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Accession Number:
ADA405453
Title:
Alterations in Gene Transcription by Physiological Stress: A Mechanism for Drug Resistance Through NF-kB Activation
Descriptive Note:
Annual rept. 1 Jun 2001-31 May 2002
Corporate Author:
GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIV WASHINGTON DC
Report Date:
2002-06-01
Pagination or Media Count:
42.0
Abstract:
One of the major limiting factors to the successful treatment of breast cancer is the development of drug resistance. Adverse conditions associated with solid tumor progression, which trigger cellular stress responses, may underlie the mechanisms of intrinsic chemotherapeutic drug resistance. EMT6 mouse mammary tumor cells treated with the chemical stress agent, brefeldin A BFA or the physiologic stress, hypoxia develop comparable levels of resistance to the topoisomerase II inhibitor, etoposide. To determine common mechanisms for chemical- and physiologic-induced drug resistance, we have performed expression analysis of stress-treated EMT6 cells. BFA or hypoxia treatment result in enhanced expression of transforming growth factor-beta TGF-beta and decreased expression of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor, PDGFRalpha, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase MAPK, MEK1. Western blot analysis confirms increased TGF-beta protein and reduced PDGFRalpha and phospho-MEK12 levels with stress treatment. In vitro studies show treatment with TGF-beta, anti-PDGFRalpha blocking antibodies, or inhibition of MEK12 with U0126 treatment are sufficient to cause etoposide resistance. These results provide evidence for TGF-beta activation and down-regulation of the PDGFRalphaMAPK signaling pathway in the development of tumor drug resistance and suggest that modulation of TGF-beta, PDGFRalpha or the MAPK cascade may enhance the clinical effectiveness of conventional anticancer chemotherapies.
Distribution Statement:
APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
