Loss of phosphodiesterase 4D mediates acquired triapine resistance via Epac-Rap1-Integrin signaling.
Triapine, an anticancer thiosemicarbazone, is currently under clinical investigation. Whereas promising results were obtained in hematological diseases, trials in solid tumors widely failed. To understand mechanisms causing triapine insensitivity, we have analysed genomic alterations in a triapine-resistant SW480 subline (SW480/tria). Only one distinct genomic loss was observed specifically in SW480/tria cells affecting the phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) gene locus. Accordingly, pharmacological inhibition of PDE4D resulted in significant triapine resistance in SW480 cells. Hence, we concluded that enhanced cyclic AMP levels might confer protection against triapine. Indeed, hyperactivation of both major downstream pathways, namely the protein kinase A (PKA)-cAMP response element-binding protein (Creb) and the exchange protein activated by cAMP (Epac)-Ras-related protein 1 (Rap1) signaling axes, was observed in SW480/tria cells. Unexpectedly, inhibition of PKA did not re-sensitize SW480/tria cells against triapine. In contrast, Epac activation resulted in distinct triapine resistance in SW480 cells. Conversely, knock-down of Epac expression and pharmacological inhibition of Rap1 re-sensitized SW480/tria cells against triapine. Rap1 is a well-known regulator of integrins. Accordingly, SW480/tria cells displayed enhanced plasma membrane expression of several integrin subunits, enhanced adhesion especially to RGD-containing matrix components, and bolstered activation/expression of the integrin downstream effectors Src and RhoA/Rac. Accordingly, integrin and Src inhibition resulted in potent triapine re-sensitization especially of SW480/tria cells. In summary, we describe for the first time integrin activation based on cAMP-Epac-Rap1 signaling as acquired drug resistance mechanism. combinations of triapine with inhibitors of several steps in this resistance cascade might be feasible strategies to overcome triapine insensitivity of solid tumors.
Department of Medicine I, Institute of Cancer Research and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
Walter
W
Miklos
Department of Medicine I, Institute of Cancer Research and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.|Research Platform "Translational Cancer Therapy Research", University Vienna and Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Petra
P
Heffeter
Department of Medicine I, Institute of Cancer Research and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
Christine
C
Pirker
Department of Medicine I, Institute of Cancer Research and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
Sonja
S
Hager
Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.|Research Platform "Translational Cancer Therapy Research", University Vienna and Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Christian R
CR
Kowol
Department of Medicine I, Institute of Cancer Research and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
Sushilla
S
van Schoonhoven
Department of Medicine I, Institute of Cancer Research and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
Mirjana
M
Stojanovic
Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.|Research Platform "Translational Cancer Therapy Research", University Vienna and Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Bernhard K
BK
Keppler
Department of Medicine I, Institute of Cancer Research and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.|Research Platform "Translational Cancer Therapy Research", University Vienna and Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Walter
W
Berger
D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D054703:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045325:HCT116 Cells; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D016513:Mice, SCID; D058988:Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D034622:RNA Interference; D020889:Rolipram / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D013882:Thiosemicarbazones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; D020827:rap1 GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors; D016023:Integrins; D058988:Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitors; D011725:Pyridines; C116122:RAPGEF3 protein, human; D013882:Thiosemicarbazones; C078157:3-aminopyridine-2-carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone; D054703:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4; C517376:PDE4D protein, human; D020827:rap1 GTP-Binding Proteins; D020889:Rolipram
Epac; Rap1; integrin; phosphodiesterase; triapine-resistance