CDK12 Inhibition Reverses De Novo and Acquired PARP Inhibitor Resistance in BRCA Wild-Type and Mutated Models of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Shawn F. Johnson, Cristina Cruz, Ann Katrin Greifenberg, Sofia Dust, Daniel G. Stover, David Chi, Benjamin Primack, Shiliang Cao, Andrea J. Bernhardy, Rhiannon Coulson, Jean Bernard Lazaro, Bose Kochupurakkal, Heather Sun, Christine Unitt, Lisa A. Moreau, Kristopher A. Sarosiek, Maurizio Scaltriti, Dejan Juric, José Baselga, Andrea RichardsonScott Rodig, Alan D. D'Andrea, Judith Nã Balma, Neil Johnson, Matthias Geyer, Violeta Serra, Elgene Lim, Geoffrey I. Shapiro

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

222 Scopus citations

Abstract

Although poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors are active in homologous recombination (HR)-deficient cancers, their utility is limited by acquired resistance after restoration of HR. Here, we report that dinaciclib, an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) 1, 2, 5, and 9, additionally has potent activity against CDK12, a transcriptional regulator of HR. In BRCA-mutated triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), dinaciclib ablates restored HR and reverses PARP inhibitor resistance. Additionally, we show that de novo resistance to PARP inhibition in BRCA1-mutated cell lines and a PDX derived from a PARP-inhibitor-naive BRCA1 carrier is mediated by residual HR and is reversed by CDK12 inhibition. Finally, dinaciclib augments the degree of response in a PARP-inhibitor-sensitive model, converting tumor growth inhibition to durable regression. These results highlight the significance of HR disruption as a therapeutic strategy and support the broad use of combined CDK12 and PARP inhibition in TNBC.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2367-2381
Number of pages15
JournalCell Reports
Volume17
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 22 2016

Keywords

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • BRCA1 Protein/genetics
  • Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cyclic N-Oxides
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors
  • DNA Damage/genetics
  • DNA Repair/drug effects
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • Homologous Recombination/drug effects
  • Humans
  • Indolizines
  • Mice
  • Mutation/genetics
  • Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors/pharmacology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology
  • Pyridinium Compounds/pharmacology
  • RNA, Small Interfering/metabolism
  • Transcription, Genetic/drug effects
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms/enzymology
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'CDK12 Inhibition Reverses De Novo and Acquired PARP Inhibitor Resistance in BRCA Wild-Type and Mutated Models of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this