Abstract P3-03-05: PI3K/PDK1 mediates resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors through dysregulation of S-phase cyclins/cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs)
Authors: Jansen VM , Formisano L , Witkiewicz A , Estrada MV , Sanchez V , Dugger TC , Knudsen ES , Arteaga CL 
Published: March 2017

Background: CDK4/6 inhibitors in combination with antiestrogens are approved for the treatment of ER+ advanced breast cancer. However, not all patients benefit from CDK4/6 inhibitors, underscoring the need to develop therapeutic strategies to circumvent de novo and acquired drug resistance.

Methods: ER+ breast cancer cells (MCF-7, T47D, HCC1428, and HCC1500) were made resistant to increasing doses to the CDK4/6 inhibitor ribociclib (LEE011; Novartis). LEE011-resistant cells were characterized by 2D/3D growth, cell cycle, and immunoblot analyses. GSK2334470 (PDK1 inhibitor) and dinaciclib (CDK2 inhibitor) were used to modify resistance to ribociclib. PDK1 and pS6 immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed on primary human tumor explants treated ex vivo with palbociclib.

Results: Resistant cell lines (MCF-7/LR, T47D/LR, HCC1428/LR, and HCC1500/LR) exhibited an IC50 at least 20-fold higher than that of their parental cells. They displayed cross-resistance to the CDK4/6 inhibitors palbociclib and abemaciclib. Immunoblot analysis of ribociclib-resistant cells showed increased levels of 3-phosphoinositide dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1), S227 pRSK2 (target of PDK1), T308 pAKT (target of PDK1), and pS6 (downstream effector of the PDK1 target p70S6K), compared to parental drug sensitive cells. PDK1 is a master kinase that functions downstream of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and is crucial for the activation of AKT and many other AGC kinases including PKC, S6K, SGK, and RSK. Primary tumor explants treated ex vivo with palbociclib for 96 h also exhibited upregulation of PDK1 and pS6 by IHC. Cell cycle analysis revealed that CDK4/6 inhibition failed to induce G1 arrest, a reduction in S phase, and senescence in MCF-7/LR and T47D/LR compared to parental cells. Progression into S phase in the presence of ribociclib suggested upregulation of S-phase cyclins/CDKs. Indeed, the resistant cells exhibited significantly higher levels of pCDK2, cyclin A, cyclin E and S477/T479 pAKT, a CDK2-dependent phosphorylation of AKT required for full kinase activity and limited to the S-phase of the cell cycle. Pharmacological inhibition of PDK1 (with GSK2334470) or CDK2 (with dinaciclib) re-sensitized the ribociclib-resistant cells to CDK4/6 inhibitors. However, ribociclib/GSK2334470 inhibited MCF-7/LR and T47D/LR cell proliferation better than ribociclib/dinaciclib. Further, ribociclib/GSK2334470 but not ribociclib/dinaciclib completely abrogated pRb, pS6, pRSK2, pCDK2, cyclin A, and cyclin E, suggesting the PI3K/PDK1 pathway mediates acquired resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors through dysregulation of the cell cycle. Consistent with these data, ribociclib/GSK2334470 inhibited growth of established MCF-7 xenografts in nude mice, significantly more potently than each drug alone.

Conclusions: These data support a critical role for PI3K/PDK1 in acquired resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors in ER+ breast cancer cells. Co-targeting of PI3K/PDK1 and CDK4/6 may overcome resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors and is worthy of further translational and clinical investigation in patients with ER+ breast cancer.

Citation Format: Jansen VM, Formisano L, Witkiewicz A, Estrada MV, Sanchez V, Dugger TC, Knudsen ES, Arteaga CL. PI3K/PDK1 mediates resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors through dysregulation of S-phase cyclins/cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-03-05.