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Zhao B, Dierichs L, Gu JN, Trajkovic-Arsic M, Axel Hilger R, Savvatakis K, Vega-Rubin-de-Celis S, Liffers ST, Peña-Llopis S, Behrens D, Hahn S, Siveke JT, Lueong SS. TFEB-mediated lysosomal biogenesis and lysosomal drug sequestration confer resistance to MEK inhibition in pancreatic cancer. Cell Death Discov 2020; 6:12. [PMID: 32194992 PMCID: PMC7066197 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-020-0246-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Oncogenic KRAS mutations are encountered in more than 90% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas. MEK inhibition has failed to procure any clinical benefits in mutant RAS-driven cancers including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). To identify potential resistance mechanisms underlying MEK inhibitor (MEKi) resistance in PDAC, we investigated lysosomal drug accumulation in PDAC models both in vitro and in vivo. Mouse PDAC models and human PDAC cell lines as well as human PDAC xenografts treated with the MEK inhibitor trametinib or refametinib led to an enhanced expression of lysosomal markers and enrichment of lysosomal gene sets. A time-dependent, increase in lysosomal content was observed upon MEK inhibition. Strikingly, there was a strong activation of lysosomal biogenesis in cell lines of the classical compared to the basal-like molecular subtype. Increase in lysosomal content was associated with nuclear translocation of the Transcription Factor EB (TFEB) and upregulation of TFEB target genes. siRNA-mediated depletion of TFEB led to a decreased lysosomal biogenesis upon MEK inhibition and potentiated sensitivity. Using LC-MS, we show accumulation of MEKi in the lysosomes of treated cells. Therefore, MEK inhibition triggers lysosomal biogenesis and subsequent drug sequestration. Combined targeting of MEK and lysosomal function may improve sensitivity to MEK inhibition in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Zhao
- Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany, Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany, Essen, Germany
- Institute for Developmental Cancer Therapeutics, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Laura Dierichs
- Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany, Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany, Essen, Germany
- Institute for Developmental Cancer Therapeutics, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jiang-Ning Gu
- Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany, Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany, Essen, Germany
- Institute for Developmental Cancer Therapeutics, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province China
| | - Marija Trajkovic-Arsic
- Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany, Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany, Essen, Germany
- Institute for Developmental Cancer Therapeutics, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ralf Axel Hilger
- Dept Med Oncol, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Konstantinos Savvatakis
- Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany, Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany, Essen, Germany
- Institute for Developmental Cancer Therapeutics, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Sven-Thorsten Liffers
- Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany, Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany, Essen, Germany
- Institute for Developmental Cancer Therapeutics, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Samuel Peña-Llopis
- Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany, Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany, Essen, Germany
- Institute for Developmental Cancer Therapeutics, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany, Heidelberg, Germany
- Translational Genomics in Solid Tumors, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Diana Behrens
- EPO – Experimental Pharmacology and Oncology GmbH Berlin-Buch, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stephan Hahn
- Department of Molecular GI-Oncology, Rurh University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Jens T. Siveke
- Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany, Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany, Essen, Germany
- Institute for Developmental Cancer Therapeutics, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Smiths S. Lueong
- Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany, Division of Solid Tumor Translational Oncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, partner site Essen) and German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany, Essen, Germany
- Institute for Developmental Cancer Therapeutics, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany, Heidelberg, Germany
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