Abstract 1536: Characterization of tumor cell lines selected for resistance to the HDM2 antagonist Nutlin-3a

The tumor suppressor p53 is activated in response to various cellular stress signals including DNA damage and oncogene activation. Activated p53 regulates the expression of multiple downstream target genes involved in cell cycle control, cell death and senescence. Dysfunction of the p53 pathway is the most frequent alteration in human cancers. HDM2 protein binds directly to p53 and acts as a major negative regulator of the p53 function. Nutlin-3a is an antagonist of the HDM2-p53 protein-protein interaction and restores p53 pathway function in tumors with wild-type p53. Nutlin-3a demonstrates anti-tumor activity both in vitro and in vivo. Emergence of resistance is frequently observed with many anti-cancer therapeutics. The goal of the current studies is to understand the mechanism of resistance to Nutlin-3a. Cancer cell lines were treated with Nutlin-3a for an extended period and resistant clones were isolated. We found using molecular profiling studies that the emergence of Nutlin resistance is primarily due to the inactivation of the p53 signaling pathway through either mutation of the p53 gene or loss of p53 protein expression. These Nutlin-resistant cells are also resistant to others antagonists of the HDM2-p53 protein-protein interaction. These results suggest that, following chronic treatment, resistance to HDM2 antagonists may occur in the clinic. It will be important to combine HDM2 antagonists with other anti-cancer drugs early on during the treatment cycle in order to minimize the emergence of resistance. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1536.