Metastasis Suppressor Gene For Prostate Cancer Research Articles

Calpain-2 triggers prostate cancer metastasis via enhancing CRMP4 promoter methylation through NF-κB/DNMT1 signaling pathway.

Metastasis is the major cause of cancer-specific death in patients with prostate cancer (PCa). We previously reported that collapsing response mediator protein-4 (CRMP4) is a PCa metastasis-suppressor gene and the hypermethylation in CRMP4 promoter is responsible for the transcription repression in metastatic PCa. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of calpain-2 in CRMP4 promoter hypermethylation and its functional modulation in PCa metastasis. Calpain-2 expression in PCa tissues (n = 87) and its specific mechanisms of functional modulation in CRMP4 expression via limited enzymatic cleavage was investigated. We then focused on the cooperative crosstalk of calpain-2 and NF-κB RelA/p65 in CRMP4 promoter methylation for the initiation of PCa metastasis. Statistical differences between groups were determined using a two-tailed Student's t-test. P < 0.05 indicated statistically significant. Calpain-2 was differentially upregulated in metastatic PCa compared with localized PCa. Moreover, calpain-2 cleaved CRMP4 into the N-terminally fragment which promoted migration and invasion in PCa cells via nuclear translocation and activation of E2F1-mediated DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) expression. NF-κB RelA/p65 recruited DNMT1 to bind to and methylate CRMP4 promoter in which Serine276 phosphorylation of p65 was essential. Furthermore, CRMP4 exhibited anti-metastatic function via inhibiting the expression of VEGFC through Semaphorin3B-Neuropilin2 signaling. Calpain-2 may contribute to the promoter methylation of CRMP4 to repress its transcription, leading to the metastasis of PCa via enhancing VEGFC expression.

Upregulation of CRMP4, a new prostate cancer metastasis suppressor gene, inhibits tumor growth in a nude mouse intratibial injection model

Prostate cancer, the most commonly diagnosed male cancer in North America, has a high incidence of bone metastasis. Our previous study showed collapsin response mediator protein 4 (CRMP4) gene inhibited prostate cancer migration and invasion. In this study, we investigated whether overexpression of CRMP4 gene in prostate cancer cells inhibit tumor bone metastasis. The stable prostate cancer cells overexpressing the CRMP4 gene were constructed using lentivirus infection. Prostate cancer bone metastasis nude mouse model was built though orthotopic prostate implantation, intracardiac injection and intratibial injection with CRMP4 overexpress and control cancer cells. Small animal PET/CT scanning results showed no difference of bone metastatic capacity in orthotopic and intracardiac injection models between CRMP4 overexpression and control group, while CRMP4 overexpression inhibited tumor growth in the intratibial injection model. Moreover, our invitro study showed CRMP4 overexpression downregulates the Neuropilin1 (NRP1) expression and upregulate the Noggin expression. Immunohistochemical staining of the hind limbs of intratibial injection model was confirmed with cytological experiments. Taken together, our research indicated CRMP4 inhibits prostate cancer cells growth in the nude mouse bone microenvironment and this effect may relate with regulation of NRP1 and Noggin expression.

Identification of cetrimonium bromide and irinotecan as compounds with synthetic lethality against NDRG1 deficient prostate cancer cells

The N-myc downstream regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) has been identified as a metastasis-suppressor gene in prostate cancer (PCa). Compounds targeting PCa cells deficient in NDRG1 could potentially decrease invasion/metastasis of PCa. A cell based screening strategy was employed to identify small molecules that selectively target NDRG1 deficient PCa cells. DU-145 PCa cells rendered deficient in NDRG1 expression by a lentiviral shRNA-mediated knockdown strategy were used in the primary screen. Compounds filtered from the primary screen were further validated through proliferation and clonogenic survival assays in parental and NDRG1 knockdown PCa cells. Screening of 3360 compounds revealed irinotecan and cetrimonium bromide (CTAB) as compounds that exhibited synthetic lethality against NDRG1 deficient PCa cells. A three-dimensional (3-D) invasion assay was utilized to test the ability of CTAB to inhibit invasion of DU-145 cells. CTAB was found to remarkably decrease invasion of DU-145 cells in collagen matrix. Our results suggest that CTAB and irinotecan could be further explored for their potential clinical benefit in patients with NDRG1 deficient PCa.

