Featured Publications
Genotype-Selective Combination Therapies for Melanoma Identified by High-Throughput Drug Screening
Held MA, Langdon CG, Platt JT, Graham-Steed T, Liu Z, Chakraborty A, Bacchiocchi A, Koo A, Haskins JW, Bosenberg MW, Stern DF. Genotype-Selective Combination Therapies for Melanoma Identified by High-Throughput Drug Screening. Cancer Discovery 2013, 3: 52-67. PMID: 23239741, PMCID: PMC3546137, DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-12-0408.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMutant BRAF melanomaCyclin-dependent kinase inhibitorBRAF melanomaSmall molecule inhibitorsHigh-throughput drug screeningDrug screeningEGF receptorCombination therapyDrug combinationsMelanoma culturesContext of genotypePairwise combinationsResistance phenotypeCombinatorial drug screeningUnique treatment regimensCombination of statinsVivo xenograftsKinase inhibitorsMutant BRAFMutationsEfficacious drug combinationsPartial responseTreatment regimensRAS mutationsBRAF mutations
2020
Acquired Resistance to HER2-Targeted Therapies Creates Vulnerability to ATP Synthase Inhibition
Gale M, Li Y, Cao J, Liu ZZ, Holmbeck MA, Zhang M, Lang SM, Wu L, Do Carmo M, Gupta S, Aoshima K, DiGiovanna MP, Stern DF, Rimm DL, Shadel GS, Chen X, Yan Q. Acquired Resistance to HER2-Targeted Therapies Creates Vulnerability to ATP Synthase Inhibition. Cancer Research 2020, 80: 524-535. PMID: 31690671, PMCID: PMC7002225, DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-18-3985.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAntineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsApoptosisBreast NeoplasmsCell ProliferationDrug Resistance, NeoplasmEnzyme InhibitorsFemaleHumansMiceMice, Inbred NODMice, SCIDMitochondrial Proton-Translocating ATPasesOligomycinsReceptor, ErbB-2TrastuzumabTumor Cells, CulturedXenograft Model Antitumor AssaysConceptsResistant cellsHER2-Targeted TherapyTrastuzumab-resistant tumorsNew therapeutic strategiesNovel potential targetDrug-free mediumAntibody therapySynthase inhibitionLow doseTherapeutic strategiesTrastuzumabBreast tumorsHER2TherapyAcquired ResistanceTumorsPotential targetMitochondrial respirationCellsSelective dependencyInhibitionMinimal changesNovel vulnerabilitiesATP synthase inhibitionOligomycin A
2018
Inhibition of isoprenylation synergizes with MAPK blockade to prevent growth in treatment‐resistant melanoma, colorectal, and lung cancer
Theodosakis N, Langdon CG, Micevic G, Krykbaeva I, Means RE, Stern DF, Bosenberg MW. Inhibition of isoprenylation synergizes with MAPK blockade to prevent growth in treatment‐resistant melanoma, colorectal, and lung cancer. Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research 2018, 32: 292-302. PMID: 30281931, PMCID: PMC6590911, DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12742.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsCell Line, TumorCell ProliferationColorectal NeoplasmsDrug Resistance, NeoplasmDrug SynergismHumansHydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase InhibitorsLung NeoplasmsMaleMelanomaMevalonic AcidMice, NudeMitogen-Activated Protein KinasesPrenylationProtein Kinase InhibitorsProtein Processing, Post-TranslationalSignal TransductionConceptsUseful adjunctive therapyHMG-CoA reductase inhibitorsAnti-tumor effectsAdjunctive therapyInhibition of isoprenylationLung cancerMEK inhibitionReductase inhibitorsMAPK blockadeDriver mutationsAdditional studiesStatinsTherapyMelanomaTumorsVemurafenibMAPK pathwayDownstream metabolitesInhibitionMAPKAdjunctiveColorectalSelumetinibBlockadeCancer
2017
p90RSK Blockade Inhibits Dual BRAF and MEK Inhibitor-Resistant Melanoma by Targeting Protein Synthesis
Theodosakis N, Micevic G, Langdon CG, Ventura A, Means R, Stern DF, Bosenberg MW. p90RSK Blockade Inhibits Dual BRAF and MEK Inhibitor-Resistant Melanoma by Targeting Protein Synthesis. Journal Of Investigative Dermatology 2017, 137: 2187-2196. PMID: 28599981, PMCID: PMC6342201, DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2016.12.033.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProtein synthesisRibosomal S6 kinase (RSK) familyPatient-derived melanoma cell linesDifferential protein expressionReverse phase protein arrayPhase protein arrayTranslation complexesKinase familyBI-D1870RSK inhibitorsMelanoma cell linesProtein arraysCell proliferationInhibitor treatmentProtein expressionCell linesNew targetsHuman melanoma patientsBRAF inhibitor vemurafenib
2015
BRAF Inhibition Decreases Cellular Glucose Uptake in Melanoma in Association with Reduction in Cell Volume
