Abstract SY19-02: Novel mechanisms of acquired resistance to selective CDK4/6 inhibition

Abstract CDK4/6 inhibition is now part of the standard armamentarium for patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer, so that understanding mechanisms of resistance is a pressing issue. We have identified identified increased CDK6 expression as a key determinant of acquired resistance after exposure to palbociclib in ER-positive breast cancer cells. Increased CDK6 in resistant cells is dependent on TGF-β pathway suppression via miR-432-5p expression. Exosomal miR-432-5p expression mediated transfer of the resistance phenotype between neighboring cell populations, causing previously sensitive cells to acquire CDK4/6 inhibitor resistance. We confirmed these data in pretreatment and postprogression biopsies from a parotid cancer patient who had responded to ribociclib, demonstrating that this resistance mechanism is clinically relevant. Additionally, this CDK4/6 inhibitor resistance phenotype can be reversed in vitro and in vivo by a prolonged drug holiday, which restored drug sensitivity. CDK4 is also emerging as a target in KRAS-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We have demonstrated that KRAS-mutant NSCLC cell lines are initially sensitive to palbociclib, but readily acquire resistance associated with increased expression of CDK6, D-cyclins, and cyclin E. Resistant cells also demonstrated increased ERK1/2 activity and sensitivity to MEK and ERK inhibitors. Moreover, MEK inhibition reduced the expression and activity of cell cycle proteins mediating palbociclib resistance. In resistant cells, ERK activated mTOR, driven in part by upstream FGFR1 signaling resulting from the extracellular secretion of FGF ligands. A genetically engineered mouse model of KRAS-mutant NSCLC initially sensitive to palbociclib similarly developed acquired resistance with increased expression of cell cycle mediators, ERK1/2 and FGFR1. In this model, resistance was delayed with combined palbociclib and MEK inhibitor treatment. These findings implicate an FGFR1-MAP kinase-mTOR pathway resulting in increased expression of D-cyclins and CDK6 that confers palbociclib resistance, and indicate that CDK4/6 inhibition acts to promote MAP kinase dependence. Citation Format: Geoffrey I. Shapiro. Novel mechanisms of acquired resistance to selective CDK4/6 inhibition [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr SY19-02.