OR09-06 HNRNPA2B1 Mediates Endocrine-Sensitivity and Alters PSAT1 in Breast Cancer Cells

Higher expression of the RNA binding protein HNRNPA2B1 (Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein A2/B1), a reader of the N(6)-methyladenosine (m6A) mark in transcribed RNA, is found in endocrine-resistant, estrogen receptor (ERα)+ LCC9 and LY2 breast cancer cells derived from MCF-7 endocrine-sensitive luminal A cells (1). HNRNPA2B1 interacts with DGCR8 in the DROSHA complex to promote processing of pri-miRNAs to pre-miRNAs. We identified HNRNPA2B1-regulated miRNAs by RNA seq and target pathways, including serine family amino acid metabolic processes, TGFβ signaling, response to estrogen, and cell junction by MetaCore enrichment pathway analysis (1). Stable 4.5-fold overexpression of HNRNPA2B1 in MCF-7 cells (MCF-7-A2B1 cells) results in ablation of growth inhibition by 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT) and fulvestrant. This was not due to loss or decrease of ERα; in fact, ERα was increased ~ 1.6-fold. Conversely, transient knockdown of HNRNPA2B1 expression in LCC9 and LY2 cells sensitized the cells to growth inhibition by 4-OHT and fulvestrant, without changing ESR1 expression. MCF-7-A2B1 cells showed increased migration, reduced E-cadherin and increased vimentin, suggestive of EMT; however, they exhibited reduced clonogenic survival. Follow-up on the identification of HNRNPA2B1-miRNA regulation of the serine pathway revealed higher expression of phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) and phosphoserine aminotransferase (PSAT1) transcripts and proteins in LCC9, LY2, and MCF-7-A2B1 compared to MCF-7 cells. We identified two miRNAs, miR-424-5p and miR-145-5p downregulated in MCF-7-A2B1 cells that directly targeted the PSAT1 3’UTR in dual luciferase assays. Lower miR-424-5p and miR-145-5p in endocrine-resistant LCC9 and LY2 correlate with increased PSAT1 and higher PSAT1 is associated with reduced overall and metastasis-free survival in breast cancer patients. Overall, our data suggest a role for increased HNRNPA2B1 in tamoxifen-resistance. Reference: (1) Klinge CM, Piell KM, Tooley CS, Rouchka EC. HNRNPA2/B1 is upregulated in endocrine-resistant LCC9 breast cancer cells and alters the miRNA transcriptome when overexpressed in MCF-7 cells. Sci. Rep. 2019; 9:9430.