Efficacy of MEK inhibition in a K-Ras-driven cholangiocarcinoma preclinical model

Cell Death Dis. 2018 Jan 18;9(2):31. doi: 10.1038/s41419-017-0183-4.

Abstract

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is a deadly malignancy with limited treatment options. Gain-of-function mutations in K-Ras is a very frequent alteration, occurring in ~15 to 25% of human iCCA patients. Here, we established a new iCCA model by expressing activated forms of Notch1 (NICD) and K-Ras (K-RasV12D) in the mouse liver (K-Ras/NICD mice). Furthermore, we investigated the therapeutic potential of MEK inhibitors in vitro and in vivo using human CCA cell lines and K-Ras/NICD mice, respectively. Treatment with U0126, PD901, and Selumetinib MEK inhibitors triggered growth restraint in all CCA cell lines tested, with the most pronounced growth suppressive effects being observed in K-Ras mutant cells. Growth inhibition was due to reduction in proliferation and massive apoptosis. Furthermore, treatment of K-Ras/NICD tumor-bearing mice with PD901 resulted in stable disease. At the molecular level, PD901 efficiently inhibited ERK activation in K-Ras/NICD tumor cells, mainly leading to increased apoptosis. Altogether, our study demonstrates that K-Ras/NICD mice represent a novel and useful preclinical model to study K-Ras-driven iCCA development and the effectiveness of MEK inhibitors in counteracting this process. Our data support the usefulness of MEK inhibitors for the treatment of human iCCA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acrylonitrile / analogs & derivatives*
  • Acrylonitrile / pharmacology
  • Acrylonitrile / therapeutic use
  • Aniline Compounds / pharmacology
  • Aniline Compounds / therapeutic use*
  • Animals
  • Cholangiocarcinoma / genetics*
  • Cholangiocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Cholangiocarcinoma / pathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • ras Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Aniline Compounds
  • MEK inhibitor I
  • ras Proteins
  • Acrylonitrile