Identification of aberrant luminal progenitors and mTORC1 as a potential breast cancer prevention target in BRCA2 mutation carriers
Details
Publication Year 2024-01,Volume 26,Issue #1,Page 138-152
Journal Title
Nature Cell Biology
Publication Type
Research article
Abstract
Inheritance of a BRCA2 pathogenic variant conveys a substantial life-time risk of breast cancer. Identification of the cell(s)-of-origin of BRCA2-mutant breast cancer and targetable perturbations that contribute to transformation remains an unmet need for these individuals who frequently undergo prophylactic mastectomy. Using preneoplastic specimens from age-matched, premenopausal females, here we show broad dysregulation across the luminal compartment in BRCA2(mut/+) tissue, including expansion of aberrant ERBB3(lo) luminal progenitor and mature cells, and the presence of atypical oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive lesions. Transcriptional profiling and functional assays revealed perturbed proteostasis and translation in ERBB3(lo) progenitors in BRCA2(mut/+) breast tissue, independent of ageing. Similar molecular perturbations marked tumours bearing BRCA2-truncating mutations. ERBB3(lo) progenitors could generate both ER(+) and ER(-) cells, potentially serving as cells-of-origin for ER-positive or triple-negative cancers. Short-term treatment with an mTORC1 inhibitor substantially curtailed tumorigenesis in a preclinical model of BRCA2-deficient breast cancer, thus uncovering a potential prevention strategy for BRCA2 mutation carriers.
Publisher
Springer Nature
Keywords
Female; Humans; *Breast Neoplasms/genetics/prevention & control; Mastectomy; Mutation; BRCA2 Protein/genetics; Carcinogenesis; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; BRCA1 Protein/genetics
Department(s)
Familial Cancer Centre; Medical Oncology
Terms of Use/Rights Notice
Refer to copyright notice on published article.


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