Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most refractory subtype of breast cancer. It causes the majority of breast cancer-related deaths, which has been largely associated with the plasticity of tumor cells and persistence of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Conventional chemotherapeutics enrich CSCs and lead to drug resistance and disease relapse. Development of a strategy capable of inhibiting both bulk and CSC populations is an unmet medical need. Inhibitors against estrogen receptor 1, HDACs, or mTOR have been studied in the treatment of TNBC; however, the results are inconsistent. In this work, we found that patient TNBC samples expressed high levels of mTORC1 and HDAC genes in comparison to luminal breast cancer samples. Furthermore, co-inhibition of mTORC1 and HDAC with rapamycin and valproic acid, but neither alone, reproducibly promoted ESR1 expression in TNBC cells. In combination with tamoxifen (inhibiting ESR1), both S6RP phosphorylation and rapamycin-induced 4E-BP1 upregulation in TNBC bulk cells was inhibited. We further showed that fractionated CSCs expressed higher levels of mTORC1 and HDAC than non-CSCs. As a result, co-inhibition of mTORC1, HDAC, and ESR1 was capable of reducing both bulk and CSC subpopulations as well as the conversion of fractionated non-CSC to CSCs in TNBC cells. These observations were partially recapitulated with the cultured tumor fragments from TNBC patients. Furthermore, co-administration of rapamycin, valproic acid, and tamoxifen retarded tumor growth and reduced CD44high/+/CD24low/− CSCs in a human TNBC xenograft model and hampered tumorigenesis after secondary transplantation. Since the drugs tested are commonly used in clinic, this study provides a new therapeutic strategy and a strong rationale for clinical evaluation of these combinations for the treatment of patients with TNBC.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.