title: PTEN-independent induction of caspase-mediated cell death and reduced invasion by the focal adhesion targeting domain (FAT) in human astrocytic brain tumors which highly express focal adhesion kinase (FAK).
abstract: Increased expression of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) was consistently observed in low- and high-grade astrocytomas and during glioblastoma progression after radiotherapy, but not in the more benign oligodendroglioma. In glioblastoma cell lines deficient for p53, p16(INK4A), and p14(ARF), FAK was inhibited in a dominant-negative manner by the focal adhesion targeting (FAT) domain, reducing invasion. In addition, caspase-3 activity was increased after serum withdrawal, or by cisplatin in the presence of serum, or upon loss of substrate attachment, and was in each case independent of PTEN status. Our results identify FAK as a potential target for anti-invasive strategies against infiltrating glioma cells.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Neuro-Oncology, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 21, 4031 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tolnay
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Merlo
mesh_terms: D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D051417:Focal Adhesion Kinase 1; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009837:Oligodendroglioma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
chemical_list: D005353:Fibronectins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D051417:Focal Adhesion Kinase 1; D051416:Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C496050:PTK2 protein, human; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C494929:PTEN protein, human; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases