Journal
SCIENCE SIGNALING
Volume 10, Issue 507, Pages -Publisher
AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aam7550
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Funding
- Swedish Cancer Society [15/391, 15/775, 15/827]
- Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation [2015-0096, 2015-80, 2014-150, 2013-102]
- Swedish Research Council [2015-04466, BH 521-2012-2831, 521-2014-3031]
- Goran Gustafsson Foundation
- Stiftelsen for Strategisk Forskning Programme Grant [RB13-0204]
- Vinnova [2015-04466] Funding Source: Vinnova
- Swedish Research Council [2015-04466] Funding Source: Swedish Research Council
- Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) [RB13-0204] Funding Source: Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF)
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Activation of the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signaling pathway is implicated in driving the initiation and progression of multiple cancers. Several inhibitors targeting the RAS-MAPK pathway are clinically approved as single- or polyagent therapies for patients with specific types of cancer. One example is the MEK inhibitor trametinib, which is included as a rational polytherapy strategy for treating EML4-ALK-positive, EGFR-activated, or KRAS-mutant lung cancers and neuroblastomas that also contain activating mutations in the RAS-MAPK pathway. In addition, in neuroblastoma, a heterogeneous disease, relapse cases display an increased rate of mutations in ALK, NRAS, and NF1, leading to increased activation of RAS-MAPK signaling. Co-targeting ALK and the RAS-MAPK pathway is an attractive option, because monotherapies have not yet produced effective results in ALK-addicted neuroblastoma patients. We evaluated the response of neuroblastoma cell lines to MEK-ERK pathway inhibition by trametinib. In contrast to RAS-MAPK pathway-mutated neuroblastoma cell lines, ALK-addicted neuroblastoma cells treated with trametinib showed increased activation (inferred by phosphorylation) of the kinases AKT and ERK5. This feedback response was mediated by the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2-associated protein SIN1, resulting in increased survival and proliferation that depended on AKT signaling. In xenografts in mice, trametinib inhibited the growth of EML4-ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer and RAS-mutant neuroblastoma but not ALK-addicted neuroblastoma. Thus, our results advise against the seemingly rational option of using MEK inhibitors to treat ALK-addicted neuroblastoma.
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