The Novel Phosphatase Domain Mutations Q171R and Y65S Switch PTEN from Tumor Suppressor to Oncogene.

Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10, or PTEN, is a well-characterized tumor suppressor with both lipid and protein phosphatase activities. PTEN is often downregulated by epigenetic mechanisms such as hypermethylation, which leads to constitutive activation of the PI3K-Akt pathway. Large datasets from next-generation sequencing, however, revealed that mutations in PTEN may not only hamper protein function but may also affect interactions with downstream effectors, leading to variable oncogenic readouts. Here, two novel PTEN mutations, Q171R and Y65S, identified in Filipino colorectal cancer patients, were phenotypically characterized in NIH3T3 and HCT116 cells, alongside the C124S canonical mutant and wild-type controls. The novel mutants increased cellular proliferation, resistance to apoptosis and migratory capacity. They induced gross morphological changes including cytoplasmic shrinkage, increased cellular protrusions and extensive cytoskeletal reorganization. The mutants also induced a modest increase in Akt phosphorylation. Further mechanistic studies will help determine the differential oncogenic potencies of these mutants, and resolve whether the structural constraints imposed by the mutations may have altered associations with downstream effectors.

CircPVT1 attenuates negative regulation of NRAS by let-7 and drives cancer cells towards oncogenicity.

Circular RNAs have emerged as functional regulatory molecules whose aberrant expression has been linked to diverse pathophysiological processes. Here, we report that circPVT1 interferes with let-7 binding to NRAS, confirming this axis as one route by which circPVT1 can instigate an oncogenic program in A549 lung cancer cells and HCT116 colorectal cancer cells. CircPVT1 knockdown significantly reduced NRAS levels and attenuated cancer hallmark phenotypes such as proliferation, migration, resistance to apoptosis, cytoskeletal disorganization, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The effects of circPVT1 knockdown were at least partially rescued by blocking binding of let-7 to NRAS 3'UTR with a target protector, suggesting that a circPVT1/let-7/NRAS axis exists and acts in cells to reverse NRAS downregulation and favor oncogenicity. While the phenotypic effects of circPVT1 knockdown may be attributable to the global action of circPVT1, the target protection assays resolved the relative contribution of the circPVT1/let-7/NRAS axis specifically.

Exosomal microRNAs in colorectal cancer: Overcoming barriers of the metastatic cascade (Review).

The journey of cancer cells from a primary tumor to distant sites is a multi­step process that involves cellular reprogramming, the breaking or breaching of physical barriers and the preparation of a pre­metastatic niche for colonization. The loss of adhesion between cells, cytoskeletal remodeling, the reduction in size and change in cell shape, the destruction of the extracellular matrix, and the modification of the tumor microenvironment facilitate migration and invasion into surrounding tissues. The promotion of vascular leakiness enables intra­ and extravasation, while angiogenesis and immune suppression help metastasizing cells become established in the new site. Tumor­derived exosomes have long been known to harbor microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) that help prepare secondary sites for metastasis; however, their roles in the early and intermediate steps of the metastatic cascade are only beginning to be characterized. The present review article presents a summary and discussion of the miRNAs that form part of colorectal cancer (CRC)­derived exosomal cargoes and which play distinct roles in epithelial to mesenchymal plasticity and metastatic organotropism. First, an overview of epithelial­to­mesenchymal transition (EMT), metastatic organotropism, as well as exosome biogenesis, cargo sorting and uptake by recipient cells is presented. Lastly, the potential of these exosomal miRNAs as prognostic biomarkers for metastatic CRC, and the blocking of these as a possible therapeutic intervention is discussed.