Abstract Patients with hormone receptor-positive/HER2-positive (HR+/HER2+) breast cancer represent a historically underrecognized subgroup demonstrating poor response to combined endocrine and HER2-targeted therapies. Here, using single-cell transcriptomic and epigenomic sequencing of ER+/HER2+ models, we identified BRD8, an acetyl-lysine reader in the EP400 histone acetyltransferase complex, as a critical mediator of ER/HER2 signaling crosstalk. BRD8 expression rapidly increased following anti-HER2 treatment, while its depletion disrupted ER-HER2 interaction and enhanced drug sensitivity. Single-nucleus ATAC-sequencing revealed that chromatin regions opening after anti-HER2 treatment were enriched for ER, FOX, and ETS transcription factor motifs, coinciding with BRD8-dependent gene activation through EP400-mediated H2AZac deposition. BRD8 regulated ER-dependent and independent growth pathways, and depletion of BRD8 abolished neratinib-induced ER activation and restored drug sensitivity in resistant cells. A 3-gene BRD8 signature successfully predicted anti-HER2 therapy response in two human clinical trials. Together, these findings establish BRD8 as both a predictive biomarker for anti-HER2 response and a therapeutic target to overcome resistance in HR+/HER2+ breast cancer.
Gao et al. (Thu,) studied this question.