title: Therapeutically targeting ErbB3: a key node in ligand-induced activation of the ErbB receptor-PI3K axis.
abstract: The signaling network downstream of the ErbB family of receptors has been extensively targeted by cancer therapeutics; however, understanding the relative importance of the different components of the ErbB network is nontrivial. To explore the optimal way to therapeutically inhibit combinatorial, ligand-induced activation of the ErbB-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) axis, we built a computational model of the ErbB signaling network that describes the most effective ErbB ligands, as well as known and previously unidentified ErbB inhibitors. Sensitivity analysis identified ErbB3 as the key node in response to ligands that can bind either ErbB3 or EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor). We describe MM-121, a human monoclonal antibody that halts the growth of tumor xenografts in mice and, consistent with model-simulated inhibitor data, potently inhibits ErbB3 phosphorylation in a manner distinct from that of other ErbB-targeted therapies. MM-121, a previously unidentified anticancer therapeutic designed using a systems approach, promises to benefit patients with combinatorial, ligand-induced activation of the ErbB signaling network that are not effectively treated by current therapies targeting overexpressed or mutated oncogenes.
authors: Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, One Kendall Square, Building 700, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
authors: Birgit
authors: B
authors: Schoeberl
authors: Emily A
authors: EA
authors: Pace
authors: Jonathan B
authors: JB
authors: Fitzgerald
authors: Brian D
authors: BD
authors: Harms
authors: Lihui
authors: L
authors: Xu
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Nie
authors: Bryan
authors: B
authors: Linggi
authors: Ashish
authors: A
authors: Kalra
authors: Violette
authors: V
authors: Paragas
authors: Raghida
authors: R
authors: Bukhalid
authors: Viara
authors: V
authors: Grantcharova
authors: Neeraj
authors: N
authors: Kohli
authors: Kip A
authors: KA
authors: West
authors: Magdalena
authors: M
authors: Leszczyniecka
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Feldhaus
authors: Arthur J
authors: AJ
authors: Kudla
authors: Ulrik B
authors: UB
authors: Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D051379:Mice; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011485:Protein Binding; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D008024:Ligands; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3; C000589319:seribantumab