t-Darpp activates IGF-1R signaling to regulate glucose metabolism in trastuzumab-resistant breast cancer cells

Purpose: Increased glycolysis and glucose dependence is a hallmark of malignancy that enables tumors to maximize cell proliferation. In HER2+ cancers, an increase in glycolytic capacity is associated with trastuzumab resistance. IGF-1R activation and t-Darpp over-expression both confer trastuzumab resistance in breast cancer. We therefore investigated a role for IGF-1R and t-Darpp in regulating glycolytic capacity in HER2+ breast cancers. Experimental design: We examined the relationship between t-Darpp and IGF-1R expression in breast tumors and their respective relationships with patient survival. To assess t-Darpp's metabolic effects, we used the Seahorse flux analyzer to measure glucose metabolism in trastuzumab-resistant SK-BR-3 cells (SK.HerR) that have high endogenous t-Darpp levels and SK.tDrp cells that stably over-express exogenous t-Darpp. To investigate t-Darpp's mechanism of action, we evaluated t-Darpp:IGF-1R complexes by co-immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assays. We used pathway-specific inhibitors to study the dependence of t-Darpp effects on IGF-1R signaling. We used siRNA knockdown to determine if glucose reliance in SK.HerR cells was mediated by t-Darpp. Results: In breast tumors, PPP1R1B mRNA levels were inversely correlated with IGF-1R mRNA levels and directly associated with shorter overall survival. t-Darpp over-expression was sufficient to increase glucose metabolism in SK.tDrp cells and essential for the glycolytic phenotype of SK.HerR cells. Recombinant t-Darpp stimulated glucose uptake, glycolysis and IGF-1R-Akt signaling in SK-BR-3 cells. Finally, t-Darpp stimulated IGF-1R heterodimerization with ErbB receptors and required IGF-1R signaling to confer its metabolic effects. Conclusions: t-Darpp activates IGF-1R signaling through heterodimerization with EGFR and HER2 to stimulate glycolysis and confer trastuzumab resistance.

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