'MCC' protein interacts with E-cadherin and β-catenin strengthening cell-cell adhesion of HCT116 colon cancer cells

Oncogene. 2018 Feb 1;37(5):663-672. doi: 10.1038/onc.2017.362. Epub 2017 Oct 16.

Abstract

E-cadherin and β-catenin are key proteins that are essential in the formation of the epithelial cell layer in the colon but their regulatory pathways that are disrupted in cancer metastasis are not completely understood. Mutated in colorectal cancer (MCC) is a tumour suppressor gene that is silenced by promoter methylation in colorectal cancer and particularly in patients with increased lymph node metastasis. Here, we show that MCC methylation is found in 45% of colon and 24% of rectal cancers and is associated with proximal colon, poorly differentiated, circumferential and mucinous tumours as well as increasing T stage and larger tumour size. Knockdown of MCC in HCT116 colon cancer cells caused a reduction in E-cadherin protein level, which is a hallmark of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cancer, and consequently diminished the E-cadherin/β-catenin complex. MCC knockdown disrupted cell-cell adhesive strength and integrity in the dispase and transepithelial electrical resistance assays, enhanced hepatocyte growth factor-induced cell scatter and increased tumour cell invasiveness in an organotypic assay. The Src/Abl inhibitor dasatinib, a candidate anti-invasive drug, abrogated the invasive properties induced by MCC deficiency. Mechanistically, we establish that MCC interacts with the E-cadherin/β-catenin complex. These data provide a significant advance in the current understanding of cell-cell adhesion in colon cancer cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cadherins / metabolism*
  • Cell Adhesion / drug effects
  • Cell Adhesion / genetics*
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cohort Studies
  • Colon / cytology
  • Colon / pathology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / mortality
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • DNA Methylation / genetics
  • Dasatinib / pharmacology
  • Dasatinib / therapeutic use
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • HCT116 Cells
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / genetics
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prognosis
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Protein Binding / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / deficiency*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • beta Catenin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • CDH1 protein, human
  • CTNNB1 protein, human
  • Cadherins
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • beta Catenin
  • MCC protein, human
  • Dasatinib