastric cancer cells with the HER3 ligand beta-heregulin, usually secreted by cancer associated fibroblasts, partially reversed the anti-proliferative effects of c-met inhibitors. The induction of HER3 was reduced after pretreating cells with SATB1 siRNA. SATB1 is a known regulator of HER receptor expression in other tumor entities. The regulatory functions of SATB1 can be further modulated by phosphorylation via PKC or PI3K. Therefore, we investigated the effect of PKC and PI3K inhibition on HER3 induction. Of note, PKC inhibition markedly reduced HER3 upregulation, whereas PI3K inhibitors even increased HER3 levels. Conclusions: PKC and SATB1 are involved in the compensatory upregulation of HER3 upon c-met inhibition. Since this represents a critical resistance factor, interference with PKC and SATB1 signaling is a potential avenue to prevent resistance towards c-met inhibitors in gastric cancer. Citation Format: Robert Jenke, Thomas Büch, Miriam Rein, Stefanie Müller, Florian Lordick, Achim M. Aigner. Resistance of gastric carcinoma cells towards c-met inhibition is mediated by compensatory HER3 upregulation involving SATB1 and PKC [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2100.