Response and resistance to BET bromodomain inhibitors in triple-negative breast cancer

Shaokun Shu, Charles Y. Lin, Housheng Hansen He, Robert M. Witwicki, Doris P. Tabassum, Justin M. Roberts, Michalina Janiszewska, Sung Jin Huh, Yi Liang, Jeremy Ryan, Ernest Doherty, Hisham Mohammed, Hao Guo, Daniel G. Stover, Muhammad B. Ekram, Guillermo Peluffo, Jonathan Brown, Clive D'Santos, Ian E. Krop, Deborah DillonMichael McKeown, Christopher Ott, Jun Qi, Min Ni, Prakash K. Rao, Melissa Duarte, Shwu Yuan Wu, Cheng Ming Chiang, Lars Anders, Richard A. Young, Eric P. Winer, Antony Letai, William T. Barry, Jason S. Carroll, Henry W. Long, Myles Brown, X. Shirley Liu, Clifford A. Meyer, James E. Bradner, Kornelia Polyak

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

445 Scopus citations

Abstract

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous and clinically aggressive disease for which there is no targeted therapy. BET bromodomain inhibitors, which have shown efficacy in several models of cancer, have not been evaluated in TNBC. These inhibitors displace BET bromodomain proteins such as BRD4 from chromatin by competing with their acetyl-lysine recognition modules, leading to inhibition of oncogenic transcriptional programs. Here we report the preferential sensitivity of TNBCs to BET bromodomain inhibition in vitro and in vivo, establishing a rationale for clinical investigation and further motivation to understand mechanisms of resistance. In paired cell lines selected for acquired resistance to BET inhibition from previously sensitive TNBCs, we failed to identify gatekeeper mutations, new driver events or drug pump activation. BET-resistant TNBC cells remain dependent on wild-type BRD4, which supports transcription and cell proliferation in a bromodomain-independent manner. Proteomic studies of resistant TNBC identify strong association with MED1 and hyper-phosphorylation of BRD4 attributable to decreased activity of PP2A, identified here as a principal BRD4 serine phosphatase. Together, these studies provide a rationale for BET inhibition in TNBC and present mechanism-based combination strategies to anticipate clinical drug resistance.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)413-417
Number of pages5
JournalNature
Volume529
Issue number7586
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 21 2016
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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