HER2YVMA drives rapid development of adenosquamous lung tumors in mice that are sensitive to BIBW2992 and rapamycin combination therapy

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Jan 13;106(2):474-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0808930106. Epub 2009 Jan 2.

Abstract

Mutations in the HER2 kinase domain have been identified in human clinical lung cancer specimens. Here we demonstrate that inducible expression of the most common HER2 mutant (HER2(YVMA)) in mouse lung epithelium causes invasive adenosquamous carcinomas restricted to proximal and distal bronchioles. Continuous expression of HER2(YVMA) is essential for tumor maintenance, suggesting a key role for HER2 in lung adenosquamous tumorigenesis. Preclinical studies assessing the in vivo effect of erlotinib, trastuzumab, BIBW2992, and/or rapamycin on HER2(YVMA) transgenic mice or H1781 xenografts with documented tumor burden revealed that the combination of BIBW2992 and rapamycin is the most effective treatment paradigm causing significant tumor shrinkage. Immunohistochemical analysis of lung tumors treated with BIBW2992 and rapamycin combination revealed decreased phosphorylation levels for proteins in both upstream and downstream arms of MAPK and Akt/mTOR signaling axes, indicating inhibition of these pathways. Based on these findings, clinical testing of the BIBW2992/rapamycin combination in non-small cell lung cancer patients with tumors expressing HER2 mutations is warranted.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Afatinib
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / pharmacology*
  • Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / drug therapy*
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm*
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Mice
  • Mutation
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Quinazolines / pharmacology*
  • Quinazolines / therapeutic use
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / genetics*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / physiology
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Sirolimus / pharmacology*
  • Sirolimus / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Quinazolines
  • Afatinib
  • Erbb2 protein, mouse
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Sirolimus