Protein-tyrosine phosphatase H1 increases breast cancer sensitivity to antiestrogens by dephosphorylating estrogen receptor at Tyr537

Mol Cancer Ther. 2014 Jan;13(1):230-8. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-13-0610. Epub 2013 Nov 13.

Abstract

Estrogen receptor α (ERα or ER) is the only target of breast cancer therapy using antiestrogens. However, about 50% of ER-expressing breast cancer is intrinsically refractory to the antihormone therapy and strategies to improve the therapeutic response are urgently needed. Dynamic ER phosphorylation and dephosphorylation play an important role in ER activity and antihormone response. Although more than 10 kinases participate in phosphorylating ER protein, phosphatases involved remain mostly unidentified. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the protein-tyrosine phosphatase H1 (PTPH1) may regulate ER tyrosine phosphorylation and thereby impact breast cancer antihormone sensitivity. Our results showed that PTPH1 dephosphorylates ER at Tyr537 in vitro and in breast cancer cells. Moreover, PTPH1 stimulates ER nuclear accumulation and increases breast cancer sensitivity to tamoxifen (TAM) and/or fulvestrant in cell culture and in a xenograft model. Further analysis revealed that PTPH1 depends on its catalytic activity to stimulate ER nuclear accumulation and to enhance breast cancer antihormone sensitivity. These studies thus identified PTPH1 as a novel ER phosphatase and further demonstrate a therapeutic potential of enhancing breast cancer sensitivity to antiestrogens through dephosphorylating ER by PTPH1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Estrogen Receptor Modulators / administration & dosage*
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / genetics*
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Phosphorylation / genetics
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 3 / genetics*
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 3 / metabolism
  • Tamoxifen / administration & dosage
  • Tyrosine / genetics

Substances

  • ESR1 protein, human
  • Estrogen Receptor Modulators
  • Estrogen Receptor alpha
  • Tamoxifen
  • Tyrosine
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 3