WT1 associated protein promotes metastasis and chemo-resistance to gemcitabine by stabilizing Fak mRNA in pancreatic cancer

Cancer Lett. 2019 Jun 1:451:48-57. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.02.043. Epub 2019 Mar 6.

Abstract

WT1 associated protein (WTAP), playing an important role in several malignancies owing to its complex function in transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation, is an independent prognostic indicator for pancreatic cancer (PC). However, its specific role and underlying mechanism in PC remain unclear. In the present study, we found that WTAP could promote migration/invasion and suppress chemo-sensitivity to gemcitabine in PC. Further mechanical investigation revealed that WTAP could bind to and stabilize Fak mRNA which in turn activated the Fak-PI3K-AKT and Fak-Src-GRB2-Erk1/2 signaling pathways. In addition, GSK2256098, a specific Fak inhibitor, could reverse WTAP-mediated chemo-resistance to gemcitabine and metastasis in PC. Taken together, Fak inhibitor might be a promising therapeutic option for PC patients with WTAP overexpression.

Keywords: Chemo-sensitivity; Fak; Migration/invasion; PC; WTAP.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Deoxycytidine / pharmacology
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics*
  • Gemcitabine
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Metastasis*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction
  • WT1 Proteins / physiology*

Substances

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • RNA, Messenger
  • WT1 Proteins
  • WT1 protein, human
  • Deoxycytidine
  • Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Gemcitabine