Abstract
Estrogen receptor-, progesterone receptor- and HER2-negative breast cancers, also known as triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs), have poor prognoses and are refractory to current therapeutic agents, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors. Resistance to anti-EGFR therapeutic agents is often associated with sustained kinase phosphorylation, which promotes EGFR activation and translocation to the nucleus and prevents these agents from acting on their targets. The mechanisms underlying this resistance have not been fully elucidated. In addition, the IL-17E receptor is overexpressed in TNBC tumors and is associated with a poor prognosis. We have previously reported that IL-17E promotes TNBC resistance to anti-mitotic therapies. Here, we investigated whether IL-17E promotes TNBC resistance to anti-EGFR therapeutic agents by exploring the link between the IL-17E/IL-17E receptor axis and EGF signaling. We found that IL-17E, similarly to EGF, activates the EGFR in TNBC cells that are resistant to EGFR inhibitors. It also activates the PYK-2, Src and STAT3 kinases, which are essential for EGFR activation and nuclear translocation. IL-17E binds its specific receptor, IL-17RA/IL17RB, on these TNBC cells and synergizes with the EGF signaling pathway, thereby inducing Src-dependent EGFR transactivation and pSTAT3 and pEGFR translocation to the nucleus. Collectively, our data indicate that the IL-17E/IL-17E receptor axis may underlie TNBC resistance to EGFR inhibitors and suggest that inhibiting IL-17E or its receptor in combination with EGFR inhibitor administration may improve TNBC management.
Highlights
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous disease comprising several biologically distinct subtypes, each of which is associated with a distinct gene ontology and drug sensitivity [1, 2]
We found that IL-17E, to EGF, activates the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in TNBC cells that are resistant to EGFR inhibitors
IJG-1731, BT-20 and MDA-MB468 cells exhibit different levels of EGFR expression and distinct Y845 EGFR and Y1086 EGFR phosphorylation patterns (Y845 EGFR is a substrate for Src kinase, and Y1086 EGFR is directly phosphorylated by EGFR) [18, 19] after treatment with EGF (10 ng/ ml), reflecting the heterogeneity of TNBC tumors (Figure 1A lower panel)
Summary
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous disease comprising several biologically distinct subtypes, each of which is associated with a distinct gene ontology and drug sensitivity [1, 2]. Nearly 50% of TNBC tumors overexpress the epidermal growth www.impactjournals.com/oncotarget factor receptor (EGFR) [3, 4], suggesting that the EGFR may serve as a molecular marker of these tumors and that the EGFR pathway may have promise as a therapeutic target in TNBC management [4]. 10–20% of TNBC patients show marked clinical improvement in response to therapy [5, 6]. Improving the efficacy of anti-EGFR therapy in TNBC is needed
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