title: Colorectal tumors are effectively eradicated by combined inhibition of {beta}-catenin, KRAS, and the oncogenic transcription factor ITF2.
abstract: Colorectal carcinomas (CRC) harbor well-defined genetic abnormalities, including aberrant activation of β-catenin (β-cat) and KRAS, but independent targeting of these molecules seems to have limited therapeutic effect. In this study, we report therapeutic effects of combined targeting of different oncogenes in CRC. Inducible short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated silencing of β-cat, ITF2, or KRAS decreased proliferation by 88%, 72%, and 45%, respectively, with no significant apoptosis in any case. In contrast, combined blockade of β-cat and ITF2 inhibited proliferation by 99% with massive apoptosis. Similar effects occurred after combined shRNA against β-cat and KRAS. In vivo, single oncogene blockade inhibited the growth of established tumors by up to 30%, whereas dual β-cat and ITF2 targeting caused 93% inhibition. Similar tumor growth suppression was achieved by double β-cat/KRAS shRNA in vivo. Our findings illustrate an effective therapeutic principle in CRC based on a combination targeting strategy that includes the ITF2 oncogene, which represents a novel therapeutic target.
authors.affiliation: University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy; McGill University, Montreal, Canada; and National Cancer Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mologni
authors.forename: Hafedh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dekhil
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ceccon
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Purgante
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cleris
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Magistroni
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Formelli
authors.forename: Carlo B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Gambacorti-Passerini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D051778:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D045325:HCT116 Cells; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000073940:Transcription Factor 4; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051778:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; C495267:CTNNB1 protein, mouse; C117307:KRAS protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C532096:TCF4 protein, human; D000073940:Transcription Factor 4; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051176:beta Catenin; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D018631:ras Proteins; D004318:Doxycycline