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Published on: February 6, 2015
BRD2 Upregulation as a Pan-Cancer Adaptive Resistance Mechanism to BET Inhibition
Suyakarn Archasappawat1,2, Juliette Jacques1, EunJung Lee1
1Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA.
Bromodomain and extraterminal motif (BET) inhibitors show promise in cancer treatment. Upregulation of BRD2 was identified as a mechanism of resistance to BET inhibitors, suggesting co-targeting BRD2 could improve cancer therapy efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Epigenetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Bromodomain and extraterminal motif (BET) inhibitors are emerging cancer therapeutics targeting epigenetic regulators like BRD4.
- Resistance to BET inhibitors (BETi) is a significant challenge limiting their clinical efficacy.
- Understanding adaptive resistance mechanisms is crucial for improving BETi-based cancer therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms of adaptive resistance to BET inhibitors in cancer.
- To identify novel therapeutic targets for overcoming BETi resistance.
- To explore the role of BRD2 in mediating resistance to BET inhibitors.
Main Methods:
- Utilized cancer cell lines and *in vivo* tumor models.
- Performed BRD2 knockdown and combined BRD2 depletion with JQ1 treatment.
- Conducted BRD4 and BRD2 ChIP-seq analysis in pancreatic cancer cells.
- Investigated the role of NFYA in regulating BRD2 expression.
Main Results:
- BRD2 upregulation was identified as a conserved resistance mechanism to BET inhibition across multiple cancer types.
- BRD2 knockdown sensitized cancer cells to BETi, and combined BRD2 depletion with JQ1 impaired tumor growth.
- Resistant cells exhibited higher BRD2 chromatin occupancy compared to sensitive cells after BETi treatment.
- NFYA was identified as a key mediator of BRD2 upregulation in response to BETi.
Conclusions:
- BRD2 is a critical mediator of adaptive resistance to BET inhibitors in pan-cancer.
- NFYA is a novel transcriptional regulator involved in BETi resistance.
- Co-targeting BRD2 or its regulatory network presents a rational strategy to enhance the efficacy and durability of BET-based therapies.
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