Abstract 178: PIM1, a novel target in chemotherapy-resistant triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Braso-Maristany Fara , Filosto Simone , Catchpole Steven , Marlow Rebecca , Quist Jelmar , Francesch Domenech Erika , Liccardi Gianmaria , Zakka Leila , Serra Violeta , Gris Albert , Cheang Maggie , Patel Nirmesh , Perdrix Rosell Anna , Gazinska Patrycja , Noel Elodie , Watkins Jonathan , Marra Pierfrancesco , Grigoriadis Anita , Tutt Andrew 
Published: July 2016

Triple-Negative Breast Cancers (TNBCs) are aggressive, associated with poor prognosis and lack targeted therapies, mainly due to the absence of suitable molecular targets. The genomic region 6p21-p25 is recurrently amplified in TNBCs and encompasses the PIM1 oncogene.

This study interrogated genomic breast cancer datasets and identified gene copy number-driven increase of PIM1 expression in TNBC. To understand the role of PIM1 in malignant phenotypes of TNBCs, functional studies were carried out in breast cancer and non-malignant mammary epithelial cell line models. RNA interference and rescue-of-function experiments revealed addiction to PIM1 kinase for cell population growth and apoptosis protection in TNBC cells, absent in non-malignant cells. In cells sensitive to PIM1 knockdown, we observed a subsequent reduction of the expression of the anti-apoptotic proteins BCL2 and MCL1. Moreover, exogenous expression of BCL2 prevented apoptosis caused by PIM1 knockdown. BH3-profiling analysis further confirmed that PIM1 blocks apoptosis elicited through the mitochondrial pathway in TNBC cell lines. The activity of PIM1 in other cancers has been closely linked to the regulation of c-MYC, an “un-targetable” oncogene that drives malignancy and that is frequently amplified and highly expressed in primary TNBCs and post-chemotherapy residual disease. Importantly, we found that PIM1 expression associates with several MYC-transcriptional signatures in TNBCs and mediates phosphorylation of c-MYC Ser62 and Histone-H3 Ser10, key targets for MYC-driven transcription. Exogenous expression of MYC rescued the phenotypes caused by PIM1 knockdown, providing mechanistic insights for the observed addiction. Finally, the therapeutic potential of targeting PIM1 was assessed using AZD1208, a small molecule inhibitor of the PIM kinase family. AZD1208 inhibited growth and sensitized TNBC derived cell lines, cell line xenografts and PDXs to chemotherapy by increasing apoptosis.

We therefore identify PIM1 as a driver of malignancy in TNBC, illustrating relationships with MYC-activation and regulation of anti-apoptotic BCL2 and MCL1 proteins. PIM1 inhibitors could provide a potential therapeutic to abrogate chemotherapy resistance in TNBCs.

Citation Format: Fara Braso-Maristany, Simone Filosto, Steven Catchpole, Rebecca Marlow, Jelmar Quist, Erika Francesch Domenech, Gianmaria Liccardi, Leila Zakka, Violeta Serra, Albert Gris, Maggie Cheang, Nirmesh Patel, Anna Perdrix Rosell, Patrycja Gazinska, Elodie Noel, Jonathan Watkins, Pierfrancesco Marra, Anita Grigoriadis, Andrew Tutt. PIM1, a novel target in chemotherapy-resistant triple-negative breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 178.