title: EGF- and cell-cycle-regulated STAG1/PMEPA1/ERG1.2 belongs to a conserved gene family and is overexpressed and amplified in breast and ovarian cancer.
abstract: The abnormal activation of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) pathway is one of the most common findings in human cancer, and a number of molecular devices of laboratory and clinical relevance have been designed to block this transduction pathway. Because of the large number of cellular events that might be regulated through the activation of the four EGF receptor family members, it is possible that screening methodologies for the identification of new molecular targets working downstream of these pathways may provide new tools for cancer diagnosis and potentially prevention and therapy. In searching for EGF target genes, we have identified ERG1.2, the mouse homolog of the solid tumor-associated gene STAG1. Both in humans and in mice, it belongs to a new gene family that can give origin to several protein isoforms through alternative splicing and/or multiple translation starts. Sequence analysis and experimental data suggest that ERG1.2 is likely to function as a membrane-bound protein interacting with downstream signaling molecules through WW- and SH3-binding domains. ERG1.2 is a cell-cycle-regulated gene, and both ERG1.2 and STAG1 are induced by EGF and other growth factors at the transcript and protein levels. Finally, we have demonstrated that, besides prostate cancer and renal cell carcinoma, STAG1 was also overexpressed in breast and ovarian cancer cell lines and in breast primary tumors. Although in most cases STAG1 overexpression is probably due to the abnormal activation of the EGF pathway, we have also demonstrated genetic amplification and rearrangement of its locus in one breast cancer cell line and one primary ovarian cancer, suggesting that STAG1 might be a direct molecular target in the carcinogenetic process. Thus its overexpression might be regarded not only as a tumor marker but also as a potentially pathogenetic event.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Pathology, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giannini
authors.forename: Maria Irene
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Ambrosini
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Marcotullio
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cerignoli
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zani
authors.forename: Andrew Ray
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: MacKay
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Screpanti
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frati
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gulino
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology*; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D006133:Growth Substances; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C412868:PMEPA1 protein, human; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; C108522:STAG1 protein, human; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors