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Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research

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Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research

ER-α36 mediates cisplatin resistance in breast cancer cells through EGFR/HER-2/ERK signaling pathway

Authors: Linlin Zhu, Jiao Zou, Yuanyin Zhao, Xiaomei Jiang, Yang Wang, Xiangwei Wang, Bin Chen

Published in: Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research | Issue 1/2018

Abstract

Background

ER-α36, a novel ER-α66 variant, has been demonstrated to promote tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer cells. However, the role and mechanisms of ER-α36 in cisplatin resistance of breast cancer cells remain unclear. This study investigates the expression and role of ER-α36 in cisplatin resistance of breast cancer cells and elucidates its underlying mechanisms.

Methods

The expression of ER-α36 and the proteins involved in nongenomic estrogen signaling was evaluated by western blot analysis. Cisplatin sensitivity was explored by CCK-8 assay, monolayer colony formation assay and apoptosis assays, respectively. ER-α36 siRNAs/shRNAs and overexpression vector were transfected into cells to down-regulate or up-regulate ER-α36 expression. Loss-and gain-of function assays were performed to investigate the role of ER-α36 in cisplatin sensitivity. The interaction between ER-α36 and EGFR/HER-2 were detected using CoIP. A mouse xenograft model of breast cancer was established to verify the role of ER-α36 in vivo.

Results

ER-α36 is expressed at higher levels in cisplatin-resistant breast cancer cells compared to cisplatin sensitive cells. Cisplatin induced up-regulation of ER-α36 in a dose-dependent manner in breast cancer cells. Overexpression of ER-α36 leaded to cell resistant to cisplatin and knockdown of ER-α36 in cisplatin-resistant breast cancer cells restored cisplatin sensitivity. The up-regulation of ER-α36 resulted in increased activation of nongenomic estrogen signaling, which was responsible for cisplatin resistance. Disruption of ER-α36-mediated nongenomic estrogen signaling with kinase inhibitors significantly inhibited cisplatin-induced expression of ER-α36 and increased cisplatin sensitivity. The in vivo experiment also confirmed that up-regulation of ER-α36 attenuated cisplatin sensitivity in a mouse xenograft model of breast cancer.

Conclusions

The results for the first time demonstrated that ER-α36 mediates cisplatin resistance in breast cancer cells through nongenomic estrogen signaling, suggesting that ER-α36 may serve as a novel target for cisplatin resistance and a potential indicator of cisplatin sensitivity in breast cancer treatment.

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Title: ER-α36 mediates cisplatin resistance in breast cancer cells through EGFR/HER-2/ERK signaling pathway
Authors: Linlin Zhu
Jiao Zou
Yuanyin Zhao
Xiaomei Jiang
Yang Wang
Xiangwei Wang
Bin Chen
Publication date: 01-12-2018
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1756-9966
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13046-018-0798-z

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