title: De-repression of the RAC activator ELMO1 in cancer stem cells drives progression of TGFβ-deficient squamous cell carcinoma from transition zones.
abstract: Squamous cell carcinomas occurring at transition zones are highly malignant tumors with poor prognosis. The identity of the cell population and the signaling pathways involved in the progression of transition zone squamous cell carcinoma are poorly understood, hence representing limited options for targeted therapies. Here, we identify a highly tumorigenic cancer stem cell population in a mouse model of transitional epithelial carcinoma and uncover a novel mechanism by which loss of TGFβ receptor II (Tgfbr2) mediates invasion and metastasis through de-repression of ELMO1, a RAC-activating guanine exchange factor, specifically in cancer stem cells of transition zone tumors. We identify ELMO1 as a novel target of TGFβ signaling and show that restoration ofTgfbr2results in a complete block of ELMO1 in vivo. Knocking downElmo1impairs metastasis of carcinoma cells to the lung, thereby providing insights into the mechanisms of progression ofTgfbr2-deficient invasive transition zone squamous cell carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, United States.
authors.forename: Heather A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6834-4091
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: McCauley
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Inserm, U1068, F-13009, CNRS, UMR7258, F-13009, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, F-13009, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, F-13284, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chevrier
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Inserm, U1068, F-13009, CNRS, UMR7258, F-13009, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, F-13009, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, F-13284, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Birnbaum
authors.affiliation: Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, United States.|Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille (CRCM), Inserm, U1068, F-13009, CNRS, UMR7258, F-13009, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, F-13009, Aix-Marseille University, UM 105, F-13284, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Géraldine
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7362-9318
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guasch
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002465:Cell Movement; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D051379:Mice; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000172:deficiency*; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000172:deficiency*
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; C510359:ELMO1 protein, mouse; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II
keywords: TGFbeta signaling; cancer biology; cancer stem cells; developmental biology; mouse; squamous cell carcinoma; stem cells; transition zones