Targeting Estrogen Receptor Signaling with Fulvestrant Enhances Immune and Chemotherapy-Mediated Cytotoxicity of Human Lung Cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The conversion of tumor cells from an epithelial to a mesenchymal-like phenotype, via a process designated as the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), is known to mediate tumor resistance to a variety of cell death inducers, including cytotoxic effector immune cells. The goal of this study was to identify and potentially repurpose FDA-approved compounds capable of reducing mesenchymal features of human lung carcinoma cells, which could be used in combination with immunotherapies or chemotherapeutic strategies to improve clinical responses.


METHODS
In the current report, we have utilized a quantitative high-throughput screening (qHTS) of a pharmaceutical collection of more than 2,000 compounds to identify clinically approved drugs capable of augmenting the sensitivity of mesenchymal-like, lung cancer cells to immune- and chemotherapy-mediated lysis, both in vitro and in vivo RESULTS: The estrogen receptor antagonist fulvestrant was shown to reduce mesenchymal features of lung carcinoma cells, resulting in tumor sensitization to the cytotoxic effect of antigen-specific T cells, natural killer (NK) effector cells, and chemotherapy both in vivo and in vitro CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first report defining a potential role for estrogenic signaling in promoting tumor resistance to immune-mediated cytotoxicity and chemotherapy in lung cancer. Our data demonstrate a robust association between the acquisition of mesenchymal attributes, therapeutic resistance of lung carcinoma cells, and the expression of estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), supporting further investigations on the role of estrogen signaling in lung cancer progression via the induction of EMT. Clin Cancer Res; 22(24); 6204-16. ©2016 AACR.
Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland.
Duane H
DH
Hamilton
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Rockville, Maryland.
Lesley Mathews
LM
Griner
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Rockville, Maryland.
Jonathan M
JM
Keller
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Rockville, Maryland.
Xin
X
Hu
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Rockville, Maryland.
Noel
N
Southall
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Rockville, Maryland.
Juan
J
Marugan
Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland.
Justin M
JM
David
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Rockville, Maryland.
Marc
M
Ferrer
Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland. palenac@mail.nih.gov.
Claudia
C
Palena
D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D004958:Estradiol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D000077267:Fulvestrant; D004958:Estradiol