Proteomics uncover EPHA2 as a potential novel therapeutic target in colorectal cancer cell lines with acquired cetuximab resistance.
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Date
2022-11-19ICR Author
Author
Torlot, L
Jarzab, A
Albert, J
Pók-Udvari, Á
Stahler, A
Holch, JW
Gerlinger, M
Heinemann, V
Klauschen, F
Kirchner, T
Kumbrink, J
Küster, B
Jung, A
Type
Journal Article
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
BACKGROUND: In metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), acquired resistance against anti-EGFR targeted monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab (CET), was shown to be frequently caused by activating alterations in the RAS genes KRAS or NRAS. To this day, no efficient follow-up treatment option has emerged to treat mCRC in such a setting of resistance. METHODS: To uncover potential targets for second-line targeted therapies, we used mass-spectrometric proteomics to shed light on kinome reprogramming in an established cellular model of acquired, KRAS-associated CET resistance. RESULTS: This CET resistance was reflected by significant changes in the kinome, most of them individual to each cell line. Interestingly, all investigated resistant cell lines displayed upregulation of the Ephrin type-A receptor 2 (EPHA2), a well-known driver of traits of progression. Expectedly resistant cell lines displayed increased migration (p < 0.01) that was significantly reduced by targeting the EPHA2 signalling axis using RNA interference (RNAi) (p < 0.001), ephrin-A1 stimulation (p < 0.001), dasatinib (p < 0.01), or anti-EPHA2 antibody treatment (p < 0.001), identifying it as an actionable target in mCRC with acquired CET resistance. CONCLUSION: These results highlight EPHA2 and its role in mCRC with KRAS-gene mutated acquired CET resistance and support its use as a potential actionable target for the development of future precision medicine therapies.
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Subject
Cetuximab resistance
Colorectal cancer
EPHA2
Molecular oncology
Proteomics
Research team
Transl Oncogenomics
Language
eng
Date accepted
2022-10-11
License start date
2022-11-19
Citation
Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology, 2022,
Publisher
SPRINGER