title: TRAIL receptor upregulation and the implication of KRAS/BRAF mutations in human colon cancer tumors.
abstract: TRAIL raises hopes as a promising anti-tumor agent due to its selectivity toward cancer cells. Higher expression of its pro-death receptors TRAIL-R1 (DR4) and TRAIL-R2 (DR5) attenuates higher sensitivity to TRAIL-induced apoptosis, and represents a marker for better cancer prognosis and treatment. Since receptor availability can be analogous to ligand efficacy, we performed RT-PCR analysis of DR4 and DR5 in 51 colon cancer biopsy specimens and respective normal mucosa, while 11 of these tumors were determined immunohistochemically for protein expression. Transcriptional analysis showed that DR4 and DR5 were significantly upregulated in 37 and 47% of the tumor samples respectively, while both DR4 and DR5 were coinstantaneously upregulated in 31% of the samples analyzed. Positive transcriptional regulation of DRs was recorded as early as Dukes' A stage. Furthermore, protein expression analysis yielded results comparable to DR4 and DR5 increased mRNA levels. Possible contributing events to DR upregulation involve presence of frequent oncogenic mutations in the MAPK pathway, and was investigated by direct sequencing in all 51 tumors. Samples (6/8) hosting either a KRAS(G12V) or BRAF(V600E) mutation, significantly amplified the upregulated expression of DR4 and DR5, showing strong inter-relation between overexpression and presence of oncogenic KRAS/ BRAF mutations. In the light of recent data concerning TRAIL receptor distribution, we contribute further by presenting DR5 as the most frequently upregulated DR in colon cancer. Furthermore, oncogenic mutations may directly or indirectly enhance DR expression, potentially sensitizing these tumors to TRAIL-based therapies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Signal Mediated Gene Expression, Institute of Biological Research and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Eftychia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oikonomou
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kosmidou
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Katseli
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kothonidis
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mourtzoukou
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kontogeorgos
authors.forename: Ladislav
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Andera
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zografos
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pintzas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics*; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D053220:Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C117307:KRAS protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D053220:Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D018631:ras Proteins