A novel EGFR isoform confers increased invasiveness to cancer cells.

As a validated therapeutic target in several human cancers, the EGF receptor (EGFR) provides a focus to gain deeper insights into cancer pathophysiology. In this study, we report the identification of a naturally occurring and widely expressed EGFR isoform termed EGFRvA, which substitutes a Ser/Thr-rich peptide for part of the ...
carboxyl-terminal regulatory domain of the receptor. Intriguingly, EGFRvA expression relates more closely to histopathologic grade and poor prognosis in patients with glioma. Ectopic expression of EGFRvA in cancer cells conferred a higher invasive capacity than EGFR in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, EGFRvA stimulated expression of STAT3, which upregulated heparin-binding EGF (HB-EGF). Reciprocally, HB-EGF stimulated phosphorylation of EGFRvA at Y845 along with STAT3, generating a positive feedback loop that may reinforce invasive function. The significance of EGFRvA expression was reinforced by findings that it is attenuated by miR-542-5p, a microRNA that is a known tumor suppressor. Taken together, our findings define this newfound EGFR isoform as a key theranostic molecule.
Mesh Terms:
Animals, Cell Movement, ErbB Receptors, HEK293 Cells, Humans, Mice, NIH 3T3 Cells, Neoplasm Invasiveness, Neoplasms, Prognosis, Protein Isoforms, STAT3 Transcription Factor, Signal Transduction, Survival Analysis, Tumor Cells, Cultured
Cancer Res.
Date: Dec. 01, 2013
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