Epidermal growth factor receptor variant III-induced glioma invasion is mediated through myristoylated alanine-rich protein kinase C substrate overexpression

Cancer Res. 2009 Oct 1;69(19):7548-56. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-08-4783. Epub 2009 Sep 22.

Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and most malignant adult brain tumor. A characteristic of GBM is their highly invasive nature, making complete surgical resection impossible. The most common gain-of-function alteration in GBM is amplification, overexpression, and mutations of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The constitutively activated mutant EGFR variant III (EGFRvIII), found in approximately 20% of GBM, confers proliferative and invasive advantage. The signaling cascades downstream of aberrant EGFR activation contributing to the invasive phenotype are not completely understood. Here, we show myristoylated alanine-rich protein kinase C substrate (MARCKS), previously implicated in cell adhesion and motility, contributes to EGFR-mediated invasion of human GBM cells. EGFRvIII-expressing or EGF-stimulated human GBM cells increased expression, phosphorylation, and cytosolic translocation of MARCKS in a protein kinase C-alpha-dependent manner. Down-regulation of MARCKS expression with small interfering RNA in GBM cells expressing EGFRvIII led to decreased cell adhesion, spreading, and invasion. Elucidation of mechanisms that promote EGFRvIII-mediated tumorigenesis in GBM, such as MARCKS, provides additional understanding and potential biological targets against this currently terminal human cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Neoplasms / enzymology*
  • Brain Neoplasms / genetics
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / pharmacology
  • ErbB Receptors / biosynthesis
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism*
  • Glioblastoma / enzymology*
  • Glioblastoma / genetics
  • Glioblastoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Myristoylated Alanine-Rich C Kinase Substrate
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Protein Kinase C-alpha / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • MARCKS protein, human
  • Marcks protein, mouse
  • Membrane Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • epidermal growth factor receptor VIII
  • Myristoylated Alanine-Rich C Kinase Substrate
  • Epidermal Growth Factor
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Protein Kinase C-alpha