Erdafitinib inhibits the tumorigenicity of MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cells by inducing TRIM25/ubiquitin-dependent degradation of FGFR4
By: Luo, Qing, Zhang, Li, Hao, Yue, Xu, Chunwei, Wang, Xiaojia, Jia, Zhen, Xie, Xiandong, Huang, Zhihong, Gao, Xiaomin, Chen, Yu, Zhu, Xue, Fang, Jing, Wang, Ke, Yin, Yongxiang

BioMed Central
2025-07-09; doi: 10.1186/s13058-025-02086-7

Abstract

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most malignant subtype of breast cancer (BC), characterized by limited treatment options and poor clinical outcomes. Aberrant FGFR signaling has been implicated in TNBC; however, the therapeutic potential of targeting FGFRs for TNBC treatment remains unclear. This study investigated the anti-cancer activity of the selective pan-FGFR inhibitor Erdafitinib and its underlying mechanisms using both in vitro and in vivo models. The results demonstrated that Erdafitinib suppressed TNBC tumorigenicity by promoting FGFR1/4 degradation, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), inducing DNA damage, and ultimately triggering cell death. Mechanistic analyses revealed that Erdafitinib facilitated FGFR1/4 degradation through ubiquitination, enhanced interaction between TRIM25 and FGFR1/4, and subsequent lysosomal degradation. Furthermore, RNA-seq data from the TCGA and GEO databases, along with paired tumor tissues from TNBC patients, indicated that FGFR4 was significantly upregulated in TNBC. Notably, co-knockdown of FGFR1 and FGFR4 induced cytotoxicity in MDA-MB-231 cells, highlighting the therapeutic relevance of FGFR1/4 degradation by Erdafitinib in TNBC. These findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer efficacy of Erdafitinib, supporting its potential as a promising therapeutic agent for TNBC.







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