Dual-specificity protein phosphatase DUSP4 regulates response to MEK inhibition in BRAF wild-type melanoma
Gupta, Avinash Towers, C Willenbrock, F Brant, R Hodgson, DR Sharpe, A Smith, P Cutts, A Schuh, A Asher, R
Gupta, Avinash
Towers, C
Willenbrock, F
Brant, R
Hodgson, DR
Sharpe, A
Smith, P
Cutts, A
Schuh, A
Asher, R
Citations
Altmetric:
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Aiming to improve treatment options for BRAF wild-type melanoma, we previously conducted the DOC-MEK study of docetaxel with MEK inhibitor (MEKi) selumetinib or placebo, revealing trends to prolongation of progression-free survival (hazard ratio 0.75, P?=?0.130), and improved response rates (32% vs 14%, P?=?0.059) with docetaxel plus selumetinib. NRAS status did not associate with outcome. Here, the aim was to identify novel biomarkers of response to MEKi.
METHODS:
A MEK 6 gene signature was quantified using NanoString and correlated with clinical outcomes. Two components of the gene signature were investigated by gene silencing in BRAF/NRAS wild-type melanoma cells.
RESULTS:
In melanomas of patients on the selumetinib but not the placebo arm, two gene signature components, dual-specificity protein phosphatase 4 (DUSP4) and ETS translocation variant 4 (ETV4), were expressed more highly in responders than non-responders. In vitro, ETV4 depletion inhibited cell survival but did not influence sensitivity to MEKi selumetinib or trametinib. In contrast, DUSP4-depleted cells showed enhanced cell survival and increased resistance to both selumetinib and trametinib.
CONCLUSIONS:
ETV4 and DUSP4 associated with clinical response to docetaxel plus selumetinib. DUSP4 depletion induced MEKi resistance, suggesting that DUSP4 is not only a biomarker but also a mediator of MEKi sensitivity.
Description
Date
2019
Publisher
Collections
Keywords
Type
Article
Citation
Gupta A, Towers C, Willenbrock F, Brant R, Hodgson DR, Sharpe A, et al. Dual-specificity protein phosphatase DUSP4 regulates response to MEK inhibition in BRAF wild-type melanoma. Br J Cancer. 2019:10.