Divergent BRAF Inhibitor Resistance Mechanisms Revealed through Epigenetic Mapping

In this report, we generated eight matched pairs of vemurafenib sensitive/resistant melanoma lines and subjected these to concurrent RNA-seq and H3K27Ac ChIP-seq analysis. Globally, we identified two classes of epigenetic profiles that correlate with resistance. Class 1 resistance involves fewer RNA expression alterations accompanied by fewer enhancer mark changes with H3K27Ac. Class 2 resistance shows widespread alterations in transcription and enhancer profiles, which converge on EMT and hypoxia-related pathways. We also observed significant and dynamic changes in super-enhancers that underpin these transcriptomic patterns. We subsequently verified the 2-class structure in pre-BRAFi and post-relapse human melanoma specimens. Our findings reveal a broad and underappreciated spectrum of epigenetic plasticity during acquired BRAFi resistance. Eight pairs of melanoma cell lines were subjected to RNAseq and ChIPseq.