BRCA1 deficiency sensitizes breast cancer cells to bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) inhibition

Oncogene. 2018 Dec;37(49):6341-6356. doi: 10.1038/s41388-018-0408-8. Epub 2018 Jul 24.

Abstract

BRCA1 is a tumor suppressor frequently mutated in breast and ovarian cancer, serving it as a target for therapeutic exploitation. Here, we show that BRCA1 has a synthetic lethality interaction with an epigenetics regulator, bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET). BET inhibition led to gene expression changes reversing MYC-dependent transcription repression of a redox regulator, thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP), via switching the promoter occupant from MYC to MondoA:MLX complex. Reversing the MYC-TXNIP axis inhibited thioredoxin activity and elevated cellular oxidative stress, causing DNA damages that are detrimental to BRCA1-deficient breast cancer cells. Tumor xenograft models and breast cancer clinical data analyses further demonstrated an in vivo synthetic lethality interaction and clinical association between BET/TXNIP and BRCA1 deficiency in the survival of breast cancer patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • BRCA1 Protein / deficiency*
  • BRCA1 Protein / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / physiology
  • Genes, BRCA1
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, SCID
  • Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Quinazolinones / pharmacology
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • BRCA1 Protein
  • BRCA1 protein, human
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Proteins
  • Quinazolinones
  • TXNIP protein, human
  • bromodomain and extra-terminal domain protein, human
  • apabetalone