Death effector domain-containing protein induces vulnerability to cell cycle inhibition in triple-negative breast cancer

Nat Commun. 2019 Jun 28;10(1):2860. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-10743-7.

Abstract

Lacking targetable molecular drivers, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most clinically challenging subtype of breast cancer. In this study, we reveal that Death Effector Domain-containing DNA-binding protein (DEDD), which is overexpressed in > 60% of TNBCs, drives a mitogen-independent G1/S cell cycle transition through cytoplasm localization. The gain of cytosolic DEDD enhances cyclin D1 expression by interacting with heat shock 71 kDa protein 8 (HSC70). Concurrently, DEDD interacts with Rb family proteins and promotes their proteasome-mediated degradation. DEDD overexpression renders TNBCs vulnerable to cell cycle inhibition. Patients with TNBC have been excluded from CDK 4/6 inhibitor clinical trials due to the perceived high frequency of Rb-loss in TNBCs. Interestingly, our study demonstrated that, irrespective of Rb status, TNBCs with DEDD overexpression exhibit a DEDD-dependent vulnerability to combinatorial treatment with CDK4/6 inhibitor and EGFR inhibitor in vitro and in vivo. Thus, our study provided a rationale for the clinical application of CDK4/6 inhibitor combinatorial regimens for patients with TNBC.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Death Domain Receptor Signaling Adaptor Proteins / genetics
  • Death Domain Receptor Signaling Adaptor Proteins / metabolism*
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Lapatinib / pharmacology*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Retinoblastoma Protein / genetics
  • Retinoblastoma Protein / metabolism
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • DEDD protein, human
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Death Domain Receptor Signaling Adaptor Proteins
  • Retinoblastoma Protein
  • Lapatinib
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Receptor, ErbB-2