Theodosakis N, Held MA, Marzuka-Alcala A, Meeth KM, Micevic G, Long GV, Scolyer RA, Stern DF, Bosenberg MW. BRAF Inhibition Decreases Cellular Glucose Uptake in Melanoma in Association with Reduction in Cell Volume. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 2015, 14: 1680-1692. PMID: 25948295, PMCID: PMC4497841, DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-15-0080.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGlucose uptakeWeeks of treatmentBRAF kinase inhibitorsHigh response rateTumor cell deathMetastatic diseaseTransmembrane glucose transportMetastatic melanomaPatient cohortCellular glucose uptakeRadiographic changesVemurafenib treatmentBRAF inhibitorsBRAF inhibitionResponse rateEmission tomographyPhysiologic parametersNew protein translationKinase inhibitorsEarly responseImportant physiologic parametersCell volumeMelanomaVolume reductionCell volume regulationThe broad‐spectrum receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor dovitinib suppresses growth of BRAF‐mutant melanoma cells in combination with other signaling pathway inhibitors
Langdon CG, Held MA, Platt JT, Meeth K, Iyidogan P, Mamillapalli R, Koo AB, Klein M, Liu Z, Bosenberg MW, Stern DF. The broad‐spectrum receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor dovitinib suppresses growth of BRAF‐mutant melanoma cells in combination with other signaling pathway inhibitors. Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research 2015, 28: 417-430. PMID: 25854919, PMCID: PMC5215495, DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12376.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBRAF-mutant melanomaBRAF inhibitorsCell linesCombination of dovitinibBRAF inhibitor treatmentBRAF mutant melanoma cellsBRAF inhibitor resistanceColorectal carcinoma cell linesBRAF-mutant melanoma cell linesMelanoma cell linesCarcinoma cell linesMetastatic melanomaEffective therapyWild-type BRAF cellsInhibitor treatmentAgent inhibitsPathway inhibitorDovitinibInhibitor resistanceMelanoma cellsMelanomaSecond agentInhibitorsTreatment
2009
Association of constitutively activated hepatocyte growth factor receptor (Met) with resistance to a dual EGFR/Her2 inhibitor in non-small-cell lung cancer cells
Agarwal S, Zerillo C, Kolmakova J, Christensen JG, Harris LN, Rimm DL, DiGiovanna MP, Stern DF. Association of constitutively activated hepatocyte growth factor receptor (Met) with resistance to a dual EGFR/Her2 inhibitor in non-small-cell lung cancer cells. British Journal Of Cancer 2009, 100: 941-949. PMID: 19240716, PMCID: PMC2661782, DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6604937.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEpidermal growth factor receptorEGFR/HER2 inhibitorsNSCLC cell linesDual EGFR/HER2 inhibitorsGrowth factor receptorMET inhibitorsHER2 inhibitorsUse of EGFREGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitorsCell lung cancer cellsFactor receptorMajority of patientsTreatment of NSCLCCell lung carcinomaTyrosine kinase inhibitorsPotential therapeutic advantagesSubset of tumorsLung cancer cellsCell linesCurrent clinical useReceptor TKTumor cell growthHepatocyte growth factor receptorMaximal growth inhibitionImportant molecular target
2008
ERBB3/HER3 and ERBB2/HER2 Duet in Mammary Development and Breast Cancer
Stern DF. ERBB3/HER3 and ERBB2/HER2 Duet in Mammary Development and Breast Cancer. Journal Of Mammary Gland Biology And Neoplasia 2008, 13: 215. PMID: 18454306, PMCID: PMC6590701, DOI: 10.1007/s10911-008-9083-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBreast cancerCancer etiologyErbB3/HER3Breast cancer etiologyAdditional therapeutic opportunitiesEpidermal growth factor receptor familyGrowth factor receptor familyAkt-dependent pathwayFactor receptor familyMouse modelERBB2 amplificationNeuregulin-2Neuregulin-1Therapeutic opportunitiesTherapeutic toolMammary developmentRegulation of metabolismCancerReceptor familyAggressive propertiesTherapeutic compoundsErbB2ErbB3Eventual developmentEtiology
2005
Phosphorylated/Activated HER2 as a Marker of Clinical Resistance to Single Agent Taxane Chemotherapy for Metastatic Breast Cancer
Modi S, DiGiovanna MP, Lu Z, Moskowitz C, Panageas KS, Van Poznak C, Hudis CA, Norton L, Tan L, Stern DF, Carter D, Seidman AD. Phosphorylated/Activated HER2 as a Marker of Clinical Resistance to Single Agent Taxane Chemotherapy for Metastatic Breast Cancer. Cancer Investigation 2005, 23: 483-487. PMID: 16203655, DOI: 10.1080/07357900500201301.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMetastatic breast cancerSingle-agent taxane therapyTaxane therapyP-HER2Clinical benefitBreast cancerClinical resistanceSingle-agent taxane chemotherapyUnique predictive informationChi-squared analysisTaxane chemotherapyClinical outcomesClinical progressionTaxane monotherapyHER2 statusClinical trialsPhosphorylated HER2Tumor specimensFunctional assessmentHER2TherapyMonoclonal antibodiesImmunohistochemistrySquared analysisProgression