N-cadherin and keratinocyte growth factor receptor mediate the functional interplay between Ki-RASG12V and p53V143A in promoting pancreatic cell migration, invasion, and tissue architecture disruption.
The genetic basis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, which constitutes the most common type of pancreatic malignancy, involves the sequential activation of oncogenes and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. Among the pivotal genetic alterations are Ki-RAS oncogene activation and p53 tumor suppressor gene inactivation. We explain that the combination of these genetic events facilitates pancreatic carcinogenesis as revealed in novel three-dimensional cell (spheroid cyst) culture and in vivo subcutaneous and orthotopic xenotransplantation models. N-cadherin, a member of the classic cadherins important in the regulation of cell-cell adhesion, is induced in the presence of Ki-RAS mutation but subsequently downregulated with the acquisition of p53 mutation as revealed by gene microarrays and corroborated by reverse transcription-PCR and Western blotting. N-cadherin modulates the capacity of pancreatic ductal cells to migrate and invade, in part via complex formation with keratinocyte growth factor receptor and neural cell adhesion molecule and in part via interaction with p120-catenin. However, modulation of these complexes by Ki-RAS and p53 leads to enhanced cell migration and invasion. This preferentially induces the downstream effector AKT over mitogen-activated protein kinase to execute changes in cellular behavior. Thus, we are able to define molecules that in part are directly affected by Ki-RAS and p53 during pancreatic ductal carcinogenesis, and this provides a platform for potential new molecularly based therapeutic interventions.
Deramaudt
Therese B
TB
Gastroenterology Division, University of Pennsylvania, 415 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2144, USA.
Takaoka
Munenori
M
Upadhyay
Rabi
R
Bowser
Mark J
MJ
Porter
Jess
J
Lee
Amy
A
Rhoades
Ben
B
Johnstone
Cameron N
CN
Weissleder
Ralph
R
Hingorani
Sunil R
SR
Mahmood
Umar
U
Rustgi
Anil K
AK
D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000473:pathology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002465:Cell Movement; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D003560:Cysts / Q000473:pathology; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D015689:Oncogene Protein p21(ras) / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology*; D011485:Protein Binding; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D051497:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D015820:Cadherins; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051497:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 2; C065104:keratinocyte growth factor receptor; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D015689:Oncogene Protein p21(ras)