Stromal Platelet–Derived Growth Factor Receptor-b Signaling Promotes Breast Cancer Metastasis in the Brain

Abstract

Platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta (PDGFRb) is a receptor tyrosine kinase found in cells of mesenchymal origin such as fibroblasts and pericytes. Activation of this receptor is dependent on paracrine ligand induction, and its preferred ligand PDGFB is released by neighboring epithelial and endothelial cells. While expression of both PDGFRb and PDGFB has been noted in patient breast tumors for decades, how PDGFB-to-PDGFRb tumor–stroma signaling mediates breast cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis remains unclear. Here we demonstrate this paracrine signaling pathway that mediates both primary tumor growth and metastasis, specifically, metastasis to the brain. Elevated levels of PDGFB accelerated orthotopic tumor growth and intracranial growth of mammary tumor cells, while mesenchymal-specific expression of an activating mutant PDGFRb (PDGFRbD849V) exerted proproliferative signals on adjacent mammary tumor cells. Stromal expression of PDGFRbD849V also promoted brain metastases of mammary tumor cells expressing high PDGFB when injected intravenously. In the brain, expression of PDGFRbD849V was observed within a subset of astrocytes, and aged mice expressing PDGFRbD849V exhibited reactive gliosis. Importantly, the PDGFR-specific inhibitor crenolanib significantly reduced intracranial growth of mammary tumor cells. In a tissue microarray comprised of 363 primary human breast tumors, high PDGFB protein expression was prognostic for brain metastases, but not metastases to other sites. Our results advocate the use of mice expressing PDGFRbD849V in their stromal cells as a preclinical model of breast cancer–associated brain metastases and support continued investigation into the clinical prognostic and therapeutic use of PDGFB-to-PDGFRb signaling in women with breast cancer. Significance: These studies reveal a previously unknown role for PDGFB-to-PDGFRb paracrine signaling in the promotion of breast cancer brain metastases and support the prognostic and therapeutic clinical utility of this pathway for patients.