Abstract 2031: A functional nuclear epidermal growth factor receptor, Src and Stat3 heteromeric complex in pancreatic cancer cells

Abstract

Abstract Pancreatic cancer is an extremely lethal malignancy whose prognosis has not improved appreciably in the last decade. The disease is usually diagnosed only after it has reached an advanced or metastatic state but even local, surgically resectable, tumors have a fairly poor prognosis. This is further complicated by the fact that little is known about the underlying mechanisms of pancreatic cancer, as evidenced by a lack of any efficacious targeted therapies. While hyperactive epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Src tyrosine kinase and Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (Stat)3 have been detected in pancreatic cancer and implicated in the disease, the exact mechanisms by which they promote the disease phenotype are not well understood. We present evidence of a functional heteromeric complex of EGFR, c-Src and Stat3 that is detected at the plasma membrane and cytoplasm, and inside the nucleus of pancreatic cancer cells. The inhibition of c-Src, but not EGFR kinase, reduced the level of nuclear EGFR levels. Furthermore, the inhibition of Src or EGFR kinase alone decreased nuclear Stat3 levels, while the greatest decrease occurred upon the combined inhibition of EGFR and Src kinase activities. Significantly, evidence shows that the nuclear EGFR, Src and Stat3 complex functions as a transcriptional complex. Thus, the siRNA knockdown of EGFR or Src, or the pharmacological inhibition of aberrant Stat3 activity only moderately decreased c-Myc, iNOS, and VEGF expression. By contrast, the knockdown of EGFR or Src together with the inhibition of Stat3 activity strongly suppressed c-Myc expression in Panc-1 and Colo-357 cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) studies further validated these findings and showed that the nuclear EGFR, Src, and Stat3 complex is bound to the c-Myc promoter. Taken together, these data identify a novel and functional heteromeric EGFR, Src, and Stat3 complex that promotes the induction of c-Myc in pancreatic cancer cells. Our study provides additional insight into the mechanisms by which hyperactive EGFR, Src and Stat3 pathway promotes the pancreatic cancer phenotype. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2031. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2031