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Proteomic modulation in breast tumors after metformin exposure: results from a “window of opportunity” trial

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Abstract

Purpose

Reverse Phase Protein Array (RPPA) is a high-throughput antibody-based technique to assess cellular protein activity. The goal of this study was to assess protein marker changes by RPPA in tumor tissue from a pre-surgical metformin trial in women with operable breast cancer (BC).

Methods

In an open-label trial, metformin 1500-mg PO daily was administered prior to resection in 35 non-diabetic patients with stage 0–III BC, body mass index ≥25 kg/m2. For RPPA, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples were probed with 160 antibodies. Paired and two-sample t-tests were performed (p ≤ 0.05). Multiple comparisons were adjusted for by fixing the false discovery rate at 25 %. We evaluated whether pre- and post-metformin changes of select markers by RPPA were identified by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in these samples. We also assessed for these changes by western blot in metformin-treated BC cell lines.

Results

After adjusting for multiple comparisons in the 32 tumors from metformin-treated patients vs. 34 untreated historical controls, 11 proteins were significantly different between cases vs. controls: increases in Raptor, C-Raf, Cyclin B1, Cyclin D1, TRFC, and Syk; and reductions in pMAPKpT202,Y204, JNKpT183,pT185, BadpS112, PKC.alphapS657, and SrcpY416. Cyclin D1 change after metformin by IHC was not observed. In cell lines, reductions in JNKpT183 and BadpS112 were seen, with no change in Cyclin D1 or Raptor.

Conclusions

These results suggest that metformin modulates apoptosis/cell cycle, cell signaling, and invasion/motility. These findings should be assessed in larger metformin trials. If confirmed, associations between these changes and BC clinical outcome should be evaluated.

Clinicaltrials.gov identifier

NCT00930579.

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Acknowledgments

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and New York Obesity Research Council funded this research. This publication was also supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, through Grant Number KL2 TR000081. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, USA

    K. Kalinsky, P. Mundi, J. Yang, S. Refice, K. D. Crew, M. A. Maurer & D. L. Hershman

  2. Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, 161 Fort Washington Avenue, 10th Floor, Room 1069, New York, USA

    K. Kalinsky, H. Hibshoosh, X. Du, S. M. Feldman, B. Taback, E. Connolly, K. D. Crew, M. A. Maurer & D. L. Hershman

  3. Department of Statistics, Columbia University, New York, USA

    T. Zheng

  4. Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, USA

    H. Hibshoosh

  5. Department of Surgery, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, USA

    S. M. Feldman & B. Taback

  6. Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, USA

    E. Connolly

  7. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, USA

    K. D. Crew & D. L. Hershman

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  1. K. Kalinsky
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  2. T. Zheng
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  3. H. Hibshoosh
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  4. X. Du
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Correspondence to K. Kalinsky.

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Kalinsky, K., Zheng, T., Hibshoosh, H. et al. Proteomic modulation in breast tumors after metformin exposure: results from a “window of opportunity” trial. Clin Transl Oncol 19, 180–188 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-016-1521-1

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