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MAPK4 promotes triple negative breast cancer growth and reduces tumor sensitivity to PI3K blockade

Author

Listed:
  • Wei Wang

    (Baylor College of Medicine)

  • Dong Han

    (Baylor College of Medicine)

  • Qinbo Cai

    (Baylor College of Medicine)

  • Tao Shen

    (Baylor College of Medicine)

  • Bingning Dong

    (Baylor College of Medicine
    Baylor College of Medicine)

  • Michael T. Lewis

    (Baylor College of Medicine
    Baylor College of Medicine)

  • Runsheng Wang

    (Baylor College of Medicine)

  • Yanling Meng

    (Baylor College of Medicine
    Adrienne Helis Malvin Medical Research Foundation)

  • Wolong Zhou

    (Baylor College of Medicine)

  • Ping Yi

    (Baylor College of Medicine)

  • Chad J. Creighton

    (Baylor College of Medicine
    Baylor College of Medicine)

  • David D. Moore

    (Baylor College of Medicine
    University of California – Berkeley)

  • Feng Yang

    (Baylor College of Medicine)

Abstract

About 15–20% of breast cancer (BCa) is triple-negative BCa (TNBC), a devastating disease with limited therapeutic options. Aberrations in the PI3K/PTEN signaling pathway are common in TNBC. However, the therapeutic impact of PI3K inhibitors in TNBC has been limited and the mechanism(s) underlying this lack of efficacy remain elusive. Here, we demonstrate that a large subset of TNBC expresses significant levels of MAPK4, and this expression is critical for driving AKT activation independent of PI3K and promoting TNBC cell and xenograft growth. The ability of MAPK4 to bypass PI3K for AKT activation potentially provides a direct mechanism regulating tumor sensitivity to PI3K inhibition. Accordingly, repressing MAPK4 greatly sensitizes TNBC cells and xenografts to PI3K blockade. Altogether, we conclude that high MAPK4 expression defines a large subset or subtype of TNBC responsive to MAPK4 blockage. Targeting MAPK4 in this subset/subtype of TNBC both represses growth and sensitizes tumors to PI3K blockade.

Suggested Citation

  • Wei Wang & Dong Han & Qinbo Cai & Tao Shen & Bingning Dong & Michael T. Lewis & Runsheng Wang & Yanling Meng & Wolong Zhou & Ping Yi & Chad J. Creighton & David D. Moore & Feng Yang, 2022. "MAPK4 promotes triple negative breast cancer growth and reduces tumor sensitivity to PI3K blockade," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-27921-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27921-1
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