Abstract 4357
Background
Triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) are enriched with cells bearing stem-like features (CSC), which underlie cancer progression, thus targeting stemness could be an interesting treatment approach. In turn, the epigenetic machinery is crucial for the maintenance of the stemness phenotype. The BET family of epigenetic readers are emerging as novel targets for cancer therapy and have shown preclinical effect in breast cancer. In this work we evaluate the effect of the BET inhibitor (BETi) JQ1 on stemness in TNBC.
Methods
Transcriptomic, functional annotation and qPCR studies were performed on JQ1-exposed TNBC cells. Results were confirmed on spheroids and spheroid-derived tumours. Limiting dilution assays, matrigel invasion experiments, immunofluorescence staining, and flow cytometry studies were also performed to evaluate the effect of JQ1 on CSC features. For the outcome analysis, the online tool Kaplan-Meier Plotter and an integrated response database were used.
Results
JQ1 can modify the expression of stemness-related genes incultured TNBC cells. Among these changes, the CD44/CD24 and ALDH1A1 expression, both classical stemness markers, were diminished by JQ1. Using a validated spheroid model, to mimic the intrinsic characteristics of CSCs, we show that JQ1 decreased surface expression of CD44, inhibited self-renewal and invasion, and induced cells arrest in G0/G1, therefore altering the stemness phenotype in TNBC. Four of the identified stemness genes, GJA1, CD24, EPCAM, and SOX9, were found to be associated with worse patient outcome in TNBC. Furthermore, ABCG2 and RUNX2 predicted low response to chemotherapy in TNBC patients.
Conclusions
In this work we show how BETi modify the stemness landscape in TNBC. Thus, we propose a novel role for JQ1 as a stemness-targeting drug. Loss of the stem cell phenotype via JQ1 treatment could lead to less aggressive and more chemo-sensitive tumours, which would reflect in better patient prognosis.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Resources from the same session
4543 - Long-term real-world (RW) outcomes in patients with advanced melanoma (MEL) treated with ipilimumab (IPI) and non-IPI therapies: IMAGE study
Presenter: Stéphane Dalle
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
4523 - Prognostic Factors for efficacy of Ipilimumab used after AntiPD1 and/or BRAF+MEK inhibitors in Melanoma Patients: an Italian Melanoma Intergroup study
Presenter: Riccardo Marconcini
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3632 - Rechallenge with combination ipilimumab and anti-PD-1 (IPI+PD1) in metastatic melanoma after acquired resistance to IPI+PD1 immunotherapy
Presenter: Adriana Hepner
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3732 - Clinicopathologic characteristics of immune colitis in melanoma patients treated with combination ipilimumab and anti-PD1 (IPI+PD1) and PD1 monotherapy.
Presenter: Kazi Nahar
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
5005 - Real-world outcomes of ipilimumab plus nivolumab for advanced melanoma in the Netherlands
Presenter: Michiel van Zeijl
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
5524 - Utilization of Real-World Data to Assess the Effectiveness of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs) in Elderly Patients with Metastatic Melanoma
Presenter: D Scott Ernst
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
5884 - Tumor mutational burden and response to PD-1 inhibitors: an analysis of 89 cases of metastatic melanoma.
Presenter: Léa Dousset
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3120 - Increase in S100B and LDH as early outcome predictors for non-responsiveness to anti-PD-1 monotherapy in advanced melanoma.
Presenter: Elisa Rozeman
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2157 - Immune status defined by molecular information layers predicts response to pembrolizumab treatment in advanced melanoma
Presenter: Guillermo Prado-Vázquez
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2553 - Interim analysis of a phase Ib study of cobimetinib plus atezolizumab in patients with advanced BRAFV600 wild type melanoma progressing on prior anti-PD-L1 therapy
Presenter: Shahneen Sandhu
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract