Genome-wide reprogramming of the chromatin landscape underlies endocrine therapy resistance in breast cancer

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Apr 16;110(16):E1490-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1219992110. Epub 2013 Apr 1.

Abstract

The estrogen receptor (ER)α drives growth in two-thirds of all breast cancers. Several targeted therapies, collectively termed endocrine therapy, impinge on estrogen-induced ERα activation to block tumor growth. However, half of ERα-positive breast cancers are tolerant or acquire resistance to endocrine therapy. We demonstrate that genome-wide reprogramming of the chromatin landscape, defined by epigenomic maps for regulatory elements or transcriptional activation and chromatin openness, underlies resistance to endocrine therapy. This annotation reveals endocrine therapy-response specific regulatory networks where NOTCH pathway is overactivated in resistant breast cancer cells, whereas classical ERα signaling is epigenetically disengaged. Blocking NOTCH signaling abrogates growth of resistant breast cancer cells. Its activation state in primary breast tumors is a prognostic factor of resistance in endocrine treated patients. Overall, our work demonstrates that chromatin landscape reprogramming underlies changes in regulatory networks driving endocrine therapy resistance in breast cancer.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Blotting, Western
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / physiology*
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • Epigenesis, Genetic / genetics
  • Epigenesis, Genetic / physiology*
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Regulatory Networks / genetics
  • Gene Regulatory Networks / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Microarray Analysis
  • Receptors, Notch / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*

Substances

  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • Receptors, Notch

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE37323
  • GEO/GSE39418