Fibroblast growth factor signalling influences homologous recombination-mediated DNA damage repair to promote drug resistance in ovarian cancer

Hugh A. Nicholson, Lynne Sawers, Rosemary Clarke, Kevin Hiom, Michelle J. Ferguson, Gillian Smith (Lead / Corresponding author)

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)
137 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background: Ovarian cancer patients frequently develop chemotherapy resistance, limiting treatment options. We have previously shown that individuality in fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) expression influences survival and chemotherapy response.

Methods: We used MTT assays to assess chemosensitivity to cisplatin and carboplatin following shRNA-mediated knockdown or heterologous over-expression of FGF1 (quantified by qRT-PCR and immunoblot analysis), and in combination with the FGFR inhibitors AZD4547 and SU5402, the ATM inhibitor KU55933 and DNA-PK inhibitor NU7026. Immunofluorescence microscopy was used to quantify the FGF1-dependent timecourse of replication protein A (RPA) and γH2AX foci formation.

Results: Pharmacological inhibition of FGF signalling reversed drug resistance in immortalised cell lines and in primary cell lines from drug-resistant ovarian cancer patients, while FGF1 over-expression induced resistance. Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) phosphorylation, but not DNA adduct formation was FGF1 dependent, following cisplatin or carboplatin challenge. Combining platinum drugs with the ATM inhibitor KU55933, but not with the DNA-PK inhibitor NU7026 re-sensitised resistant cells. FGF1 expression influenced the timecourse of damage-induced RPA and γH2AX nuclear foci formation.

Conclusion: Drug resistance arises from FGF1-mediated differential activation of high-fidelity homologous recombination DNA damage repair. FGFR and ATM inhibitors reverse platinum drug resistance, highlighting novel combination chemotherapy approaches for future clinical trial evaluation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1340-1351
Number of pages12
JournalBritish Journal of Cancer
Volume127
Issue number7
Early online date1 Jul 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 19 Oct 2022

Keywords

  • Growth factor signalling
  • Ovarian cancer

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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