Abstract 357: CYP3A4 Activates Stat3 in ER + breast cancer

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL CYP3A4 expression in breast cancer has been reported to correlate with nodal metastases and decreased overall survival, but its mechanisms in cancer progression are unknown. ERalpha has been reported to promote CYP3A4 expression. We have previously demonstrated that CYP3A4 is an arachidonic acid (AA) epoxygenase that activates breast cancer cell proliferation through biosynthesis of 14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EET). Methods: Effects of 14,15-EET on Stat3 regulation were studied in MCF7 lines expressing CYP3A4 shRNA. Quantitative immunofluorescence (AQUA) interrogation of a tissue microarray was performed to evaluate CYP3A4 in cytoplasm, ERalpha and pY705Stat3 (pYStat3) in nuclei, and HER2 in cytoplasm/membrane. Values were transformed using the natural logarithm. These values were then averaged across the two spot sets. Pearson's correlation was calculated between the markers of interest. Results: Stat3 (Tyr 705) phosphorylation is inhibited by CYP3A4 silencing. CYP3A4 synthesizes 14,15-EET in breast cancer cells and silencing of Stat3 blocks breast cancer cell growth and abrogates 14,15-EET-induced proliferation, indicating that CYP3A4 requires 14,15-EET biosynthesis and Stat3 to induce cell growth. Silencing of CYP3A4 reduces nuclear pY705-Stat3, while 14,15-EET restores this signaling process. By preliminary immunofluorescence study of consecutive breast cancers (n=48) nuclear ERalpha was associated with cytoplasmic CYP3A4 with a correlation of r=0.7575 (p-value < 0.0001). Cytoplasmic CYP3A4 correlated with nuclear pYStat3, with a correlation of r=0.2708, approaching statistical significance (p = 0.0656). Cytoplasmic/membrane HER2, known to be induced by Stat3, was associated with nuclear pYStat3, exhibiting a correlation of r=0.4460 (p-value = 0.0015). Conclusions: ER+ breast cancer cell growth is therefore mediated, in part, by CYP3A4 biosynthesis of 14,15-EET that induces nuclear pY705-Stat3. These studies indicate that CYP3A4 is an AA epoxygenase that is expressed in ER+ breast cancer and promotes Stat3-mediated breast cancer cell growth, in part, through 14,15-EET biosynthesis. Activated Stat3 may mediate cytoplasmic/membrane HER2 expression. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 357. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-357