Disclosure of erlotinib as a multikinase inhibitor in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Neoplasia. 2011 Nov;13(11):1026-34. doi: 10.1593/neo.111016.

Abstract

A placebo-controlled phase 3 trial demonstrated that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor erlotinib in combination with gemcitabine was especially efficient in a pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) subgroup of patients developing skin toxicity. However, EGFR expression was not predictive for response, and markers to characterize an erlotinib-responding PDAC group are currently missing. In this work, we observed high erlotinib IC50 values in a panel of human and murine PDAC cell lines. Using EGFR small interfering RNA, we detected that the erlotinib response was marginally influenced by EGFR. To find novel EGFR targets, we used an unbiased chemical proteomics approach for target identification and quality-controlled target affinity determination combined with quantitative mass spectrometry based on stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture. In contrast to gefitinib, we observed a broad target profile of erlotinib in PDAC cells by quantitative proteomics. Six protein kinases bind to erlotinib with similar or higher affinity (K(d) = 0.09-0.358 µM) than the EGFR (K(d) 0.434 µM). We provide evidence that one of the novel erlotinib targets, ARG, contributes in part to the erlotinib response in a PDAC cell line. Our data show that erlotinib is a multikinase inhibitor, which can act independent of EGFR in PDAC. These findings may help to monitor future erlotinib trials in the clinic.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy
  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / pathology*
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Erlotinib Hydrochloride
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Quinazolines / administration & dosage
  • Quinazolines / adverse effects
  • Quinazolines / pharmacology*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / administration & dosage
  • RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacology
  • Transfection
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Quinazolines
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Erlotinib Hydrochloride
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt