Mapping the molecular determinants of BRAF oncogene dependence in human lung cancer Journal Article


Authors: Lin, L.; Asthana, S.; Chan, E.; Bandyopadhyay, S.; Martins, M. M.; Olivas, V.; Yan, J. J.; Pham, L.; Wang, M. M.; Bollag, G.; Solit, D. B.; Collisson, E. A.; Rudin, C. M.; Taylor, B. S.; Bivon, T. G.
Article Title: Mapping the molecular determinants of BRAF oncogene dependence in human lung cancer
Abstract: Oncogenic mutations in the BRAF kinase occur in 6-8% of nonsmall cell lung cancers (NSCLCs), accounting for more than 90,000 deaths annually worldwide. The biological and clinical relevance of these BRAF mutations in NSCLC is incompletely understood. Here we demonstrate that human NSCLC cells with BRAFV600E, but not other BRAF mutations, initially are sensitive to BRAF-inhibitor treatment. However, these BRAFV600E NSCLC cells rapidly acquire resistance to BRAF inhibition through at least one of two discrete molecular mechanisms: (i) loss of full-length BRAFV600E coupled with expression of an aberrant form of BRAFV600E that retains RAF pathway dependence or (ii) constitutive autocrine EGF receptor (EGFR) signaling driven by c-Jun-mediated EGFR ligand expression. BRAFV600E cells with EGFR-driven resistance are characterized by hyperphosphorylated protein kinase AKT, a biomarker we validated in BRAF inhibitor- resistant NSCLC clinical specimens. These data reveal the multifaceted molecular mechanisms by which NSCLCs establish and regulate BRAF oncogene dependence, provide insights into BRAF- EGFR signaling crosstalk, and uncover mechanism-based strategies to optimize clinical responses to BRAF oncogene inhibition.
Keywords: targeted therapy; combination therapy
Journal Title: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume: 111
Issue: 7
ISSN: 0027-8424
Publisher: National Academy of Sciences  
Date Published: 2014-02-18
Start Page: E748
End Page: E757
Language: English
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1320956111
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC3932924
PUBMED: 24550319
DOI/URL:
Notes: Export Date: 2 April 2014 -- CODEN: PNASA -- Source: Scopus
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  1. David Solit
    779 Solit
  2. Charles Rudin
    488 Rudin