The MMTV-Wnt1 murine model produces two phenotypically distinct subtypes of mammary tumors with unique therapeutic responses to an EGFR inhibitor

Abstract

The Wnt gene family is an evolutionarily conserved group of proteins that regulate cell growth, differentiation, and stem cell self-renewal. Aberrant Wnt signaling in human breast tumors has been proposed to be a driver of tumorigenesis, especially in the basal-like subtype where canonical Wnt signaling is both enriched and predictive of poor clinical outcomes. The development of effective Wnt based therapeutics, however, has been slowed in part by a limited understanding of the context dependent nature with which these aberrations influence breast tumorigenesis. We previously reported that MMTV-Wnt1 mice, which are an established model for studying Wnt signaling in breast tumors, develop two subtypes of tumors by gene expression classification: Wnt1-EarlyEx and Wnt1-LateEx. Here, we extend this initial observation significantly and show that Wnt1-EarlyEx tumors have high expression of canonical Wnt, non-canonical Wnt, and EGFR signaling pathway signatures. Therapeutically, Wnt1-EarlyEx tumors had a dynamic reduction in tumor volume when treated with an EGFR inhibitor. Wnt1-EarlyEx tumors also had primarily Cd49fpos/Epcamneg FACS profiles, but were unable to be serially transplanted into wild-type FVB female mice. Conversely, Wnt1-LateEx tumors had a bloody gross pathology, which was highlighted by the presence of ‘blood lakes’ by H&E staining. These tumors had primarily Cd49fpos/Epcampos FACS profiles, but also contained a secondary Cd49fpos/Epcamneg subpopulation. Wnt1-LateEx tumors were enriched for activating Hras1 mutations and were capable of reproducing tumors when serially transplanted into wild-type FVB female mice. This study definitely shows that the MMTV-Wnt1 mouse model produces two phenotypically distinct subtypes of mammary tumors that differ in multiple biological aspects including sensitivity to an EGFR inhibitor.