title: herg1 gene and HERG1 protein are overexpressed in colorectal cancers and regulate cell invasion of tumor cells.
abstract: The acquisition of the capacity to invade surrounding tissues confers a more malignant phenotype to tumor cells and is necessary for the establishment of metastases. The understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying cell invasion in human solid tumors such as colorectal cancers could provide not only more sensitive prognostic analyses but also novel molecular targets for cancer therapy. We report in this article that K(+) ion channels belonging to the HERG family are important determinants for the acquisition of an invasive phenotype in colorectal cancers. The herg1 gene and HERG1 protein are expressed in many colon cancer cell lines, and the activity of HERG channels modulates colon cancer cell invasiveness. Moreover, the amount of HERG1 protein expressed on the plasma membrane is directly related to the invasive phenotype of colon cancer cells. Finally, both the herg1 gene and HERG1 protein were expressed in a high percentage of primary human colorectal cancers, with the highest incidence occurring in metastatic cancers, whereas no expression could be detected either in normal colonic mucosa or in adenomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pathology and Oncology, University of Firenze, Firenze, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lastraioli
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guasti
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Crociani
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Polvani
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Witchel
authors.forename: Lapo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bencini
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calistri
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Messerini
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scatizzi
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wanke
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olivotto
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mugnai
authors.forename: Annarosa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arcangeli
mesh_terms: D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D000072237:ERG1 Potassium Channel; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D015534:Trans-Activators; D000071230:Transcriptional Regulator ERG
chemical_list: D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C072312:ERG protein, human; D000072237:ERG1 Potassium Channel; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels; C000606913:KCNH2 protein, human; C092509:KCNH6 protein, human; D015221:Potassium Channels; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D015534:Trans-Activators; D000071230:Transcriptional Regulator ERG