E-cadherin repression contributes to c-Myc-induced epithelial cell transformation.
c-Myc oncoprotein is overexpressed in a significant proportion of human epithelial cancers, and experimental overexpression of c-Myc in epithelial cells promotes tumour formation. However, it is not known how c-Myc promotes epithelial cell tumour formation. We report that c-Myc expression in human mammary epithelial cells induces a dramatic change in cell morphology, with some characteristics of an 'epithelial to mesenchymal transition'. E-cadherin expression is repressed by a post-transcriptional mechanism in cells expressing c-Myc. Furthermore, E-cadherin repression is necessary for c-Myc-induced cell transformation.
Cowling
V H
VH
Department of Pharmacology, Dartmouth Medical School, Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA.
Cole
M D
MD
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000473:pathology; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D015820:Cadherins; C489427:MYC protein, human; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc