BIM mediates EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor-induced apoptosis in lung cancers with oncogenic EGFR mutations.
BACKGROUND
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are present in the majority of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) responsive to the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) gefitinib or erlotinib. These EGFR-dependent tumors eventually become TKI resistant, and the common secondary T790M mutation accounts for half the tumors with acquired resistance to gefitinib. However, the key proapoptotic proteins involved in TKI-induced cell death and other secondary mutations involved in resistance remain unclear. The objective of this study was to identify the mechanism of EGFR TKI-induced apoptosis and secondary resistant mutations that affect this process.


RESULTS
To study TKI-induced cell death and mechanisms of resistance, we used lung cancer cell lines (with or without EGFR mutations), Ba/F3 cells stably transfected with EGFR mutation constructs, and tumor samples from a gefitinib-resistant patient. Here we show that up-regulation of the BH3-only polypeptide BIM (also known as BCL2-like 11) correlated with gefitinib-induced apoptosis in gefitinib-sensitive EGFR-mutant lung cancer cells. The T790M mutation blocked gefitinib-induced up-regulation of BIM and apoptosis. This blockade was overcome by the irreversible TKI CL-387,785. Knockdown of BIM by small interfering RNA was able to attenuate apoptosis induced by EGFR TKIs. Furthermore, from a gefitinib-resistant patient carrying the activating L858R mutation, we identified a novel secondary resistant mutation, L747S in cis to the activating mutation, which attenuated the up-regulation of BIM and reduced apoptosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results provide evidence that BIM is involved in TKI-induced apoptosis in sensitive EGFR-mutant cells and that both attenuation of the up-regulation of BIM and resistance to gefitinib-induced apoptosis are seen in models that contain the common EGFR T790M and the novel L747S secondary resistance mutations. These findings also suggest that induction of BIM may have a role in the treatment of TKI-resistant tumors.
Costa
Daniel B
DB
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Halmos
Balázs
B
Kumar
Amit
A
Schumer
Susan T
ST
Huberman
Mark S
MS
Boggon
Titus J
TJ
Tenen
Daniel G
DG
Kobayashi
Susumu
S
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D000072224:Bcl-2-Like Protein 11; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics*; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C000606775:BCL2L11 protein, human; D000072224:Bcl-2-Like Protein 11; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011799:Quinazolines; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000077156:Gefitinib