Colon cancer cells colonize the lung from established liver metastases through p38 MAPK signalling and PTHLH.

Abstract

The mechanisms that allow colon cancer cells to form liver and lung metastases, and whether KRAS mutation influences where and when metastasis occurs, are unknown. We provide clinical and molecular evidence showing that different MAPK signalling pathways are implicated in this process. Whereas ERK2 activation provides colon cancer cells with the ability to seed and colonize the liver, reduced p38 MAPK signalling endows cancer cells with the ability to form lung metastasis from previously established liver lesions. Downregulation of p38 MAPK signalling results in increased expression of the cytokine PTHLH, which contributes to colon cancer cell extravasation to the lung by inducing caspase-independent death in endothelial cells of the lung microvasculature. The concerted acquisition of metastatic traits in the colon cancer cells together with the sequential colonization of liver and lung highlights the importance of metastatic lesions as a platform for further dissemination.

• Authors: Jelena Urosevic, Xabier Garcia-Albéniz, Evarist Planet, Sebastián Real, María Virtudes Céspedes, Marc Guiu, Esther Fernandez, Anna Bellmunt, Sylwia Gawrzak, Milica Pavlovic, Ramon Mangues, Ignacio Dolado, Francisco M Barriga, Cristina Nadal, Nancy Kemeny, Eduard Batlle, Angel R Nebreda, Roger R Gomis
• Journal: Nature cell biology (Nat Cell Biol) Vol. 16 Issue 7 Pg. 685-94 (Jul 2014) ISSN: 1476-4679 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 24880666 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein
• p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
• ras Proteins

Topics

• Animals
• Cells, Cultured
• Colonic Neoplasms (pathology, physiopathology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Endothelial Cells (metabolism)
• Humans
• Liver Neoplasms (secondary)
• Lung Neoplasms (secondary)
• Mice
• Mutation
• Neoplasm Metastasis
• Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein (genetics, metabolism)
• Signal Transduction
• p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (genetics, metabolism)
• ras Proteins (genetics, metabolism)