一种环状RNA-信使核糖核酸配对机制调控雌激素受体阳性乳腺癌的肿瘤生长和内分泌治疗耐药性。

A circRNA-mRNA pairing mechanism regulates tumor growth and endocrine therapy resistance in ER-positive breast cancer.

作者信息

Yi Jia, Du Jiao, Chen Xue, Nie Rui-Chao, Hu Guo-Sheng, Wang Lei, Zhang Yue-Ying, Chen Shang, Wen Xiao-Sha, Luo Di-Xian, He Hua, Liu Wen

机构信息

State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, Fujian, China.

Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Target Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, Fujian, China.

出版信息

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Feb 25;122(8):e2420383122. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2420383122. Epub 2025 Feb 18.

Abstract

The molecular mechanisms underlying estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast carcinogenesis and drug resistance remain incompletely understood. Elevated expression of CCND1 is linked to enhanced invasiveness, poorer prognosis, and resistance to drug therapies in ER-positive breast cancer. In this study, we identify a highly expressed circular RNA (circRNA) derived from , called circFOXK2, which plays a key role in stabilizing mRNA, thereby promoting cell cycle progression, cell growth, and endocrine therapy resistance in ER-positive breast cancer cells. Mechanistically, circFOXK2 binds directly to mRNA via RNA-RNA pairing and recruits the RNA-binding protein ELAVL1/HuR, stabilizing the mRNA and enhancing CCND1 protein levels. This results in activation of the CCND1-CDK4/6-p-RB-E2F signaling axis, driving the transcription of downstream E2F target genes and facilitating the G1/S transition during cell cycle progression. Notably, targeting circFOXK2 with antisense oligonucleotide (ASO-circFOXK2) suppresses ER-positive breast cancer cell growth both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, combination therapy with ASO-circFOXK2 and tamoxifen exhibits synergistic effects and restores tamoxifen sensitivity in tamoxifen-resistant cells. Clinically, high circFOXK2 expression is positively correlated with levels in both ER-positive breast cancer cell lines and patient tumor tissues. Overall, our findings reveal the critical role of circFOXK2 in stabilizing the oncogene and promoting cancer progression, positioning circFOXK2 as a potential therapeutic target for ER-positive breast cancer in clinical settings.

摘要

雌激素受体(ER)阳性乳腺癌发生及耐药的分子机制仍未完全明确。CCND1表达升高与ER阳性乳腺癌侵袭性增强、预后较差及对药物治疗耐药有关。在本研究中,我们鉴定出一种源自 、高表达的环状RNA(circRNA),称为circFOXK2,其在稳定 mRNA方面起关键作用,从而促进ER阳性乳腺癌细胞的细胞周期进程、细胞生长及内分泌治疗耐药。机制上,circFOXK2通过RNA - RNA配对直接与 mRNA结合,并招募RNA结合蛋白ELAVL1/HuR,稳定 mRNA并提高CCND1蛋白水平。这导致CCND1 - CDK4/6 - p - RB - E2F信号轴激活,驱动下游E2F靶基因转录并促进细胞周期进程中的G1/S期转换。值得注意的是,用反义寡核苷酸靶向circFOXK2(ASO - circFOXK2)在体外和体内均能抑制ER阳性乳腺癌细胞生长。此外,ASO - circFOXK2与他莫昔芬联合治疗具有协同作用,并能恢复他莫昔芬耐药细胞对他莫昔芬的敏感性。临床上,circFOXK2高表达与ER阳性乳腺癌细胞系及患者肿瘤组织中的 水平呈正相关。总体而言,我们的研究结果揭示了circFOXK2在稳定癌基因 及促进癌症进展中的关键作用,将circFOXK2定位为临床环境中ER阳性乳腺癌的潜在治疗靶点。

https://cdn.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/blobs/9255/11874584/2d1c8796b2f4/pnas.2420383122fig01.jpg

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