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Amplification of CRKL Induces Transformation and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor Resistance in Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers.

Publication TypeJournal Article
AuthorsCheung, HW, Du J., Boehm JS, He F., Weir BA, Wang X., Butaney M., Sequist LV, Luo B., Engelman JA, Root DE, Meyerson M., Golub T. R., Jänne PA, and Hahn WC
AbstractWe previously identified a region of recurrent amplification on chromosome 22q11.21 in a subset of primary lung adenocarcinomas. Here we show that CRKL, encoding for an adaptor protein, is amplified and overexpressed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells that harbor 22q11.21 amplifications. Overexpression of CRKL in immortalized human airway epithelial cells promoted anchorage-independent growth and tumorigenicity. Oncogenic CRKL activates the SOS1-RAS-RAF-ERK and SRC-C3G-RAP1 pathways. Suppression of CRKL in NSCLC cells that harbor CRKL amplifications induced cell death. Overexpression of CRKL in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant cells induces resistance to gefitinib by activating extracellular signal-regulated kinase and AKT signaling. We identified CRKL amplification in an EGFR inhibitor-treated lung adenocarcinoma that was not present before treatment. These observations demonstrate that CRKL overexpression induces cell transformation, credential CRKL as a therapeutic target for a subset of NSCLC that harbor CRKL amplifications, and implicate CRKL as an additional mechanism of resistance to EGFR-directed therapy.
Year of Publication2011
JournalCancer discovery
Volume1
Issue7
Pages608-25
Date Published (YYYY/MM/DD)2011/12/01
ISSN Number2159-8274
DOI10.1158/2159-8290.CD-11-0046
PubMedhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22586683?dopt=Abstract