KAI1 suppresses HIF-1α and VEGF expression by blocking CDCP1-enhanced Src activation in prostate cancer

BackgroundKAI1 was initially identified as a metastasis-suppressor gene in prostate cancer. It is a member of the tetraspan transmembrane superfamily (TM4SF) of membrane glycoproteins. As part of a tetraspanin-enriched microdomain (TEM), KAI1 inhibits tumor metastasis by negative regulation of Src. However, the underlying regulatory mechanism has not yet been fully elucidated. CUB-domain-containing protein 1 (CDCP1), which was previously known as tetraspanin-interacting protein in TEM, promoted metastasis via enhancement of Src activity. To better understand how KAI1 is involved in the negative regulation of Src, we here examined the function of KAI1 in CDCP1-mediated Src kinase activation and the consequences of this process, focusing on HIF-1 α and VEGF expression.MethodsWe used the human prostate cancer cell line PC3 which was devoid of KAI1 expression. Vector-transfected cells (PC3-GFP clone #8) and KAI1-expressing PC3 clones (PC3-KAI1 clone #5 and #6) were picked after stable transfection with KAI1 cDNA and selection in 800 μg/ml G418. Protein levels were assessed by immunoblotting and VEGF reporter gene activity was measured by assaying luciferase activitiy. We followed tumor growth in vivo and immunohistochemistry was performed for detection of HIF-1, CDCP1, and VHL protein level.ResultsWe demonstrated that Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and VEGF expression were significantly inhibited by restoration of KAI1 in PC3 cells. In response to KAI1 expression, CDCP1-enhanced Src activation was down-regulated and the level of von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) protein was significantly increased. In an in vivo xenograft model, KAI1 inhibited the expression of CDCP1 and HIF-1α.ConclusionsThese novel observations may indicate that KAI1 exerts profound metastasis-suppressor activity in the tumor malignancy process via inhibition of CDCP1-mediated Src activation, followed by VHL-induced HIF-1α degradation and, ultimately, decreased VEGF expression.

Interaction of KAI1 on tumor cells with DARC on vascular endothelium leads to metastasis suppression

CD82, also known as KAI1, was recently identified as a prostate cancer metastasis suppressor gene on human chromosome 11p1.2 (ref. 1). The product of CD82 is KAI1, a 40- to 75-kDa tetraspanin cell-surface protein also known as the leukocyte cell-surface marker CD82 (refs. 1,2). Downregulation of KAI1 has been found to be clinically associated with metastatic progression in a variety of cancers, whereas overexpression of CD82 specifically suppresses tumor metastasis in various animal models. To define the mechanism of action of KAI1, we used a yeast two-hybrid screen and identified an endothelial cell-surface protein, DARC (also known as gp-Fy), as an interacting partner of KAI1. Our results indicate that the cancer cells expressing KAI1 attach to vascular endothelial cells through direct interaction between KAI1 and DARC, and that this interaction leads to inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and induction of senescence by modulating the expression of TBX2 and p21. Furthermore, the metastasis-suppression activity of KAI1 was significantly compromised in DARC knockout mice, whereas KAI1 completely abrogated pulmonary metastasis in wild-type and heterozygous littermates. These results provide direct evidence that DARC is essential for the function of CD82 as a suppressor of metastasis.

Suppression of Metastatic Colonization by the Context-Dependent Activation of the c-Jun NH2-Terminal Kinase Kinases JNKK1/MKK4 and MKK7

Advances in clinical, translational, and basic studies of metastasis have identified molecular changes associated with specific facets of the metastatic process. Studies of metastasis suppressor gene function are providing a critical mechanistic link between signaling cascades and biological outcomes. We have previously identified c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) kinase 1/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase 4 (JNKK1/MKK4) as a prostate cancer metastasis suppressor gene. The JNKK1/MKK4 protein is a dual-specificity kinase that has been shown to phosphorylate and activate the JNK and p38 MAPKs in response to a variety of extracellular stimuli. In this current study, we show that the kinase activity of JNKK1/MKK4 is required for suppression of overt metastases and is sufficient to prolong animal survival in the AT6.1 model of spontaneous metastasis. Ectopic expression of the JNK-specific kinase MKK7 suppresses the formation of overt metastases, whereas the p38-specific kinase MKK6 has no effect. In vivo studies show that both JNKK1/MKK4 and MKK7 suppress the formation of overt metastases by inhibiting the ability of disseminated cells to colonize the lung (secondary site). Finally, we show that JNKK1/MKK4 and MKK7 from disseminated tumor cells are active in the lung but not in the primary tumor, providing a biochemical explanation for why their expression specifically suppressed metastasis while exerting no effect on the primary tumor. Taken together, these studies contribute to a mechanistic understanding of the context-dependent function of metastasis regulatory proteins.

CD82, and CD63 in thyroid cancer.

CD82 (KAI1) and CD63 (ME491) are highly glycosylated proteins which belong to the transmembrane 4 superfamily (TM4SF). CD82 has been implicated as a possible prostate cancer metastasis suppressor gene, whereas CD63 is involved in the progression of human melanoma cancer. Down-regulation of both CD82 and CD63 expression has been associated with the metastatic potential of several solid tumors. Currently, information is lacking on the role of CD82 and CD63 during thyroid carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine whether the expression of CD82 and CD63 is a useful prognostic indicator in patients with thyroid carcinoma. The expression of CD82 and CD63 was analysed by reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry in benign goiter (n=12) and 75 primary thyroid carcinoma tissue specimens (PTC: 33, FTC: 24, UTC: 18) out of which 36 were non-metastasized primary tumors and 39 were metastasized tumors (regional lymph node and/or distant metastases). All of the benign goiter tissues showed CD82 expression. By contrast, a significant decrease in CD82 mRNA and protein levels was detected in carcinoma tissues as compared to benign goiter tissues (p<0.001). A similar down-regulation was observed in metastasized tumor tissues when compared with non-metastasized tumors (all p<0.05). CD82 expression was correlated with pTNM status of differentiated and undifferentiated thyroid tumor and the pathologic stage of differentiated thyroid tumor. In contrast to CD82, CD63 mRNA and protein expression was unchanged in all thyroid carcinomas. Benign goiter tissues showed weak expression of CD63. There were no significant correlation between CD63 mRNA/protein expression and any clinical/pathological parameters. Our results support the hypothesis that down-regulation of CD82 expression may reflect an increased in vivo metastatic potential of thyroid cancer cells. CD82 may serve as a prognostic marker of metastasis in thyroid cancer. Constitutive expression of CD63 may indicate that this factor does not play a direct role in thyroid carcinogenesis.

