Exploiting MEK Inhibitor-Mediated Activation of ERα for Therapeutic Intervention in ER-Positive Ovarian Carcinoma

June Y. Hou, Alicia Rodriguez-Gabin, Leleesha Samaweera, Rachel Hazan, Gary L. Goldberg, Susan Band Horwitz, Hayley M. McDaid

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

While the clinical benefit of MEK inhibitor (MEKi)-based therapy is well established in Raf mutant malignancies, its utility as a suppressor of hyperactive MAPK signaling in the absence of mutated Raf or Ras, is an area of ongoing research. MAPK activation is associated with loss of ERα expression and hormonal resistance in numerous malignancies. Herein, we demonstrate that MEKi induces a feedback response that results in ERα overexpression, phosphorylation and transcriptional activation of ER-regulated genes. Mechanistically, MEKi-mediated ERα overexpression is largely independent of erbB2 and AKT feedback activation, but is ERK-dependent. We subsequently exploit this phenomenon therapeutically by combining the ER-antagonist, fulvestrant with MEKi. This results in synergistic suppression of tumor growth, in vitro and potentiation of single agent activity in vivo in nude mice bearing xenografts. Thus, we demonstrate that exploiting adaptive feedback after MEKi can be used to sensitize ERα-positive tumors to hormonal therapy, and propose that this strategy may have broader clinical utility in ERα-positive ovarian carcinoma.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere54103
JournalPloS one
Volume8
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 4 2013

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
  • General

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