IL-17E synergizes with EGF and confers in vitro resistance to EGFR-targeted therapies in TNBC cells

• Published in: Oncotarget Vol. 7; no. 33; pp. 53350 - 53361
• Main Authors: Merrouche, Yacine, Fabre, Joseph, Cure, Herve, Garbar, Christian, Fuselier, Camille, Bastid, Jeremy, Antonicelli, Frank, Al-Daccak, Reem, Bensussan, Armand, Giustiniani, Jerome
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Impact journals 16.08.2016; Impact Journals LLC
• Subjects: Cancer; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Nucleus - drug effects; Cell Nucleus - metabolism; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm - drug effects; Drug Synergism; Epidermal Growth Factor - pharmacology; Female; Humans; Immunology; Interleukin-17 - pharmacology; Life Sciences; Phosphorylation - drug effects; Protein Kinase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Protein Transport - drug effects; Quinazolines - pharmacology; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - antagonists & inhibitors; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - metabolism; Research Paper; Signal Transduction - drug effects; STAT3 Transcription Factor - metabolism; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms - pathology; IL-17E; breast cancer; TNBC; EGFR; resistance
• ISSN: 1949-2553; 1949-2553
• DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10804

Estrogen receptor-, progesterone receptor- and HER2-negative breast cancers, also known as triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs), have poor prognoses and are refractory to current therapeutic agents, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors. Resistance to anti-EGFR therapeutic agents is often associated with sustained kinase phosphorylation, which promotes EGFR activation and translocation to the nucleus and prevents these agents from acting on their targets. The mechanisms underlying this resistance have not been fully elucidated. In addition, the IL-17E receptor is overexpressed in TNBC tumors and is associated with a poor prognosis. We have previously reported that IL-17E promotes TNBC resistance to anti-mitotic therapies. Here, we investigated whether IL-17E promotes TNBC resistance to anti-EGFR therapeutic agents by exploring the link between the IL-17E/IL-17E receptor axis and EGF signaling. We found that IL-17E, similarly to EGF, activates the EGFR in TNBC cells that are resistant to EGFR inhibitors. It also activates the PYK-2, Src and STAT3 kinases, which are essential for EGFR activation and nuclear translocation. IL-17E binds its specific receptor, IL-17RA/IL17RB, on these TNBC cells and synergizes with the EGF signaling pathway, thereby inducing Src-dependent EGFR transactivation and pSTAT3 and pEGFR translocation to the nucleus. Collectively, our data indicate that the IL-17E/IL-17E receptor axis may underlie TNBC resistance to EGFR inhibitors and suggest that inhibiting IL-17E or its receptor in combination with EGFR inhibitor administration may improve TNBC management.