A novel calcium-dependent mechanism of acquired resistance to IGF-1 receptor inhibition in prostate cancer cells

Oncotarget. 2014 Oct 15;5(19):9007-21. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.2346.

Abstract

Inhibition of the mitogenic insulin-like growth factor receptor 1 (IGF-1R) signaling axis is a compelling treatment strategy for prostate cancer. Combining the IGF-1R inhibitor ganitumab (formerly AMG 479) with standard of care androgen-deprivation therapy greatly delays prostate cancer recurrence in xenograft models; however, a significant proportion of these tumors ultimately acquire resistance to ganitumab. Here we describe the development of a stable and reproducible ganitumab-resistant VCaP human prostate cancer cell derivative termed VCaP/GanR to investigate the mechanism of acquired resistance to IGF-1R inhibition. Unlike parental VCaP, VCaP/GanR did not undergo apoptosis following ganitumab treatment. VCaP/GanR did not express increased levels of IGF-1R, insulin receptor, or phospho-AKT compared to parental VCaP. VCaP/GanR exhibited increased levels of phospho-S6 indicative of increased mTOR activity. However, acquired resistance to ganitumab was not dependent on increased mTOR activity in VCaP/GanR. Phospho-proteomic arrays revealed alterations in several calcium-regulated signaling components in VCaP/GanR compared to VCaP. Reduction of intracellular calcium using cell-permeable calcium-specific chelators restored ganitumab sensitivity to VCaP/GanR through inhibition of cell-cycle progression. These data suggest a new mechanism of resistance to IGF-1R inhibition involving calcium-mediated proliferation effects. Such pathways should be considered in future clinical studies of IGF-1R inhibitors in prostate cancer.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calcium Chelating Agents / pharmacology*
  • Calcium Signaling / drug effects*
  • Calcium Signaling / genetics
  • Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Focal Adhesion Kinase 2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Focal Adhesion Kinase 2 / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / drug therapy
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / prevention & control
  • Phospholipase C gamma / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Phospholipase C gamma / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / biosynthesis
  • Receptor, Insulin / biosynthesis
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Calcium Chelating Agents
  • ganitumab
  • MTOR protein, human
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1
  • Receptor, Insulin
  • Focal Adhesion Kinase 2
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Phospholipase C gamma
  • Calcium