Hedgehog inhibition impaired platinum response in high-grade serous ovarian cancer harboring high hedgehog ligand expression and mTOR pathway activation.

Authors

null

Gwo Yaw Ho

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia

Gwo Yaw Ho , Elizabeth Lieschke , Elizabeth Kyran , Kristy Shield-Artin , Olga Kondrashova , Holly Barker , Robert Hollian , Aurelie Cazet , Thuan Phuong , Alex Swarbrick , Orla McNally , David Bowtell , Matthew Wakefield , Clare L. Scott

Organizations

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Australia, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

Research Funding

Other Foundation

Background: Elevated Glioma-associated Oncogene Homolog-1 (Gli1) protein expression is associated with Hedgehog (Hh) pathway activation in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). Inhibition of Hh signaling in Gli1-overexpressing HGSOC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) inhibited tumour growth, particularly in combination with chemotherapy. Early phase HGSOC clinical trials of vismodegib, a potent Hh inhibitor (SMO inhibitor), were disappointing. We identified a HGSOC PDX harboring both Indian Hh ligand-overexpression and bi-allelic deletion of TSC1, which latter event is reported to derepress the mTOR pathway, driving non-cannonical Gli1 expression. We explored the effect of vismodegib in combination with cisplatin or the mTOR inhibitor, everolimus, in this model. Methods: A cell-line was generated from the well-characterised PDX (identity confirmed by PDX-specific p53 mutation). In vitro response to vismodegib was assessed. qRT-PCR was performed to establish Hh-ligand and Gli1 expression with/without SMO inhibition. A PDX was generated from this cell-line and randomized to in vivo treatment with cisplatin, vismodegib, everolimus or vehicle alone, or vismodegib in combination with cisplatin or everolimus. Results: The HGSOC cell-line was sensitive to vismodegib in vitro (EC50 of 3.5µM) and qRT-PCR analysis revealed down-regulation of Hh-ligand and Gli1 expression following in vitro SMO inhibition, confirming on-target vismodegib activity. In vivo treatment with vismodegib or everolimus alone did not result in reproducible in vivo efficacy. The combination of vismodegib + everolimus caused short-lived responses in 3 of 6 mice. Strikingly, in vivo treatment with vismodegib in combination with cisplatin impaired median survival (19 days) when compared with cisplatin treatment alone (43 days; p = 0.039) due to rapid tumour progression. Conclusions: Combining chemotherapy with Hh inhibition in Hh ligand-overexpressing HGSOC PDX with mTOR pathway activation may be detrimental. These findings highlight the importance of an in-depth understanding of tumour biology in order to effectively combine therapeutic approaches.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2017 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Gynecologic Cancer

Track

Gynecologic Cancer

Sub Track

Ovarian Cancer

Citation

J Clin Oncol 35, 2017 (suppl; abstr 5583)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2017.35.15_suppl.5583

Abstract #

5583

Poster Bd #

405

Abstract Disclosures

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