Abstract PD3-06: The SRC family kinase, YES1, controls chromosomal stability and promotes growth of triple negative breast cancer
Authors: Piemonte Katrina , Donaubauer Elyse , Keri Ruth 
Published: March 2022

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a collection of heterogeneous diseases with limited therapeutic options primarily involving cytotoxic chemotherapy. The distinct molecular profile and increased chromosomal instability (CIN) of TNBC make it a difficult disease to treat. While many patients initially respond to treatment, resistance is common, resulting in poor patient outcomes. Thus identifying vulnerabilities in this disease is necessary to improve TNBC patient outcomes. To identify potential therapeutic targets in this disease, we focused on Src Family Kinases (SFKs). The SFK family is comprised of 9 non-receptor tyrosine kinases that interact with upstream signaling partners to regulate cell phenotypes such as adhesion, motility, survival and mitosis. Five SFKs are overexpressed in breast cancer, including Src, the founding member of the family. Within the basal breast cancer subtype, one of the most highly overexpressed SFKs is YES1. High YES1 expression is also associated with poorer outcomes in TNBC patients when compared to tumors with low YES1 expression. We have found that TNBC cells are reliant on sustained YES1 expression for viability, growth, cell cycle progression, and maintenance of genomic stability. Transiently silencing YES1 causes a significant decrease in cell growth and increase in apoptosis. Furthermore, loss of YES1 expression induces features of whole chromosomal instability (w-CIN), including micronucleation, multinucleation, and dysmorphic nuclei. An increase in γ-H2AX positive staining was also noted in cells with decreased YES1 expression, indicating an accumulation of double strand DNA breaks (DSB) that are indicative of structural chromosomal instability (s-CIN). These findings were recapitulated using several pan-SFK inhibitors, including FDA approved agents dasatinib and saracatinib. Loss of YES1 function also results in perturbed cell cycle progression, particularly a G2/M delay. RNA-sequencing and Reverse Phase Protein Array (RPPA) revealed alterations in mitotic, replication stress, and DNA repair pathways following the loss of YES1. These data demonstrate that YES1 is a previously understudied signaling component of mitotic- and DNA damage-regulating pathways in TNBC. More broadly, they suggest that YES1 may be a therapeutically targetable vulnerability that could be paired with other DNA damaging or mitotic inhibitors to improve treatment efficacy in TNBC. Current SFK-targeted agents globally impact all SFKs. The data presented here support efforts to identify a YES1 selective inhibitor that should be more specific for treating TNBC with less toxicity that pan-SFK drugs.

Citation Format: Katrina Piemonte, Elyse Donaubauer, Ruth Keri. The SRC family kinase, YES1, controls chromosomal stability and promotes growth of triple negative breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2021 Dec 7-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PD3-06.