FRMD4A upregulation in human squamous cell carcinoma promotes tumor growth and metastasis and is associated with poor prognosis

Goldie, S. J., Mulder, K. W., Tan, D. W., Lyons, S. K., Sims, A. H., Watt, F. M. (July 2012) FRMD4A upregulation in human squamous cell carcinoma promotes tumor growth and metastasis and is associated with poor prognosis. Cancer Res, 72 (13). pp. 3424-36. ISSN 1538-7445 (Electronic)0008-5472 (Linking)

Abstract

New therapeutic strategies are needed to improve treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), an aggressive tumor with poor survival rates. FRMD4A is a human epidermal stem cell marker implicated previously in epithelial polarity that is upregulated in SCC cells. Here, we report that FRMD4A upregulation occurs in primary human HNSCCs where high expression levels correlate with increased risks of relapse. FRMD4A silencing decreased growth and metastasis of human SCC xenografts in skin and tongue, reduced SCC proliferation and intercellular adhesion, and stimulated caspase-3 activity and expression of terminal differentiation markers. Notably, FRMD4A attenuation caused nuclear accumulation of YAP, suggesting a potential role for FRMD4A in Hippo signaling. Treatment with the HSP90 inhibitor 17-DMAG or ligation of CD44 with hyaluronan caused nuclear depletion of FRMD4A, nuclear accumulation of YAP and reduced SCC growth and metastasis. Together, our findings suggest FRMD4A as a novel candidate therapeutic target in HNSCC based on the key role in metastatic growth we have identified.

Item Type: Paper
Uncontrolled Keywords: Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/*metabolism Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/*metabolism/pathology Caspase 3/metabolism Cell Division Humans *Neoplasm Metastasis Polymerase Chain Reaction Prognosis Skin Neoplasms/*metabolism/pathology Tongue Neoplasms/*metabolism/pathology *Up-Regulation
Subjects: diseases & disorders > cancer
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification > genes, structure and function > gene regulation
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification > genes, structure and function > gene regulation
diseases & disorders > cancer > metastasis
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > organs types and functions > skin
CSHL Authors:
Communities: CSHL labs > Lyons lab
Depositing User: Matt Covey
Date: 1 July 2012
Date Deposited: 12 May 2017 16:38
Last Modified: 12 May 2017 16:38
PMCID: PMC3428932
Related URLs:
URI: https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/34714

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