A kinome-wide screen identifies the insulin/IGF-I receptor pathway as a mechanism of escape from hormone dependence in breast cancer

Cancer Res. 2011 Nov 1;71(21):6773-84. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-11-1295. Epub 2011 Sep 9.

Abstract

Estrogen receptor α (ER)-positive breast cancers adapt to hormone deprivation and become resistant to antiestrogens. In this study, we sought to identify kinases essential for growth of ER(+) breast cancer cells resistant to long-term estrogen deprivation (LTED). A kinome-wide siRNA screen showed that the insulin receptor (InsR) is required for growth of MCF-7/LTED cells. Knockdown of InsR and/or insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) inhibited growth of 3 of 4 LTED cell lines. Inhibition of InsR and IGF-IR with the dual tyrosine kinase inhibitor OSI-906 prevented the emergence of hormone-independent cells and tumors in vivo, inhibited parental and LTED cell growth and PI3K/AKT signaling, and suppressed growth of established MCF-7 xenografts in ovariectomized mice, whereas treatment with the neutralizing IGF-IR monoclonal antibody MAB391 was ineffective. Combined treatment with OSI-906 and the ER downregulator fulvestrant more effectively suppressed hormone-independent tumor growth than either drug alone. Finally, an insulin/IGF-I gene expression signature predicted recurrence-free survival in patients with ER(+) breast cancer treated with the antiestrogen tamoxifen. We conclude that therapeutic targeting of both InsR and IGF-IR should be more effective than targeting IGF-IR alone in abrogating resistance to endocrine therapy in breast cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy
  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Adenocarcinoma / physiopathology
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / therapeutic use
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor / drug effects
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Estradiol / analogs & derivatives
  • Estradiol / therapeutic use
  • Estrogen Receptor Modulators / therapeutic use
  • Estrogens*
  • Female
  • Fulvestrant
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / therapeutic use
  • Insulin / physiology*
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Proteins / analysis
  • Neoplasm Proteins / physiology*
  • Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / physiopathology*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
  • Pyrazines / therapeutic use
  • RNA Interference
  • Random Allocation
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / physiology*
  • Receptor, Insulin / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptor, Insulin / physiology*
  • Receptors, Estrogen / analysis
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Tamoxifen / therapeutic use
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • 3-(8-amino-1-(2-phenylquinolin-7-yl)imidazo(1,5-a)pyrazin-3-yl)-1-methylcyclobutanol
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
  • Estrogen Receptor Modulators
  • Estrogens
  • Imidazoles
  • Insulin
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Pyrazines
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Tamoxifen
  • Fulvestrant
  • Estradiol
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1
  • Receptor, Insulin