Notch and Hedgehog Signalling Axis Drive Senescence in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Resistant to Trastuzumab

Objective: Cellular senescence halts the proliferation of damaged or preneoplastic cells, playing a vital role in cancer control. In HER2-positive breast cancer, resistance to trastuzumab, a HER2-targeted monoclonal antibody, remains a significant obstacle. Although the trastuzumab and cilengitide c...

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Main Authors: Asiye Büşra Boz Er, İdris Er
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Istanbul University Press 2024-12-01
Series:European Journal of Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/D7F3CFA6B9DA4A0CA8E0D9DF84153C26
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author Asiye Büşra Boz Er
İdris Er
author_facet Asiye Büşra Boz Er
İdris Er
author_sort Asiye Büşra Boz Er
collection DOAJ
description Objective: Cellular senescence halts the proliferation of damaged or preneoplastic cells, playing a vital role in cancer control. In HER2-positive breast cancer, resistance to trastuzumab, a HER2-targeted monoclonal antibody, remains a significant obstacle. Although the trastuzumab and cilengitide combination reduces stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, its effect on senescence remains unclear. Additionally, inhibiting the Notch and Hedgehog pathways can induce senescence by impairing proliferation, stemness, and cell cycle progression, making them promising therapeutic targets. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of trastuzumab/cilengitide on cellular senescence in HER2-positive trastuzumab-resistant breast cancer cells and to elucidate the roles of Notch and Hedgehog signalling in this process.Materials and Methods:: HER2-positive breast cancer cell lines HCC1954 and SKBR3, along with their trastuzumab-resistant variants, were treated with trastuzumab, cilengitide, or both. Senescence markers were assessed by real-time PCR. Notch and Hedgehog pathway activity was evaluated, with additional experiments using specific inhibitors Fli06 (Notch) and GANT61 (Hedgehog).Results: The trastuzumab-cilengitide combination significantly upregulated senescence markers relative to monotherapy. This response was associated with a marked decrease in Notch and Hedgehog pathway activity. Further combined inhibition of these pathways enhanced senescence marker expression, underscoring their involvement in drug-induced senescence. Conclusion: The trastuzumab-cilengitide combination induces senescence in trastuzumab-resistant HER2-positive breast cancer cells, potentially through Notch and Hedgehog inhibition. These findings support targeting senescence pathways as a novel strategy to overcome trastuzumab resistance and improve therapeutic outcomes. Further research is warranted to assess the clinical potential of such combination therapies.
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spelling doaj-art-2c58823ec4a64e66bb202555941e5c392025-08-20T03:48:45ZengIstanbul University PressEuropean Journal of Biology2618-61442024-12-0183221322110.26650/EurJBiol.2024.1531120123456Notch and Hedgehog Signalling Axis Drive Senescence in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Resistant to TrastuzumabAsiye Büşra Boz Er0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1275-4470İdris Er1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2139-1787Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Üniversitesi, Rize, TurkiyeKaradeniz Teknik Üniversitesi, Trabzon, TurkiyeObjective: Cellular senescence halts the proliferation of damaged or preneoplastic cells, playing a vital role in cancer control. In HER2-positive breast cancer, resistance to trastuzumab, a HER2-targeted monoclonal antibody, remains a significant obstacle. Although the trastuzumab and cilengitide combination reduces stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, its effect on senescence remains unclear. Additionally, inhibiting the Notch and Hedgehog pathways can induce senescence by impairing proliferation, stemness, and cell cycle progression, making them promising therapeutic targets. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of trastuzumab/cilengitide on cellular senescence in HER2-positive trastuzumab-resistant breast cancer cells and to elucidate the roles of Notch and Hedgehog signalling in this process.Materials and Methods:: HER2-positive breast cancer cell lines HCC1954 and SKBR3, along with their trastuzumab-resistant variants, were treated with trastuzumab, cilengitide, or both. Senescence markers were assessed by real-time PCR. Notch and Hedgehog pathway activity was evaluated, with additional experiments using specific inhibitors Fli06 (Notch) and GANT61 (Hedgehog).Results: The trastuzumab-cilengitide combination significantly upregulated senescence markers relative to monotherapy. This response was associated with a marked decrease in Notch and Hedgehog pathway activity. Further combined inhibition of these pathways enhanced senescence marker expression, underscoring their involvement in drug-induced senescence. Conclusion: The trastuzumab-cilengitide combination induces senescence in trastuzumab-resistant HER2-positive breast cancer cells, potentially through Notch and Hedgehog inhibition. These findings support targeting senescence pathways as a novel strategy to overcome trastuzumab resistance and improve therapeutic outcomes. Further research is warranted to assess the clinical potential of such combination therapies.https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/D7F3CFA6B9DA4A0CA8E0D9DF84153C26her2-positivesenescencenotchhedgehog
spellingShingle Asiye Büşra Boz Er
İdris Er
Notch and Hedgehog Signalling Axis Drive Senescence in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Resistant to Trastuzumab
European Journal of Biology
her2-positive
senescence
notch
hedgehog
title Notch and Hedgehog Signalling Axis Drive Senescence in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Resistant to Trastuzumab
title_full Notch and Hedgehog Signalling Axis Drive Senescence in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Resistant to Trastuzumab
title_fullStr Notch and Hedgehog Signalling Axis Drive Senescence in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Resistant to Trastuzumab
title_full_unstemmed Notch and Hedgehog Signalling Axis Drive Senescence in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Resistant to Trastuzumab
title_short Notch and Hedgehog Signalling Axis Drive Senescence in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Resistant to Trastuzumab
title_sort notch and hedgehog signalling axis drive senescence in her2 positive breast cancer resistant to trastuzumab
topic her2-positive
senescence
notch
hedgehog
url https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/D7F3CFA6B9DA4A0CA8E0D9DF84153C26
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AT idriser notchandhedgehogsignallingaxisdrivesenescenceinher2positivebreastcancerresistanttotrastuzumab