1. Inhibition of MEK1/2 Forestalls the Onset of Acquired Resistance to Entrectinib in Multiple Models of NTRK1-Driven Cancer
- Author
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Aria Vaishnavi, Michael T. Scherzer, Conan G. Kinsey, Gennie L. Parkman, Amanda Truong, Phaedra Ghazi, Sophia Schuman, Benjamin Battistone, Ignacio Garrido-Laguna, and Martin McMahon
- Subjects
NTRK gene fusion ,kinase oncoproteins ,pathway-targeted therapies ,lung cancer ,colorectal cancer ,pancreatic cancer ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 - Abstract
Summary: NTRK1 gene fusions are actionable drivers of numerous human malignancies. Here, we show that expression of the TPR-NTRK1 fusion kinase in immortalized mouse pancreatic ductal epithelial (IMPE) (pancreas) or mouse lung epithelial (MLE-12) cells is sufficient to promote rapidly growing tumors in mice. Both tumor models are exquisitely sensitive to targeted inhibition with entrectinib, a tropomyosin-related kinase A (TRKA) inhibitor. Initial regression of NTRK1-driven tumors is driven by induced expression of BIM, such that BIM silencing leads to a diminished response to entrectinib in vivo. However, the emergence of drug-resistant disease limits the long-term durability of responses. Based on the reactivation of RAF>MEK>ERK signaling observed in entrectinib-treated tumors, we show that the combination of entrectinib plus the MEK1/2 inhibitor cobimetinib dramatically forestalls the onset of drug resistance in vivo. Collectively, these data provide a mechanistic rationale for rapid clinical deployment of combined inhibition of TRKA plus MEK1/2 in NTRK1-driven cancers.
- Published
- 2020
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