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JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2007 99(11):868-880; doi:10.1093/jnci/djk199
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© 2007 The Author(s).
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/uk/), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


ARTICLES

Analysis of Integrin {alpha}7 Mutations in Prostate Cancer, Liver Cancer, Glioblastoma Multiforme, and Leiomyosarcoma

Baoguo Ren, Yan P. Yu, George C. Tseng, Chuanyue Wu, Ka Chen, Uma N. Rao, Joel Nelson, George K. Michalopoulos, Jian-Hua Luo

Affiliations of authors: Departments of Pathology (BR, YPY, CW, KC, UNR, GKM, JHL), Biostatistics (GCT), and Urology (JN), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Correspondence to: Jian-Hua Luo, MD, PhD, 3550 Terrace St, Scaife Hall A-725, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 (e-mail: luoj{at}msx.upmc.edu).

Background: Integrins are the major adhesive molecules in mammalian cells. Each integrin subtype plays a unique role in cell differentiation and embryo development. However, integrin involvement in carcinogenesis has not been well defined.

Methods: We identified mutations in integrin {alpha}7 by sequencing genomic DNAs and cDNAs from 122 specimens, including 62 primary human tumor samples, four cell lines, and 56 matched normal tissues. We evaluated the tumor suppressor activity of integrin {alpha}7 with colony formation, soft agar colony growth, and cell migration assays by forcing its expression in PC-3 and Du145 prostate cancer cells and SK-UT-1 leiomyosarcoma cells. PC-3 and Du145 xenograft tumors with increased levels of integrin {alpha}7 in severe combined immune deficient mice were used to assess the effect of integrin {alpha}7 on tumor growth and metastasis. Immunostaining was used to localize and to measure the level of integrin {alpha}7 in 701 and 141 specimens of prostate and smooth muscle, respectively. A meta-analysis of integrin {alpha}7 mRNA microarray data from four studies was performed. Kaplan–Meier analyses were used to assess survival. All statistical tests were two-sided.

Results: Integrin {alpha}7 mutations that generate truncations were found in specimens of 16 of 28 prostate cancers (57%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 37% to 76%), five of 24 hepatocellular carcinomas (21%, 95% CI = 7% to 42%), five of six glioblastomas multiforme (83%, 95% CI = 36% to 99%), and one of four leiomyosarcomas (25%, 95% CI = 0.6% to 81%). Integrin {alpha}7 mutations were associated with increased recurrence of human prostate cancer (nine recurrences among 13 patients with integrin {alpha}7 mutations versus one among eight without such mutations; odds ratio [OR] = 14, 95% CI = 1.15 to 782, P = .024) and hepatocellular carcinoma (five recurrences among eight patients with integrin {alpha}7 mutations versus one among 16 without such mutations, OR = 21, 95% CI = 1.6 to 1245; P = .007). Forced expression of normal integrin {alpha}7 in prostate cancer and leiomyosarcoma cell lines suppressed tumor growth and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Focal or no integrin {alpha}7 expression in human prostate cancer and soft tissue leiomyosarcoma was associated with a reduction of metastasis-free survival (for example, for prostate cancer with focal or no expression, 5-year metastasis-free survival was 32%, 95% CI = 24.4% to 40.3%, and for prostate cancer with at least weak expression, it was 85%, 95% CI = 79% to 91%; P<.001). Microarray analysis indicated that cyclin D kinase inhibitor 3 and GTPase-activating protein may be possible targets for integrin {alpha}7–mediated tumor suppressor activity and inhibition of cell motility.

Conclusion: Integrin {alpha}7 appears to be a tumor suppressor that operates by suppressing tumor growth and retarding migration.



CONTEXT AND CAVEATS

Prior knowledge

Integrin {alpha}7 forms a dimmer with integrin beta1 in plasma membranes and is responsible for communication between the extracellular matrix and muscle cells, but the involvement of integrin {alpha}7 in carcinogenesis has not been well defined.

Study design

Molecular, cellular, human tumor specimen, and human xenograft tumor studies of integrin {alpha}7 to investigate the activity of integrin {alpha}7 on tumor growth suppression and cell migration, as well as survival analyses of patients with prostate or hepatocellular carcinomas and of mice bearing xenograft tumors.

Contribution

Integrin {alpha}7 truncation mutations were found in various types of human cancer specimens at various locations in the protein. These mutations were associated with an increased risk of recurrence of human prostate cancers and hepatocellular carcinomas. Forced expression of integrin {alpha}7 in tumor cells suppressed tumor growth and metastasis in vivo and in vitro. Possible targets for integrin {alpha}7–mediated tumor suppressor activities include cyclin D kinase inhibitor 3 and GTPase-activating protein.

Implications

Impairing the function of integrin {alpha}7 may be an efficient mechanism of carcinogenesis.

Limitations

The signaling pathway used by integrin {alpha}7 has not been identified. Other integrin {alpha} and beta types, in addition to integrins {alpha}7 and beta1, may be present in various cells, which could alter integrin signaling homeostasis and thus cell growth.

 
Manuscript received November 9, 2006; revised March 23, 2007; accepted April 20, 2007.


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