ERR mediates Tamoxifen resistance in novel models of invasive lobular breast cancer

One-third of all ER+ breast tumors treated with endocrine therapy fail to respond, and the remainder are likely to relapse in the future. Almost all data on endocrine resistance has been obtained in models of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). However, invasive lobular carcinomas (ILC) comprise up to 15% of newly diagnosed invasive breast cancers diagnosed each year and, while the incidence of IDC has remained relatively constant during the last 20 years, the prevalence of ILC continues to increase among postmenopausal women. We report a new model of Tamoxifen (TAM)-resistant invasive lobular breast carcinoma cells that provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of endocrine resistance. SUM44 cells express ER and are sensitive to the growth inhibitory effects of antiestrogens. Selection for resistance to 4-hydroxytamoxifen led to the development of the SUM44/LCCTam cell line, which exhibits decreased expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ER) and increased expression of the estrogen-related receptor gamma (ERR). Knockdown of ERR in SUM44/LCCTam cells by siRNA restores TAM sensitivity, and overexpression of ERR blocks the growth-inhibitory effects of TAM in SUM44 and MDA-MB-134 VI lobular breast cancer cells. ERR-driven transcription is also increased in SUM44/LCCTam, and inhibition of activator protein 1 (AP1) can restore or enhance TAM sensitivity. These data support a role for ERR/AP1 signaling in the development of TAM resistance, and suggest that expression of ERR may be a marker of poor Tamoxifen response.

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Riggins RB, Lan JP, Zhu Y, Klimach U, Zwart A, Cavalli LR, Haddad BR, Chen L, Gong T, Xuan J, Ethier SP, Clarke R