RNA interference screening identifies a novel role for PCTK1/CDK16 in medulloblastoma with c-Myc amplification

Oncotarget. 2015 Jan 1;6(1):116-29. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.2699.

Abstract

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor in children and is associated with a poor outcome. cMYC amplification characterizes a subgroup of MB with very poor prognosis. However, there exist so far no targeted therapies for the subgroup of MB with cMYC amplification. Here we used kinome-wide RNA interference screening to identify novel kinases that may be targeted to inhibit the proliferation of c-Myc-overexpressing MB. The RNAi screen identified a set of 5 genes that could be targeted to selectively impair the proliferation of c-Myc-overexpressing MB cell lines: AKAP12 (A-kinase anchor protein), CSNK1α1 (casein kinase 1, alpha 1), EPHA7 (EPH receptor A7) and PCTK1 (PCTAIRE protein kinase 1). When using RNAi and a pharmacological inhibitor selective for PCTK1, we could show that this kinase plays a crucial role in the proliferation of MB cell lines and the activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. In addition, pharmacological PCTK1 inhibition reduced the expression levels of c-Myc. Finally, targeting PCTK1 selectively impaired the tumor growth of c-Myc-overexpressing MB cells in vivo. Together our data uncover a novel and crucial role for PCTK1 in the proliferation and survival of MB characterized by cMYC amplification.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / genetics
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Chick Embryo
  • Chorioallantoic Membrane / metabolism
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Medulloblastoma / genetics
  • Medulloblastoma / metabolism*
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism*
  • RNA Interference*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases
  • PCTAIRE-1 protein kinase