ALK gene aberrations and the JUN/JUNB/PDGFR axis in metastatic NSCLC.

Abstract

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene aberrations are found in several tumor types including anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Crizotinib, an inhibitor of ALK-fusion proteins, has shown clinical activity, but resistance mechanisms limit long-lasting disease control. It has been shown that ALK-NPM fusion upregulates platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRB) via JUN and transcription factor Jun B (JUNB) in ALCL. PDGFRB inhibition has been identified as therapy option for ALK-positive ALCL. Here, we investigated the ALK/JUN/JUNB/transcription factor Jun C (JUNC)/PDGFR axis in metastatic NSCLC with regard to ALK aberrations. We performed immunohistochemical analysis of platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA), PDGFRB, JUNB and JUNC expression in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens of 15 NSCLC brain metastases (5 ALK translocations, 3 of them involving EML4, 5 ALK amplifications, 5 without ALK aberrations). We did not find a statistically significant difference in expression of PDGFRA, PDGFRB, JUNB or JUNC in tumor samples with normal ALK status, ALK amplification or ALK translocations (Kruskal-Wallis test p > 0.05). Interestingly, PDGFRB was not expressed in tumor cells (but in vascular and stromal cells) in any of our cases. Our data argue against PDGFRB activation in association with ALK gene aberrations in metastatic NSCLC and thus seem to imply differential pathobiological roles of ALK alterations in lung cancer and lymphoma, possibly depending on different fusion partner genes. These results may be relevant for targeted therapies, as they indicate that inhibition of PDGFRB in ALK translocated NSCLC seems to be no therapeutic opportunity.

• Authors: Anna Sophie Berghoff, Peter Birner, Berthold Streubel, Lukas Kenner, Matthias Preusser
• Journal: APMIS : acta pathologica, microbiologica, et immunologica Scandinavica (APMIS) Vol. 122 Issue 9 Pg. 867-72 (Sep 2014) ISSN: 1600-0463 [Electronic] Denmark
• PMID: 24750504 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2014 APMIS. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Chemical References

• Cell Cycle Proteins
• JunB protein, human
• Microtubule-Associated Proteins
• Protein Kinase Inhibitors
• Pyrazoles
• Pyridines
• Transcription Factors
• Crizotinib
• p80(NPM-ALK) protein
• ALK protein, human
• Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
• Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
• Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
• Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha
• Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta
• MAP Kinase Kinase 4
• EML4 protein, human
• Serine Endopeptidases

Topics

• Aged
• Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung (genetics)
• Cell Cycle Proteins (biosynthesis)
• Crizotinib
• Female
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Humans
• Lung Neoplasms (genetics)
• Lymphoma (genetics)
• MAP Kinase Kinase 4 (biosynthesis)
• Male
• Microtubule-Associated Proteins (biosynthesis)
• Middle Aged
• Protein Kinase Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
• Pyrazoles (therapeutic use)
• Pyridines (therapeutic use)
• Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases (antagonists & inhibitors, genetics)
• Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha (biosynthesis)
• Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta (biosynthesis)
• Serine Endopeptidases (biosynthesis)
• Transcription Factors (biosynthesis)