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Increased microtubule assembly rates influence chromosomal instability in colorectal cancer cells.

ABSTRACT: Chromosomal instability (CIN) is defined as the perpetual missegregation of whole chromosomes during mitosis and represents a hallmark of human cancer. However, the mechanisms influencing CIN and its consequences on tumour growth are largely unknown. We identified an increase in microtubule plus-end assembly rates as a mechanism influencing CIN in colorectal cancer cells. This phenotype is induced by overexpression of the oncogene AURKA or by loss of the tumour suppressor gene CHK2, a genetic constitution found in 73% of human colorectal cancers. Increased microtubule assembly rates are associated with transient abnormalities in mitotic spindle geometry promoting the generation of lagging chromosomes and influencing CIN. Reconstitution of proper microtubule assembly rates by chemical or genetic means suppresses CIN and thereby, unexpectedly, accelerates tumour growth in vitro and in vivo. Thus, we identify a fundamental mechanism influencing CIN in cancer cells and reveal its adverse consequence on tumour growth.

SUBMITTER: Ertych N

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4389786 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Increased microtubule assembly rates influence chromosomal instability in colorectal cancer cells.

Ertych Norman N Stolz Ailine A Stenzinger Albrecht A Weichert Wilko W Kaulfuß Silke S Burfeind Peter P Aigner Achim A Wordeman Linda L Bastians Holger H

Nature cell biology 20140629 8

Chromosomal instability (CIN) is defined as the perpetual missegregation of whole chromosomes during mitosis and represents a hallmark of human cancer. However, the mechanisms influencing CIN and its consequences on tumour growth are largely unknown. We identified an increase in microtubule plus-end assembly rates as a mechanism influencing CIN in colorectal cancer cells. This phenotype is induced by overexpression of the oncogene AURKA or by loss of the tumour suppressor gene CHK2, a genetic co ...[more]

PMID: 24976383

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Project description:BackgroundIt remains presently unclear whether disease progression in colorectal carcinoma (CRC), from early, to invasive and metastatic forms, is associated to a gradual increase in genetic instability and to a scheme of sequentially occurring Copy Number Alterations (CNAs).MethodsIn this work we set to determine the existence of such links between CRC progression and genetic instability and searched for associations with patient outcome. To this aim we analyzed a set of 162 Chromosomal Instable (CIN) CRCs comprising 131 primary carcinomas evenly distributed through stage 1 to 4, 31 metastases and 14 adenomas by array-CGH. CNA profiles were established according to disease stage and compared. We, also, asked whether the level of genomic instability was correlated to disease outcome in stage 2 and 3 CRCs. Two metrics of chromosomal instability were used; (i) Global Genomic Index (GGI), corresponding to the fraction of the genome involved in CNA, (ii) number of breakpoints (nbBP).ResultsStage 1, 2, 3 and 4 tumors did not differ significantly at the level of their CNA profiles precluding the conventional definition of a progression scheme based on increasing levels of genetic instability. Combining GGI and nbBP,we classified genomic profiles into 5 groups presenting distinct patterns of chromosomal instability and defined two risk classes of tumors, showing strong differences in outcome and hazard risk (RFS: p?=?0.012, HR?=?3; OS: p?<?0.001, HR?=?9.7). While tumors of the high risk group were characterized by frequent fractional CNAs, low risk tumors presented predominantly whole chromosomal arm CNAs. Searching for CNAs correlating with negative outcome we found that losses at 16p13.3 and 19q13.3 observed in 10% (7/72) of stage 2-3 tumors showed strong association with early relapse (p?<?0.001) and death (p?<?0.007, p?<?0.016). Both events showed frequent co-occurrence (p?<?1x10-8) and could, therefore, mark for stage 2-3 CRC susceptible to negative outcome.ConclusionsOur data show that CRC disease progression from stage 1 to stage 4 is not paralleled by increased levels of genetic instability. However, they suggest that stage 2-3 CRC with elevated genetic instability and particularly profiles with fractional CNA represent a subset of aggressive tumors.

Project description:BackgroundSurvivin, belonging to the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) gene family, is abundantly expressed in tumors. It has been hypothesized that Survivin facilitates carcinogenesis by inhibition of apoptosis resulting in improved survival of tumorigenic progeny. Additionally, Survivin plays an essential role during mitosis. Together with its molecular partners Aurora B, Borealin and inner centromere protein it secures bipolar chromosome segregation. However, whether increased Survivin levels contribute to progression of tumors by inducing chromosomal instability remains unclear.MethodsWe overexpressed Survivin in U251-MG, SVGp12, U87-MG, HCT116 and p53-deficient U87-MGshp53 and HCT116p53-/- cells. The resulting phenotype was investigated by FACS-assisted cell cycle analysis, Western Blot analysis, confocal laser scan microscopy, proliferation assays, spectral karyotyping and in a U251-MG xenograft model using immune-deficient mice.ResultsOverexpression of Survivin affected cells with knockdown of p53, cells harboring mutant p53 and SV40 large T antigen, respectively, resulting in the increase of cell fractions harboring 4n and >4n DNA contents. Increased γH2AX levels, indicative of DNA damage were monitored in all Survivin-transduced cell lines, but only in p53 wild type cells this was accompanied by an attenuated S-phase entry and activation of p21waf/cip. Overexpression of Survivin caused a DNA damage response characterized by increased appearance pDNA-PKcs foci in cell nuclei and elevated levels of pATM S1981 and pCHK2 T68. Additionally, evolving structural chromosomal aberrations in U251-MG cells transduced with Survivin indicated a DNA-repair by non-homologous end joining recombination. Subcutaneous transplantation of U251-MG cells overexpressing Survivin and mycN instead of mycN oncogene alone generated tumors with shortened latency and decreased apoptosis. Subsequent SKY-analysis of Survivin/mycN-tumors revealed an increase in structural chromosomal aberrations in cells when compared to mycN-tumors.ConclusionsOur data suggest that increased Survivin levels promote adaptive evolution of tumors through combining induction of genetic heterogeneity with inhibition of apoptosis.

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Increased microtubule assembly rates influence chromosomal instability in colorectal cancer cells.

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Increased microtubule assembly rates influence chromosomal instability in colorectal cancer cells.

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