Feasibility of assessment of promoter methylation of the CD44 gene in serum of prostate cancer patients.

CD44 is an important metastasis-suppressor gene in prostate cancer. Downregulation of the CD44 gene is attributed to transcription repression by methylation of CpG islands in the promoter region. The feasibility of CD44 promoter methylation measurement as a diagnostic tool was assessed in the serum of patients with cancer of the prostate (CAP). Seven serum samples of patients with CAP were investigated for CD44 promoter methylation by methylation-specific PCR. Three patients had proven metastatic disease, and four were free of metastases. Tissues from a variety of normal epithelia were assessed as well. Methylation of the CD44 promoter was readily detectable in all serum samples, although no distinction could be made between patients with and those without metastatic disease on the basis of the signal intensity of methylation-specific PCR products. Remarkably, tissue specimens from different normal epithelia, especially those of the colon and rectum, repeatedly showed aberrant methylation of the promoter region of CD44. In the serum of CAP patients, assessment of the methylation status of CpG islands in the promoter region of the CD44 gene is feasible using methylation-specific PCR. However, because of physiologic promoter methylation in normal tissues, including the colorectal mucosa, assessment of methylation of tumor-derived DNA in the serum of cancer patients lacks tissue specificity and seems not to be applicable in clinical settings.

KAI1, a prostate metastasis suppressor: prediction of solvated structure and interactions with binding partners; integrins, cadherins, and cell-surface receptor proteins.

The solution structure of the transmembrane-4 superfamily protein KAI1, a recently identified prostate cancer metastasis suppressor gene that encodes a 267-amino acid protein, was modeled. The structure of this four-helical transmembrane protein was developed by defining and modeling sections individually. A complete three-dimensional structure for the solvated protein was developed by combining the individually modeled sections. The four-helix transmembrane bundle structure was predicted combining information from several methods including Fourier transform analysis of residue variability for helix orientation. The structure of the KAI1 large extracellular domain was modeled based on the solved crystal structure of the extracellular domain of another tetraspanin superfamily protein member, CD81 (hepatitis C virus envelope E2 glycoprotein receptor). This is a novel protein fold consisting of five alpha helices held together by two disulfide bonds for which the CD81 protein is the first solved representative. Molecular dynamics studies were performed to test stability and to relax the total model KAI1 structure's solution. The resulting KAI1 structural model should be a useful tool for predicting modes of self-association and associations with other TM4SF proteins, integrins, cadherins, and other KAI1 binding partners. Mutations for probing the interactions of KAI1 with antibodies and with other binding partners are suggested. Published 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Expression of the prostate cancer metastasis suppressor gene KAI1 in primary prostate cancers: a biphasic relationship with tumour grade.

The KAI1 gene, isolated from human chromosome 11p11.2, has been implicated as a prostate cancer metastasis suppressor gene. Recent studies have demonstrated that the expression of KAI1 protein is reduced in metastases of human prostate cancers and is inversely correlated with tumour grade. The objectives of the present work were to determine whether alterations of KAI1 at a genetic level in localized prostate cancers correlate with degrees of differentiation. This paper reports the application of semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Southern analysis to two different regions of the KAI1 gene on 35 microdissected primary prostate cancer specimens and demonstrates a biphasic pattern of KAI1 expression according to histological grade. KAI1 mRNA, relative to the housekeeping gene beta -actin, was elevated in low-grade primary prostate cancer (2.7+/-0.4) compared with non-malignant (hyperplastic) prostatic tisues (0.92+/-0.02, p< 0.05), yet reduced in high-grade primary cancers (0.61+/-0.11, p< 0. 05). These data demonstrate, for the first time, that KAI1 is biphasically expressed in primary prostate cancers and suggest that hyperexpression of KAI1 in low-grade prostate cancer may be associated with restraint of tumour progression, whereas a relative decrease in KAI1 gene expression may accompany more aggressive cancers through loss of such restraint. This differential expression of the metastasis suppressor gene KAI1 in primary prostate cancers may have important prognostic implications for the development of subsequent metastases. Should the level of KAI1 in primary prostate cancer be correlated with patient outcome such information may, in the future, enable more intensive adjuvant therapy to be directed to those patients identified to be at greatest risk of metastasis.