TY - JOUR
T1 - In vivo ERK1/2 reporter predictively models response and resistance to combined BRAF and MEK inhibitors in melanoma
AU - Sanchez, Ileine M.
AU - Purwin, Timothy J.
AU - Chervoneva, Inna
AU - Erkes, Dan A.
AU - Nguyen, Mai Q.
AU - Davies, Michael A.
AU - Nathanson, Katherine L.
AU - Kemper, Kristel
AU - Peeper, Daniel S.
AU - Aplin, Andrew E.
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - Combined BRAF and MEK inhibition is a standard of care in patients with advanced BRAF-mutant melanoma, but acquired resistance remains a challenge that limits response durability. Here, we quantitated in vivo ERK1/2 activity and tumor response associated with resistance to combined BRAF and MEK inhibition in mutant BRAF xenografts. We found that ERK1/2 pathway reactivation preceded the growth of resistant tumors. Moreover, we detected a subset of cells that not only persisted throughout long-term treatment but restored ERK1/ 2 signaling and grew upon drug removal. Cell lines derived from combination-resistant tumors (CRT) exhibited elevated ERK1/2 phosphorylation, which were sensitive to ERK1/2 inhibition. In some CRTs, we detected a tandem duplication of the BRAF kinase domain. Monitoring ERK1/2 activity in vivo was efficacious in predicting tumor response during intermittent treatment. We observed maintained expression of the mitotic regulator, polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1), in melanoma resistant to BRAF and MEK inhibitors. Plk1 inhibition induced apoptosis in CRTs, leading to slowed growth of BRAF and MEK inhibitor–resistant tumors in vivo. These data demonstrate the utility of in vivo ERK1/2 pathway reporting as a tool to optimize clinical dosing schemes and establish suppression of Plk1 as potential salvage therapy for BRAF inhibitor and MEK inhibitor–resistant melanoma.
AB - Combined BRAF and MEK inhibition is a standard of care in patients with advanced BRAF-mutant melanoma, but acquired resistance remains a challenge that limits response durability. Here, we quantitated in vivo ERK1/2 activity and tumor response associated with resistance to combined BRAF and MEK inhibition in mutant BRAF xenografts. We found that ERK1/2 pathway reactivation preceded the growth of resistant tumors. Moreover, we detected a subset of cells that not only persisted throughout long-term treatment but restored ERK1/ 2 signaling and grew upon drug removal. Cell lines derived from combination-resistant tumors (CRT) exhibited elevated ERK1/2 phosphorylation, which were sensitive to ERK1/2 inhibition. In some CRTs, we detected a tandem duplication of the BRAF kinase domain. Monitoring ERK1/2 activity in vivo was efficacious in predicting tumor response during intermittent treatment. We observed maintained expression of the mitotic regulator, polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1), in melanoma resistant to BRAF and MEK inhibitors. Plk1 inhibition induced apoptosis in CRTs, leading to slowed growth of BRAF and MEK inhibitor–resistant tumors in vivo. These data demonstrate the utility of in vivo ERK1/2 pathway reporting as a tool to optimize clinical dosing schemes and establish suppression of Plk1 as potential salvage therapy for BRAF inhibitor and MEK inhibitor–resistant melanoma.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85071787696&origin=inward
UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31270153
U2 - 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-18-1056
DO - 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-18-1056
M3 - Article
C2 - 31270153
VL - 18
SP - 1637
EP - 1648
JO - Molecular Cancer Therapeutics
JF - Molecular Cancer Therapeutics
SN - 1535-7163
IS - 9
ER -