TY - JOUR

T1 - NFkB signaling is important for growth of antiestrogen resistant breast cancer cells

AU - Yde, Christina Westmose

AU - Emdal, Kristina Bennet

AU - Guerra, Barbara

AU - Lykkesfeldt, Anne E

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - Resistance to endocrine therapy is a major clinical challenge in current treatment of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. The molecular mechanisms underlying resistance are yet not fully clarified. In this study, we investigated whether NF¿B signaling is causally involved in antiestrogen resistant cell growth and a potential target for re-sensitizing resistant cells to endocrine therapy. We used an MCF-7-derived cell model for antiestrogen resistant breast cancer to investigate dependence on NF¿B signaling for antiestrogen resistant cell growth. We found that targeting NF¿B preferentially inhibited resistant cell growth. Antiestrogen resistant cells expressed increased p50 and RelB, and displayed increased phosphorylation of p65 at Ser529 and Ser536. Moreover, transcriptional activity of NF¿B after stimulation with tumor necrosis factor a was enhanced in antiestrogen resistant cell lines compared to the parental cell line. Inhibition of NF¿B signaling sensitized tamoxifen resistant cells to the growth inhibitory effects of tamoxifen but was not sufficient to fully restore sensitivity of fulvestrant resistant cells to fulvestrant. In support of this, depletion of p65 with siRNA in tamoxifen resistant cells increased sensitivity to tamoxifen treatment. Our data provide evidence that NF¿B signaling is enhanced in antiestrogen resistant breast cancer cells and plays an important role for antiestrogen resistant cell growth and for sensitivity to tamoxifen treatment in resistant cells. Our results imply that targeting NF¿B might serve as a potential novel treatment strategy for breast cancer patients with resistance toward antiestrogen.

AB - Resistance to endocrine therapy is a major clinical challenge in current treatment of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. The molecular mechanisms underlying resistance are yet not fully clarified. In this study, we investigated whether NF¿B signaling is causally involved in antiestrogen resistant cell growth and a potential target for re-sensitizing resistant cells to endocrine therapy. We used an MCF-7-derived cell model for antiestrogen resistant breast cancer to investigate dependence on NF¿B signaling for antiestrogen resistant cell growth. We found that targeting NF¿B preferentially inhibited resistant cell growth. Antiestrogen resistant cells expressed increased p50 and RelB, and displayed increased phosphorylation of p65 at Ser529 and Ser536. Moreover, transcriptional activity of NF¿B after stimulation with tumor necrosis factor a was enhanced in antiestrogen resistant cell lines compared to the parental cell line. Inhibition of NF¿B signaling sensitized tamoxifen resistant cells to the growth inhibitory effects of tamoxifen but was not sufficient to fully restore sensitivity of fulvestrant resistant cells to fulvestrant. In support of this, depletion of p65 with siRNA in tamoxifen resistant cells increased sensitivity to tamoxifen treatment. Our data provide evidence that NF¿B signaling is enhanced in antiestrogen resistant breast cancer cells and plays an important role for antiestrogen resistant cell growth and for sensitivity to tamoxifen treatment in resistant cells. Our results imply that targeting NF¿B might serve as a potential novel treatment strategy for breast cancer patients with resistance toward antiestrogen.

U2 - 10.1007/s10549-012-2053-1

DO - 10.1007/s10549-012-2053-1

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 22527100

VL - 135

SP - 67

EP - 78

JO - Breast Cancer Research and Treatment

JF - Breast Cancer Research and Treatment

SN - 0167-6806

IS - 1

ER -