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Pranteda A, Piastra V, Serra M, Bernardini R, Lo Sardo F, Carpano S, Diodoro MG, Bartolazzi A, Milella M, Blandino G, Bossi G. Activated MKK3/MYC crosstalk impairs dabrafenib response in BRAFV600E colorectal cancer leading to resistance. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 167:115480. [PMID: 37713993 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with BRAF mutations develop resistance to BRAF inhibitors at a very early stage. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in BRAF inhibitor resistance is critical for the development of novel therapeutic opportunities for this subtype of CRC patients. CRC cells bearing BRAF mutations are mostly sensitive to the abrogation of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase 3 (MKK3), a specific activator of p38MAPKs signaling, suggesting that BRAF alterations might addict CRC cells to the MKK3/p38MAPK signaling. Interestingly, publicly available gene expression profiling data show significantly higher MKK3 transcript levels in CRC lines with acquired resistance to BRAF inhibitors. Herein, we investigated the roles of MKK3 in the response to BRAF targeting (dabrafenib) with COLO205 and HT29 BRAFV600E CRC lines and derived dabrafenib-resistant (DABR) sublines. Dabrafenib treatments reduce MKK3 activation by inducing autophagy in parental but not DABR cells. The MKK3 knockdown induces cell death in DABR cells, whereas ectopic MKK3 expression reduces dabrafenib sensitivity in parental cells. Mechanistically, activated MKK3 interacts and co-localizes with c-Myc oncoprotein (MYC), sustaining MYC protein stability and thus preventing the dabrafenib induced effects in CRC DABR cells both in vitro and in vivo. Overall, we identify a novel molecular mechanism beyond the dabrafenib resistance, shedding light on an uncovered vulnerability for the development of novel therapeutic opportunities in BRAFV600E CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina Pranteda
- Translational Oncology Research Unit, Department of Diagnostic Research and Technological Innovation, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy; Department of Science, University Roma TRE, Viale G. Marconi, 446 I, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Piastra
- Translational Oncology Research Unit, Department of Diagnostic Research and Technological Innovation, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy; Department of Science, University Roma TRE, Viale G. Marconi, 446 I, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Serra
- Interdepartmental Centre for Comparative Medicine, Alternative Techniques and Aquaculture (CIMETA), University of Rome "Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier, 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Bernardini
- Interdepartmental Centre for Comparative Medicine, Alternative Techniques and Aquaculture (CIMETA), University of Rome "Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier, 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; Center for Research and Services "Preclinical Experimentation and Animal Welfare" (SPBA), University of Rome "La Sapienza", Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Lo Sardo
- Translational Oncology Research Unit, Department of Diagnostic Research and Technological Innovation, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Carpano
- Second Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Diodoro
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Armando Bartolazzi
- Pathology Research Laboratory, Sant'Andrea University Hospital, Via di Grottarossa, 1035, 00189 Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Milella
- UOC of Oncology, Verona University and Hospital Trust (Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata-AOUI-Verona), Piazzale Aristide Stefani, 1, 37126 Verona, Italy
| | - Giovanni Blandino
- Translational Oncology Research Unit, Department of Diagnostic Research and Technological Innovation, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Gianluca Bossi
- Translational Oncology Research Unit, Department of Diagnostic Research and Technological Innovation, IRCCS - Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144 Rome, Italy.
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