Intratumor heterogeneity of EGFR expression mediates targeted therapy resistance and formation of drug tolerant microenvironment
Abstract
AbstractEpidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors are commonly used to treat non-small cell lung cancers with EGFR mutations, but drug resistance often emerges. Intratumor heterogeneity is a known cause of targeted therapy resistance and is considered a major factor in treatment failure. This study identifies clones of EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung tumors expressing low levels of both wild-type and mutant EGFR protein. These EGFR-low cells are intrinsically more tolerant to EGFR inhibitors, more invasive, and exhibit an epithelial-to-mesenchymal-like phenotype compared to their EGFR-high counterparts. The EGFR-low cells secrete Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) family cytokines, leading to increased recruitment of cancer-associated fibroblasts and immune suppression, thus contributing to the drug-tolerant tumor microenvironment. Notably, pharmacological induction of EGFR using epigenetic inhibitors sensitizes the resistant cells to EGFR inhibition. These findings suggest that intrinsic drug resistance can be prevented or reversed using combination therapies.
Article Details
Authors (28)
Bassel Alsaed
Linh Lin
Jieun Son
Jiaqi Li
Johannes Smolander
Timothy Lopez
Pinar Ö. Eser
Atsuko Ogino
Chiara Ambrogio
Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino
Yoonji Eum
Tran Thai
Haiyun Wang
School of Computer Science and Technology, Wuhan University of Science and Technology
Eva Sutinen
Hilma Mutanen
Hanna Duàn
Nina Bobik
Kristian Borenius
William W. Feng
Behnam Nabet
Satu Mustjoki
Sanna Laaksonen
Benjamin K. Eschle
Michael J. Poitras
David Barbie
Ilkka Ilonen
Prafulla Gokhale
Pasi A. Jänne
Heidi M. Haikala