A trafficking regulatory subnetwork governs αβ integrin-HER2 cross-talk to control breast cancer invasion and drug resistance.

HER2 and αβ integrin are independent predictors of breast cancer survival and metastasis. We identify an αβ/HER2 cross-talk mechanism driving invasion, which is dysregulated in drug-resistant HER2+ breast cancer cells. Proteomic analyses reveal ligand-bound αβ recruits HER2 and a trafficking subnetwork, comprising guanosine triphosphatases RAB5 and RAB7A and the Rab regulator guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor 2 (GDI2).