Abstract 568: Modulation of HER4 isoforms expression in estrogen-stimulated in vitro models
Authors: Valenti Marta , Bischof Georg F. , Crown John P. , Collins Denis M. 
Published: March 2024

Introduction HER4, a tyrosine kinase receptor belonging to the Human Epidermal Growth Factor/HER/ErbB-family, has a complex biology that includes four isoforms (JMa-CYT1/2, and JMb-CYT1/2) and tissue specific oncogenic or tumour suppressor roles. In estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer (BC), HER4 isoforms can either act as a co-regulator of ESR1-mediated gene expression by localising to the nucleus, or activate apoptosis by localising to mitochondria. There is very little known about HER4 function in cutaneous melanoma, despite cutaneous melanoma showing the highest HER4 genomic alteration frequency (17.34%) across different cancers (cBioPortal). Due to the interplay between estrogen signalling and HER4 isoforms in ER+BC, this study investigates the RNA expression of HER4 isoforms along with hormone and nuclear receptors associated with 17β-estradiol stimulation in ER+BC and cutaneous melanoma in vitro models.

Material and Methods CAMA1 (ER+BC) and SKMEL24 (cutaneous melanoma) cell lines were serum starved for 4h prior to stimulation with 17β-estradiol (0.5nM, 1nM, 5nM and 10nM). RNA was extracted from cells after 24h using TRIzol, followed by qRT-PCR to assess the expression of HER4 isoforms, the hormone receptors estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1/ER-alpha), estrogen receptor 2 (ESR2/ER-beta), progesterone receptor (PGR/PR), G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER1) and the nuclear receptors retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARA) and retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRA). Cell proliferation and caspase3/7 apoptosis analysis were performed at 24/48/72h in the 17β-estradiol stimulated cells by using the IncuCyte Live Cell Analysis Instrument (Sartorius). SN-38 (150nM) was used as positive control for apoptosis induction. Two-way ANOVA was used for the statistical analysis, p&lt;0.05 was significant.

Results The qRT-PCR analysis showed that upon stimulation of CAMA1 with 1nM of 17β-estradiol there is a numerical shift in the CYT-1/CYT-2 ratio towards CYT-2 (not statistically significant, p&gt;0.05) and a significant increase in PGR (p= 0.0027) and RAR-A (p= 0.0248) expression compared to control. CAMA1 stimulated with any concentration of 17β-estradiol showed an increase in proliferation compared to the control. The stimulation of SKMEL24 with 5nM of 17β-estradiol showed an increase in JM-a (p=0.0075) and CYT-1 (p=0.0271) HER4 isoforms, GPER1 (p= 0.0286), and a dose-dependent increase in RARA (p=0.0011) compared to control, even in the absence of ESR1, ESR2 and PGR. SKMEL24 stimulated with 17β-estradiol showed a decrease in proliferation compared to control, but no apoptosis induction was found.

Conclusion These findings suggest potential interplay between 17β-estradiol and HER4 isoforms leading to the activation of intracellular pathways that could influence tumour progression/suppression in melanoma. Further studies are needed to clarify the specific receptor interactions and pathways involved.

Citation Format: Marta Valenti, Georg F. Bischof, John P. Crown, Denis M. Collins. Modulation of HER4 isoforms expression in estrogen-stimulated in vitro models [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 568.