Adaptive ERK signalling activation in response to therapy and in silico prognostic evaluation of EGFR-MAPK in HNSCC

BACKGROUND: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients frequently develop treatment resistance to cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody against EGFR, as well as radiotherapy. Here we addressed extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) regulation by cetuximab or fractionated irradiation (IR) and conducted in silico prognostic evaluation of the EGFR-MAPK axis in HNSCC.

METHODS: Expression of ERK1/2 phosphorylation (pERK1/2) was determined in HNSCC cell lines, which were treated with cetuximab or fractionated-IR. Furthermore, the effect of fractionated IR on pERK1/2 was confirmed in an ex vivo HNSCC tissue culture model. Expression and prognostic significance of EGFR-ERK axis was evaluated in a cohort of radiotherapy plus cetuximab-treated HNSCC. Correlations among EGFR-MAPK signalling components and association between transcript and protein expression profiles and patient survival in HNSCC were analysed using publicly available databases.

RESULTS: ERK1/2 phosphorylation was rebounded by prolonged cetuximab administration and was induced by fractionated IR, which could be suppressed by a MEK inhibitor as a radiosensitiser. In silico assessments suggested that EGFR-MAPK cascade genes and proteins could predict HNSCC patients' survival as a prognostic signature.

CONCLUSIONS: Activation of ERK1/2 signalling contributes to the cellular defence of HNSCC against cetuximab and fractionated IR treatment. EGFR-MAPK axis has a prognostic significance in HNSCC.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2020

Erschienen:

2020

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:123

Enthalten in:

British journal of cancer - 123(2020), 2 vom: 18. Juli, Seite 288-297

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Rong, Chao [VerfasserIn]
Muller, Marie F [VerfasserIn]
Xiang, Fang [VerfasserIn]
Jensen, Alexandra [VerfasserIn]
Weichert, Wilko [VerfasserIn]
Major, Gerald [VerfasserIn]
Plinkert, Peter K [VerfasserIn]
Hess, Jochen [VerfasserIn]
Affolter, Annette [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
Cetuximab
EC 2.7.10.1
EC 2.7.11.24
EC 2.7.12.2
EGFR protein, Anopheles gambiae
EGFR protein, human
ErbB Receptors
Insect Proteins
Journal Article
MAPK1 protein, human
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
PQX0D8J21J
Protein Kinase Inhibitors
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 19.02.2021

Date Revised 19.02.2021

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1038/s41416-020-0892-9

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM310067413