Journal of Translational Medicine (May 2021)

Targeting the PI3K and MAPK pathways to improve response to HER2-targeted therapies in HER2-positive gastric cancer

  • M. Janusz Mezynski,
  • Angela M. Farrelly,
  • Mattia Cremona,
  • Aoife Carr,
  • Clare Morgan,
  • Julie Workman,
  • Paul Armstrong,
  • Jennifer McAuley,
  • Stephen Madden,
  • Joanna Fay,
  • Katherine M. Sheehan,
  • Elaine W. Kay,
  • Ciara Holohan,
  • Yasir Elamin,
  • Shereen Rafee,
  • Patrick G. Morris,
  • Oscar Breathnach,
  • Liam Grogan,
  • Bryan T. Hennessy,
  • Sinead Toomey

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-021-02842-1
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 19, no. 1
pp. 1 – 16

Abstract

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Abstract Background Aberrant PI3K signalling is implicated in trastuzumab resistance in HER2-positive gastric cancer (GC). The role of PI3K or MEK inhibitors in sensitising HER2-positive GCs to trastuzumab or in overcoming trastuzumab resistance is unclear. Methods Using mass spectrometry-based genotyping we analysed 105 hotspot, non-synonymous somatic mutations in PIK3CA and ERBB-family (EGFR, ERBB2, ERBB3 and ERBB4) genes in gastric tumour samples from 69 patients. A panel of gastric cell lines (N87, OE19, ESO26, SNU16, KATOIII) were profiled for anti-proliferative response to the PI3K inhibitor copanlisib and the MEK1/2 inhibitor refametinib alone and in combination with anti-HER2 therapies. Results Patients with HER2-positive GC had significantly poorer overall survival compared to HER2-negative patients (15.9 months vs. 35.7 months). Mutations in PIK3CA were only identified in HER2-negative tumours, while ERBB-family mutations were identified in HER2-positive and HER2-negative tumours. Copanlisib had anti-proliferative effects in 4/5 cell lines, with IC50s ranging from 23.4 (N87) to 93.8 nM (SNU16). All HER2-positive cell lines except SNU16 were sensitive to lapatinib (IC50s 0.04 µM–1.5 µM). OE19 cells were resistant to trastuzumab. The combination of lapatinib and copanlisib was synergistic in ESO-26 and OE-19 cells (ED50: 0.83 ± 0.19 and 0.88 ± 0.13, respectively) and additive in NCI-N87 cells (ED50:1.01 ± 0.55). The combination of copanlisib and trastuzumab significantly improved growth inhibition compared to either therapy alone in NCI-N87, ESO26 and OE19 cells (p < 0.05). Conclusions PI3K or MEK inhibition alone or in combination with anti-HER2 therapy may represent an improved treatment strategy for some patients with HER2-positive GC, and warrants further investigation in a clinical trial setting.

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