BRAF Inhibitors Amplify the Proapoptotic Activity of MEK Inhibitors by Inducing ER Stress in NRAS-Mutant Melanoma.

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

Abstract

Purpose: NRAS mutations in malignant melanoma are associated with aggressive disease requiring rapid antitumor intervention, but there is no approved targeted therapy for this subset of patients. In clinical trials, the MEK inhibitor (MEKi) binimetinib displayed modest antitumor activity, making combinations a requisite. In a previous study, the BRAF inhibitor (BRAFi) vemurafenib was shown to induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress that together with inhibition of the RAF–MEK–ERK (MAPK) pathway amplified its proapoptotic activity in BRAF-mutant melanoma. The present study investigated whether this effect might extent to NRAS-mutant melanoma, in which MAPK activation would be expected. Experimental Design and Results: BRAFi increased pERK, but also significantly increased growth inhibition and apoptosis induced by the MEKi in monolayer, spheroids, organotypic, and patient-derived tissue slice cultures of NRAS-mutant melanoma. BRAFi such as encorafenib induced an ER stress response via the PERK pathway, as detected by phosphorylation of eIF2a and upregulation of the ER stress–related factors ATF4, CHOP, and NUPR1 and the proapoptotic protein PUMA. MEKi such as binimetinib induced the expression of the proapoptotic protein BIM and activation of the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis, the latter of which was enhanced by combination with encorafenib. The increased apoptotic rates caused by the combination treatment were significantly reduced through siRNA knockdown of ATF4 and BIM, confirming its critical roles in this process. Conclusions: The data presented herein encourage further advanced in vivo and clinical studies to evaluate MEKi in combination with ER stress inducing BRAFi as a strategy to treat rapidly progressing NRAS-mutant melanoma.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)6203-6214
Seitenumfang12
FachzeitschriftClinical Cancer Research
Jahrgang23
Ausgabenummer20
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 15 Okt. 2017
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

Scopus 85028731875
PubMed 28724666
ORCID /0000-0003-4340-0402/work/145223789
ORCID /0000-0003-4340-9706/work/145224717
ORCID /0000-0001-6874-0548/work/147141303

Schlagworte

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete