
Acquired resistance to PI3K/mTOR/Akt pathway inhibitors is often associated with compensatory feedback loops involving the activation of oncogenes. Here, we have generated everolimus resistance in ER+ breast cancer cells and in long-term estrogen deprived (LTED) models that mimic progression on anti-estrogens. This allowed us to uncover MYC as a driver of mTOR inhibitor resistance. We demonstrate that both everolimus resistance and acute treatment of everolimus can lead to the upregulation of MYC mRNA, protein expression and, consequently, the enrichment of MYC signatures as revealed by RNA sequencing data. Depletion of MYC resulted in resensitization to everolimus, confirming its functional importance in this setting. Furthermore, ChIP assays demonstrate that MYC upregulation in the everolimus resistant lines is mediated by increased association of the BRD4 transcription factor with the MYC gene. Finally, JQ1, a BRD4 inhibitor combined with everolimus exhibited increased tumor growth inhibition in 3D Matrigel models and an in vivo xenograft model. These data suggest that MYC plays an important role in mediating resistance to everolimus in ER+ and ER+/LTED models. Furthermore, given the regulation ofMYCby BRD4 in this setting, these data have implications for increased therapeutic potential of combining epigenetic agents with mTOR inhibitors to effectively downregulate otherwise difficult to target transcription factors such as MYC.
Immunoblotting, Mice, Nude, Nuclear Proteins, Antineoplastic Agents, Breast Neoplasms, Cell Cycle Proteins, Drug Synergism, Azepines, Epigenesis, Genetic, Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc, Drug Resistance, Neoplasm, Cell Line, Tumor, MCF-7 Cells, Animals, Humans, Female, RNA Interference, Everolimus, Cell Proliferation
Immunoblotting, Mice, Nude, Nuclear Proteins, Antineoplastic Agents, Breast Neoplasms, Cell Cycle Proteins, Drug Synergism, Azepines, Epigenesis, Genetic, Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc, Drug Resistance, Neoplasm, Cell Line, Tumor, MCF-7 Cells, Animals, Humans, Female, RNA Interference, Everolimus, Cell Proliferation
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| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
