Quantitative evaluation of oncogenic KRAS signaling and therapeutic effects of molecular-targeted drugs in living cells by single-molecule imaging.

Authors

null

Ryoma Yokoi

Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Japan

Ryoma Yokoi , Jesse Yu Tajima , Shigeru Kiyama , Yoshihiro Tanaka , Katsutoshi Murase , Manabu Futamura , Kenichi Suzuki , Nobuhisa Matsuhashi

Organizations

Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Japan, Department of Gastroenterological Surgery and Pediatric Surgery, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan, Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu-Shi, Japan, Department of Breast Surgery, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Japan, Institute for Glyco-core Research, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan

Research Funding

COMIT Collaborative Research 2023

Background: Oncogenic KRAS mutations pose challenges due to their constitutive activation and resistance to drugs in colorectal cancer. However, several aspects remain unresolved. Single-molecule imaging has revealed distinct behaviors of KRAS. Inactive KRAS wild-type (WT) molecules exhibit continuous lateral diffusion on the plasma membrane, while activated or oncogenic KRAS molecules display slower diffusion and transient trapping due to interactions with signaling molecules. These observations suggest that the overall signal intensity of KRAS within a cell is finely regulated by integrating short-term pulse signals during transient trapping. Methods: We conducted single-molecule observations of KRAS (WT, G13D, and G12D/C/V) in living colon cancer cells, both with and without molecular-targeted drugs, before and after EGF stimulation. We quantitatively analyzed their diffusional behavior to evaluate KRAS signaling and the therapeutic effects of molecular-targeted drugs. Results: The temporal fraction of trapped KRAS WT was highest at 2 minutes (6.4%) and decreased to pre-activation level (3.0%) at 5 minutes after EGF stimulation. Although the temporal fractions of trapped KRAS mutants were higher than those of KRAS WT both before stimulation (5%) and after stimulation (10%), their diffusional behaviors were mutation-specific. The temporal fraction of trapped KRAS G13D increased sharply, and those of KRAS G12D and G12C increased at a moderate rate, while that of KRAS G12V did not elevate after EGF stimulation. Cetuximab treatment significantly reduced the temporal fraction of trapped KRAS WT after stimulation, but only moderately decreased those of KRAS mutants. Notably, transient trappings of KRAS G12D and G12C were abrogated by KRAS inhibitors, and the combined therapy of KRAS inhibitors and cetuximab demonstrated additive effects. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the mutation-specific diffusional behavior of oncogenic KRAS can be quantitatively assessed by single-molecule imaging. This method serves as a powerful tool to uncover the mechanisms underlying oncogenic KRAS signaling and evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of molecular-targeted drugs in living cells.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2024 ASCO Breakthrough

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session A

Track

Gastrointestinal Cancer,Central Nervous System Tumors,Developmental Therapeutics,Genitourinary Cancer,Quality of Care,Healthcare Equity and Access to Care,Population Health,Viral-Mediated Malignancies

Sub Track

Omics for precision medicine

Citation

J Clin Oncol 42, 2024 (suppl 23; abstr 76)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2024.42.23_suppl.76

Abstract #

76

Poster Bd #

E8

Abstract Disclosures

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