HCRP-1 regulates EGFR-AKT-BIM-mediated anoikis resistance and serves as a prognostic marker in human colon cancer

Cell Death Dis. 2018 Dec 5;9(12):1176. doi: 10.1038/s41419-018-1217-2.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma-related protein-1 (HCRP-1), a subunit of mammalian endosomal sorting complex required for transport-I (ESCRT-I), is frequently downregulated in various kinds of malignant tumors. The role of HCRP-1 in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unknown. We investigate the clinical value of HCRP-1 and its impact on anoikis in CRC. The negative expression of HCRP-1 was significantly correlated with tumor size (P = 0.033), PT status (P = 0.001), TNM stage (P = 0.039), and histological grade (P = 0.01). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that HCRP-1 was an independent prognostic factor for CRC (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.237, P < 0.001 for 5-year overall survival). In the in vitro assay, we found that HCRP-1 depletion resulted in cell anoikis resistance. Knockdown of HCRP-1 suppressed Bcl-2 interacting mediator of cell death (BIM) expression, with phosphorylation of AKT and p-FoxO3a, which was reversed by AKT siRNA or AKT inhibitor. Further analysis showed that loss of HCRP-1 obviously increased the activation of EGFR. Inhibition of EGFR blocked si-HCRP1-mediated phosphorylation of EGFR, AKT, FoxO3a, and BIM expression. Moreover, the in vivo results revealed that loss of HCRP-1 promoted cancer metastasis. Our findings implied that reduced HCRP-1 expression in CRC resulted in anoikis resistance and contributed to CRC metastasis and poor prognosis. These data may help design effective therapy targeting HCRP-1 pathway to control colon cancer growth and metastasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Animals
  • Anoikis / genetics
  • Bcl-2-Like Protein 11 / genetics*
  • Bcl-2-Like Protein 11 / metabolism
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cohort Studies
  • Colonic Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Colonic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colonic Neoplasms / mortality
  • Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport / genetics*
  • Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport / metabolism
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Female
  • Forkhead Box Protein O3 / genetics
  • Forkhead Box Protein O3 / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Grading
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prognosis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Survival Analysis
  • Tumor Burden
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Bcl-2-Like Protein 11
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport
  • FOXO3 protein, human
  • Forkhead Box Protein O3
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • VPS37A protein, human
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt