CDK4 overexpression is a predictive biomarker for resistance to conventional chemotherapy in patients with osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common malignant bone tumor, and its sensitivity to preoperative chemotherapy is a significant prognostic factor. The present study aimed to identify potential genomic markers for the prediction of chemosensitivity in patients with OS using a genomic approach. A total of 50 pediatric and adolescent patients diagnosed with high-grade OS were selected. Each pre-therapeutic biopsy sample was subjected to comparative genomic hybridization array analysis and targeted exome sequencing. Although no recurrent gene mutation was observed in chemoresistant tumors, copy number analysis detected recurrent gain of chromosome 12q14.1, which was significantly more frequent (5/21; 24%) in the poor responder cohort than in the good responder cohort (0/29; 0%; P<0.01). Subsequent expression analysis revealed that CDK4 was the only gene in the 12q14.1 gained region with an expression level that was positively associated with copy number gains. In order to elucidate the effect of CDK4 on drug sensitivity, CDK4-overexpressing OS cell lines were treated with cisplatin (CDDP); significant attenuation of CDDP sensitivity, demonstrated by increased cell viability and decreased expression of cleaved caspase-9, was induced by enforced expression of CDK4. In addition, treatment with CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib in CDK4-overexpressing U2OS cells facilitated apoptosis and a significant decrease in cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, the results of the present study showed that higher expression and amplification of CDK4 in tumors is a predictive biomarker for resistance to conventional chemotherapy in patients with OS and that palbociclib is a promising drug for this therapeutically challenging cohort.

Automated summary

The study identified CDK4 overexpression and amplification in tumors as predictive biomarkers for resistance to conventional chemotherapy in patients with OS, and palbociclib as a promising drug for this therapeutically challenging cohort.