LRP6 overexpression defines a class of breast cancer subtype and is a target for therapy.
The Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway is activated in breast cancer, a leading cause of cancer mortality in women. Because mutations in the key intracellular components of this pathway are rare, identifying the molecular mechanisms of aberrant Wnt activation in breast cancer is critical for development of pathway-targeted therapy. Here, we show that expression of the Wnt signaling coreceptor LRP6 is up-regulated in a subpopulation of human breast cancers. LRP6 silencing in breast cancer cells reduces Wnt signaling, cell proliferation, and in vivo tumor growth. In vivo administration of an LRP6 antagonist, Mesd, markedly suppressed growth of MMTV-Wnt1 tumors without causing undesirable side effects. These results demonstrate that Wnt activation at the cell surface contributes to breast cancer tumorigenesis. Together, our studies highlight LRP6 as a potential therapeutic target in breast cancer, and introduce Mesd as a promising antitumor agent for treating breast cancer subtypes with Wnt activation at the cell surface.
Liu
Chia-Chen
CC
Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Prior
Julie
J
Piwnica-Worms
David
D
Bu
Guojun
G
D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D006801:Humans; D026502:LDL-Receptor Related Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D060488:Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-6; D051379:Mice; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism
D026502:LDL-Receptor Related Proteins; C555475:LRP6 protein, human; D060488:Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-6; C555476:Lrp6 protein, mouse; C472170:MESD protein, mouse; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin