Epithelial-mesenchymal transition predicts sensitivity to the dual IGF-1R/IR inhibitor OSI-906 in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines

Mol Cancer Ther. 2012 Feb;11(2):503-13. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-11-0327. Epub 2011 Dec 9.

Abstract

A growing body of data indicates that inhibiting the type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R) might be an effective treatment strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). OSI-906 is a dual IGF-1R/IR kinase inhibitor currently in phase II clinical development for HCC. However, biomarkers are lacking to help identify patients with HCC who are more likely to benefit from OSI-906 treatment. We sought to determine the effect of OSI-906 on proliferation against a panel of 21 HCC cell lines and to investigate molecular determinants of responsiveness to OSI-906. We identified a subset of HCC cell lines that was sensitive to OSI-906, and sensitivity is associated with elevated phosphorylation levels of IGF-1R and IR and greater inhibition of AKT signaling. Dual targeting of both receptors seems to be important for maximal inhibition as treatment with a selective IGF-1R-neutralizing antibody was associated with increased IR signaling, whereas OSI-906 fully inhibited both phosphorylated IR and IGF-1R and resulted in greater inhibition of the IRS/AKT pathway. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) seems to predict HCC cell sensitivity to OSI-906, as the epithelial phenotype is strongly associated with expression of IGF-2 and IR, activation of IGF-1R and IR, and sensitivity to OSI-906, alone or in combination with erlotinib. Induction of EMT upon treatment with TGFβ reduced sensitivity to OSI-906. Collectively, these data support the concept for dual IGF-1R/IR targeting in HCC, where EMT status and expressions of IGF-2 and IR may be used to identify those patients who are most likely to benefit from treatment with an IGF-1R/IR dual inhibitor.

MeSH terms

  • Blotting, Western
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Synergism
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / drug effects*
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / genetics
  • Erlotinib Hydrochloride
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology*
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / genetics
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / metabolism
  • Liver Neoplasms / genetics
  • Liver Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Pyrazines / pharmacology*
  • Quinazolines / pharmacology
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / genetics
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1 / metabolism
  • Receptor, Insulin / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptor, Insulin / genetics
  • Receptor, Insulin / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects

Substances

  • 3-(8-amino-1-(2-phenylquinolin-7-yl)imidazo(1,5-a)pyrazin-3-yl)-1-methylcyclobutanol
  • Imidazoles
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrazines
  • Quinazolines
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor II
  • Erlotinib Hydrochloride
  • Receptor, IGF Type 1
  • Receptor, Insulin
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt