Neratinib (NER) is an irreversible pan-HER kinase inhibitor with demonstrated clinical activity for HER2-positive and HER2-mutated breast cancers (BC). Mechanisms of resistance to NER are poorly understood. The Src/Abl inhibitor dasatinib (DAS) has shown ability to overcome resistance to HER2-targeted agents such as lapatinib (LAP) and TRAS in vitro. This pre-clinical study investigated the efficacy of DAS in combination with NER to overcome or prevent NER resistance in BC models.
Anti-proliferative effects of NER, LAP, TRAS, DAS, and NER plus DAS were assessed in five NER-resistant HER2+ BC cell lines (HCC1954-N, HCC1569-N, EFM192A-N, BT474-N, and SKBR3-N) by acid phosphatase assay. IC50values and Combination index (CI) values were calculated to determine synergy (CI < 0.8) using Calcusyn. Neratinib resistance was defined as an IC50value > 150 nM NER. Apoptosis induction was assessed by Caspase 3/7-Glo assay. Reverse phase protein array was used to determine changes in key signalling pathways in HCC1954-N cells. BC cells were treated twice weekly with NER and/or DAS and crystal violet stained when confluent to examine resistance development.
All NER resistant cell lines examined had significantly reduced response to NER (11-83 fold increase in IC50values versus parental cells), as well as LAP and TRAS, compared to their parental cells.The combination of NER and DAS displayed synergy in all five NER resistant cell lines (CI = 0.1-0.6). NER plus DAS caused a strong induction of apoptosis in the HCC1954-N cells (p = 0.015). NER/DAS treatment caused changes in 23 phospho- or total protein levels, including suppression of Akt, MAPK, Src, p38 and AMPK signalling. NER alone (9 phospho- and 1 total proteins) and DAS alone (3 phospho- and 3 total proteins) altered fewer targets. The addition of DAS to NER prevented the emergence of NER resistance in parental HCC1954 and HCC1569 cells.
This study provides pre-clinical rationale for the combination of NER and DAS in NER-resistant HER2+ BC and shows that this combination warrants further investigation.
The authors.
Puma Biotechnology.
N. Conlon: Research grant/Funding (institution): Puma Biotechnology. J. Crown: Full/Part-time employment: OncoMark; Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony, Research grant/Funding (institution): Eisai; Honoraria (self): Amgen; Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): Puma Biotechnology; Honoraria (self): Seattle Genetics; Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony, Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Pfizer; Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy: Vertex; Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Roche; Honoraria (self), Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: MSD Oncology; Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: AstraZeneca; Travel/Accommodation/Expenses: Abbvie; Honoraria (self), Advisory/Consultancy, Research grant/Funding (institution): Boehringer Ingelheim; Honoraria (self), Speaker Bureau/Expert testimony: Genomic Health. D.M. Collins: Research grant/Funding (institution): Puma Biotechnology; Research grant/Funding (institution): Roche. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.