Monash discoveries suggest new breast cancer treatment

Findings by Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) researchers have pointed to a new combination of treatments that may help breast cancer patients with certain gene mutations.

The study, published in Molecular Cell and led by Dr Antonella Papa, identified potential new treatments for patients who lacked PTEN, a gene that suppresses tumours, and/or have mutations in the cancer gene PI3K.

The researchers demonstrated using animal models, organoids and proteomic screening, that the loss of PTEN synergises with mutant PI3K gene in forming tumours in mammary glands. They then found that inhibiting the protein AKT suppressed the growth of PTEN and PI3K mutant mammary organoids.

In a surprising finding, the team also discovered that loss of PTEN function increased levels of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and made the tumour cells more prone to death.

The researchers found that combining a treatment called dexamethasone (an anti-inflammatory medication currently available), which activates GR, with an AKT inhibitor, better suppressed growth of PTEN/PI3K mutant cancer cells than treatment with a single compound.

The scientists are now testing the efficacy of their combination therapy in pre-clinical animal models with a view to future testing in clinical trials for breast cancer treatment.

PTEN gives instructions for making an enzyme found in most tissues in the body and functions by stopping cells from growing and dividing too rapidly or too uncontrollably. In contrast, PI3K is an enzyme that promotes cell growth and sustains proliferation in cancer when mutated.

Mutations in either PTEN or PI3K alone occur in almost 50 per cent of breast cancer patients. In addition, 10 per cent of breast cancer patients have combined genetic alterations in these two genes.

“These patients could benefit from our findings,” Dr Papa said.

“The finding that GR sensitises PTEN mutant cells to death is absolutely new; it was the opposite of what you would expect,” Dr Papa said.

Dr Papa said while the research had concentrated on breast cancer, the two genes could cause tumours to form in many of the body’s cells.

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First author on the study was Dr Hon Yan Kelvin Yip, whose work was supported by a NHMRC New Investigator Grant to Dr Papa. Dr Papa was supported by a National Breast Cancer Foundation Career Development Fellowship.

Read the publication in Molecular Cell titled: Control of Glucocorticoid Receptor Levels by PTEN establishes a failsafe mechanism for tumor suppression.

DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2020.09.027

Committed to making the discoveries that will relieve the future burden of disease, the newly established Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute at Monash University brings together more than 120 internationally-renowned research teams. Our researchers are supported by world-class technology and infrastructure, and partner with industry, clinicians and researchers internationally to enhance lives through discovery.

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