Constitutive activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 contributes to tumor growth, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor targeting

Clin Cancer Res. 2008 Dec 1;14(23):7682-90. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-08-1328.

Abstract

Purpose: Signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) is activated in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), where targeting of STAT5 inhibits tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. The role of STAT5 activation in carcinogenesis, tumor progression, and response to therapy remains incompletely understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of STAT5 activation on squamous epithelial carcinogenesis and response to therapy.

Experimental design: The functional consequences of STAT5 activation in squamous epithelial carcinogenesis were examined using cells derived from normal (Het-1A) and transformed mucosal epithelial cells engineered to express constitutive-active mutants of STAT5.

Results: The growth rate of stable clones derived from both normal and transformed squamous epithelial cells expressing the constitutive-active STAT5 was increased. In SCCHN xenografts, tumor volumes were increased in constitutive-active STAT5 mutant cells compared with vector-transfected controls. Constitutive activation of STAT5 significantly increased cell migration and invasion through Matrigel, as well as the transforming efficiency of SCCHN cells in vitro, as assessed by soft agar assays. The constitutive-active STAT5 clones derived from SCCHN cells showed changes consistent with an epithelial-mesenchymal transition including decreased expression of E-cadherin and increased vimentin in comparison with control transfectants. In these cells, STAT5 activation was associated with resistance to cisplatin-mediated apoptosis and growth inhibition induced by the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, erlotinib.

Conclusions: These results suggest that constitutive STAT5 signaling enhances tumor growth, invasion, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in squamous epithelial carcinogenesis and may contribute to resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor and chemotherapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology*
  • Cell Movement / physiology
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism*
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / physiology*
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • ErbB Receptors / drug effects
  • Female
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Oncogenes
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor
  • ErbB Receptors