Abstract P4-08-02: The human intermediate prolactin receptor is a breast cancer oncogene

Epidemiological, cellular, and genetic analyses indicate the hormone prolactin (PRL) and its cognate receptor in humans (hPRLr) are significantly involved in breast cancer pathogenesis. Recent evidence demonstrated that a truncated mouse PRLr (mPRLrT) is oncogenic when expressed alongside its canonical long form counterpart (mPRLrL). mPRLrT shares significant sequence homology with a naturally-occurring and widely-expressed hPRLr splice variant, the intermediate hPRLr (hPRLrI). To confirm the oncogenic potential of hPRLrI, isoform-specific hPRLrI knock-down (KD) was performed in breast cancer cell line MCF7. hPRLrI KD resulted in a significant decrease in proliferation, migration, and anchorage-independent growth. Next, given the similarity between mPRLrT and hPRLrI, we hypothesized hPRLrI may also be sufficient to induce transformation, when expressed alongside wild-type long hPRLr (hPRLrL). Like the mPRLrT, hPRLrI co-expression with hPRLrL in the immortalized but not transformed human breast cell line MCF10A resulted in a significant increase in proliferation, migration, and anchorage-independent growth. These results were not observed following overexpression of either isoform alone, demonstrating that hPRLrL/I co-expression is necessary to induce transformation of normal mammary epithelia. To test our hypothesis in vivo, we established MCF10A xenografts using female NOD scid gamma (NSG) mice. Following intraductal injection, we observed rapid tumor growth in the hPRLrL/I co-expression cohort, significantly over that of the cohorts harboring either isoform alone. To determine mechanisms of transformation, we examined both differential protein stability and altered signaling events. In analyzing receptor degradation, a cycloheximide assay revealed hPRLrL stability is increased when heterodimerized with hPRLrI. hPRLrL turnover has been reported to be impaired in human breast cancer, indicating this phenomenon may be involved in the observed hPRLrI-mediated transformation. In regards to differential signaling, we examined the Jak2/Stat5a pathway. Jak2 is a promiscuous kinase whose significant oncogenic actions are well-characterized, while Stat5a is a transcription factor whose activities are critical in attenuating the actions of Jak2. Following PRL stimulation, it was observed that hPRLrL/I co-expression induced approximately two-fold greater Jak2-Y1007/1008 phosphorylation (pJak2) compared to that induced by hPRLrL expression alone. Further, it was observed that hPRLrL/I co-expression induced ten-fold less Stat5a-Y694 phosphorylation (pY-Stat5a) than hPRLrL expression alone. These data indicate unchecked pJak2 activity may also be a contributing mechanism in the observed transformation. Overall, these results demonstrate that hPRLrI, alongside hPRLrL, is sufficient for transformation of normal breast tissue. Citation Format: Jacqueline M Grible, Shannon E Hedrick, Charles V Clevenger. The human intermediate prolactin receptor is a breast cancer oncogene [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-08-02.