Mutant KRAS promotes liver metastasis of colorectal cancer, in part, by upregulating the MEK-Sp1-DNMT1-miR-137-YB-1-IGF-IR signaling pathway

Oncogene. 2018 Jun;37(25):3440-3455. doi: 10.1038/s41388-018-0222-3. Epub 2018 Mar 21.

Abstract

Although the role of insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) in promoting colorectal liver metastasis is known, the mechanism by which IGF-IR is upregulated in colorectal cancer (CRC) is not defined. In this study, we obtained evidence that mutant KRAS transcriptionally activates IGF-IR gene expression through Y-box-binding protein (YB)-1 upregulation via a novel MEK-Sp1-DNMT1-miR-137 pathway in CRC cells. The mechanistic link between the tumor suppressive miR-137 and the translational regulation of YB-1 is intriguing because epigenetic silencing of miR-137 represents an early event in colorectal carcinogenesis due to promoter hypermethylation. This proposed signaling axis was further verified by the immunohistochemical evaluations of liver metastases from a cohort of 46 KRAS mutant CRC patients, which showed a significant correlation in the expression levels among Sp1, miR-137, YB-1, and IGF-1R. Moreover, suppression of the expression of YB-1 and IGF-IR via genetic knockdown or the pharmacological inhibition of MEK hampers KRAS-driven colorectal liver metastasis in our animal model studies. From a translational perspective, the identification of this KRAS-driven pathway might provide a mechanistic rationale for the use of a MEK inhibitor as an adjuvant, in combination with standard of care, to prevent the recurrence of colorectal liver metastasis in KRAS mutant CRC patients after receiving liver resection, which warrants further investigation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1 / genetics
  • DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1 / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / genetics
  • Liver Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary*
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 1 / genetics
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 1 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Mutation*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / genetics*
  • Sp1 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • Sp1 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
  • Y-Box-Binding Protein 1 / genetics
  • Y-Box-Binding Protein 1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • KRAS protein, human
  • MIRN137 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • Sp1 Transcription Factor
  • SP1 protein, human
  • Y-Box-Binding Protein 1
  • YBX1 protein, human
  • DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1
  • DNMT1 protein, human
  • MAP Kinase Kinase 1
  • MAP2K1 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)