BRD4 levels determine the response of human lung cancer cells to BET degraders that potently induce apoptosis through suppression of Mcl-1
Abstract
Lung cancer consists of approximately 80% non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and 20% small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and remains the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide despite advances in early diagnosis, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Thus, novel therapies are still urgently needed. Bromodomain and extra terminal (BET) proteins, primarily comprised of BRD2, BRD3, and BRD4 proteins, function as epigenetic readers and master transcription coactivators and are now recognized cancer therapeutic targets. BET degraders such as ZBC260 and dBET represent a novel class of BET inhibitors that act by inducing BET degradation. The current study demonstrates the therapeutic efficacies of BET degraders, particularly ZBC260, against lung cancer, as well as understanding the underlying mechanisms and identifying molecular markers that determine cell sensitivity to BET degraders. A panel of NSCLC cell lines possessed similar response patterns to ZBC260 and dBET but different responses to BET inhibitor JQ-1. BRD levels, particularly BRD4, correlated positively with high sensitivity to BET degraders but not to JQ-1. BET degraders potently induced apoptosis in sensitive NSCLC cells and were accompanied by reduction of Mcl-1 and c-FLIP l...Continue Reading
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