Perturbation of the mutated EGFR interactome identifies vulnerabilities and resistance mechanisms

Mol Syst Biol. 2013 Nov 5:9:705. doi: 10.1038/msb.2013.61.

Abstract

We hypothesized that elucidating the interactome of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) forms that are mutated in lung cancer, via global analysis of protein-protein interactions, phosphorylation, and systematically perturbing the ensuing network nodes, should offer a new, more systems-level perspective of the molecular etiology. Here, we describe an EGFR interactome of 263 proteins and offer a 14-protein core network critical to the viability of multiple EGFR-mutated lung cancer cells. Cells with acquired resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) had differential dependence of the core network proteins based on the underlying molecular mechanisms of resistance. Of the 14 proteins, 9 are shown to be specifically associated with survival of EGFR-mutated lung cancer cell lines. This included EGFR, GRB2, MK12, SHC1, ARAF, CD11B, ARHG5, GLU2B, and CD11A. With the use of a drug network associated with the core network proteins, we identified two compounds, midostaurin and lestaurtinib, that could overcome drug resistance through direct EGFR inhibition when combined with erlotinib. Our results, enabled by interactome mapping, suggest new targets and combination therapies that could circumvent EGFR TKI resistance.

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
  • Carbazoles / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics*
  • Drug Synergism
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism*
  • Erlotinib Hydrochloride
  • Furans
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Mutation*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Interaction Maps
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Quinazolines / pharmacology
  • Staurosporine / analogs & derivatives
  • Staurosporine / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Carbazoles
  • Furans
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Quinazolines
  • Erlotinib Hydrochloride
  • lestaurtinib
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Staurosporine
  • midostaurin