LncRNA EILA promotes CDK4/6 inhibitor resistance in breast cancer by stabilizing cyclin E1 protein

Sci Adv. 2023 Oct 6;9(40):eadi3821. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adi3821. Epub 2023 Oct 6.

Abstract

CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) plus endocrine therapy are now standard first-line therapy for advanced HR+/HER2- breast cancer, but developing resistance is just a matter of time in these patients. Here, we report that a cyclin E1-interacting lncRNA (EILA) is up-regulated in CDK4/6i-resistant breast cancer cells and contributes to CDK4/6i resistance by stabilizing cyclin E1 protein. EILA overexpression correlates with accelerated cell cycle progression and poor prognosis in breast cancer. Silencing EILA reduces cyclin E1 protein and restores CDK4/6i sensitivity both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, hairpin A of EILA binds to the carboxyl terminus of cyclin E1 protein and hinders its binding to FBXW7, thereby blocking its ubiquitination and degradation. EILA is transcriptionally regulated by CTCF/CDK8/TFII-I complexes and can be inhibited by CDK8 inhibitors. This study unveils the role of EILA in regulating cyclin E1 stability and CDK4/6i resistance, which may serve as a biomarker to predict therapy response and a potential therapeutic target to overcome resistance.

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Cell Division
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 / genetics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • RNA, Long Noncoding* / genetics
  • Ubiquitination

Substances

  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • CDK4 protein, human
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4