RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitors represent a significant advancement in the treatment of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative advanced breast cancer. However, mechanisms of alterations after acquired resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors and the optimal treatment options are still not established. METHODS: Abemaciclib-resistant cell lines were established from the models of estrogen deprivation-resistant cell lines which retained ER expression and activated ER function derived from MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. Ribocilib-resistant cell lines were established in the same method as previously reported. RESULTS: Both abemaciclib- and ribociclib-resistant cell lines showed decreased ER expression. ER transcriptional activity was maintained in these cell lines; however, the sensitivity to 4-hydroxytamoxifen and fulvestrant was almost completely lost. These cell lines did not exhibit any ERα gene mutation. Abemaciclib-resistant cell lines demonstrated low sensitivity to other CDK4/6 inhibitors; sensitivities to PI3K inhibitor, mTOR inhibitor, and chemotherapeutic drugs were maintained. CONCLUSIONS: Dependence on ER signaling appears to decrease after the development of acquired resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors. Further, CDK4/6 inhibitor-resistant cells acquired cross-resistance to other CDK4/6 inhibitors, PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitor therapy and chemotherapeutic drugs might serve as optimal treatment options for such breast cancers.
Asunto(s)
Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/farmacología , Neoplasias de la Mama/tratamiento farmacológico , Resistencia a Antineoplásicos/efectos de los fármacos , Inhibidores de Proteínas Quinasas/farmacología , Receptores de Estrógenos/metabolismo , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapéutico , Neoplasias de la Mama/patología , Quinasa 4 Dependiente de la Ciclina/antagonistas & inhibidores , Quinasa 6 Dependiente de la Ciclina/antagonistas & inhibidores , Antagonistas de Estrógenos/farmacología , Antagonistas de Estrógenos/uso terapéutico , Femenino , Humanos , Células MCF-7 , Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinasas/metabolismo , Inhibidores de las Quinasa Fosfoinosítidos-3 , Inhibidores de Proteínas Quinasas/uso terapéutico , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas c-akt/antagonistas & inhibidores , Receptores de Estrógenos/antagonistas & inhibidores , Serina-Treonina Quinasas TOR/antagonistas & inhibidoresRESUMEN
Although cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitors have exhibited remarkable results for patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer in clinical trials, the mechanism of CDK4/6 inhibitor resistance remains unclear. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the mechanism of CDK4/6 inhibitor resistance using two CDK4/6 inhibitor resistant breast cancer cell lines. We established CDK6 overexpressed cell lines (MCF7-C6) from MCF-7 cells using the stably transfected CDK6 expression vector. Additionally, acquired ribociclib-resistant (RIBR) cell lines were created using ER-positive hormone-resistant cell lines by long-term exposure to ribociclib. CDK6 overexpression and the knockdown of CDK4 experiments highlight the significance of high levels of CDK4 and low levels of CDK6 in CDK4/6 inhibitor sensitivity. Moreover, RIBR cell lines did not exhibit incremental CDK6 compared with ER-positive hormone-resistant cell lines. In MCF7-C6 and RIBR cell lines, p21 levels decreased, and p21 levels were proportional to CDK4/6 inhibitor sensitivity. This study suggests that overexpression of CDK6 is one of the many possible mechanisms of resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors. Furthermore, p21 levels have the potential to serve as a marker for CDK4/6 inhibitors independent of the resistance mechanism.
