1. MNK Inhibition Sensitizes KRAS -Mutant Colorectal Cancer to mTORC1 Inhibition by Reducing eIF4E Phosphorylation and c-MYC Expression.
- Author
-
Knight JRP, Alexandrou C, Skalka GL, Vlahov N, Pennel K, Officer L, Teodosio A, Kanellos G, Gay DM, May-Wilson S, Smith EM, Najumudeen AK, Gilroy K, Ridgway RA, Flanagan DJ, Smith RCL, McDonald L, MacKay C, Cheasty A, McArthur K, Stanway E, Leach JD, Jackstadt R, Waldron JA, Campbell AD, Vlachogiannis G, Valeri N, Haigis KM, Sonenberg N, Proud CG, Jones NP, Swarbrick ME, McKinnon HJ, Faller WJ, Le Quesne J, Edwards J, Willis AE, Bushell M, and Sansom OJ
- Subjects
- Animals, Colorectal Neoplasms metabolism, Disease Models, Animal, Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E metabolism, Humans, Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins metabolism, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Phosphorylation, Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases metabolism, Colorectal Neoplasms genetics, Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E drug effects, Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins drug effects, MTOR Inhibitors pharmacology, Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases drug effects
- Abstract
KRAS -mutant colorectal cancers are resistant to therapeutics, presenting a significant problem for ∼40% of cases. Rapalogs, which inhibit mTORC1 and thus protein synthesis, are significantly less potent in KRAS -mutant colorectal cancer. Using Kras -mutant mouse models and mouse- and patient-derived organoids, we demonstrate that KRAS with G12D mutation fundamentally rewires translation to increase both bulk and mRNA-specific translation initiation. This occurs via the MNK/eIF4E pathway culminating in sustained expression of c-MYC. By genetic and small-molecule targeting of this pathway, we acutely sensitize KRAS
G12D models to rapamycin via suppression of c-MYC. We show that 45% of colorectal cancers have high signaling through mTORC1 and the MNKs, with this signature correlating with a 3.5-year shorter cancer-specific survival in a subset of patients. This work provides a c-MYC-dependent cotargeting strategy with remarkable potency in multiple Kras -mutant mouse models and metastatic human organoids and identifies a patient population that may benefit from its clinical application. SIGNIFICANCE: KRAS mutation and elevated c-MYC are widespread in many tumors but remain predominantly untargetable. We find that mutant KRAS modulates translation, culminating in increased expression of c-MYC. We describe an effective strategy targeting mTORC1 and MNK in KRAS -mutant mouse and human models, pathways that are also commonly co-upregulated in colorectal cancer. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 995 ., (©2020 American Association for Cancer Research.)- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF