Human anterior gradient proteins AGR2 and AGR3 are overexpressed in a variety of adenocarcinomas and are often secreted in cancer patients' specimens, which suggests a role for AGR proteins in intra and extracellular compartments. Although these proteins exhibit high sequence homology, AGR2 is predominantly described as a pro-oncogene and a potential prognostic biomarker. However, little is known about the function of AGR3. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the role of AGR3 in breast cancer. The results demonstrated that breast cancer cells secrete AGR3. Furthermore, it was revealed that extracellular AGR3 (eAGR3) regulates tumor cell adhesion and migration. The current study indicated that the pharmacological and genetic perturbation of Src kinase signaling, through treatment with Dasatinib (protein kinase inhibitor) or investigating cells that express a dominant-negative form of Src, significantly abrogated eAGR3-mediated breast cancer cell migration. Therefore, the results indicated that eAGR3 may control tumor cell migration via activation of Src kinases. The results of the present study indicated that eAGR3 may serve as a microenvironmental signaling molecule in tumor-associated processes.

Bergonie Cancer Institute F 33000 Bordeaux France

Centre de Lutte Contre le Cancer Eugène Marquis F 35000 Rennes France

INSERM U1218 F 33000 Bordeaux France

INSERM U1242 'Chemistry Oncogenesis Stress Signaling' University of Rennes Campus 1 F 35000 Rennes France

Institute of Virology Biomedical Research Center Slovak Academy of Sciences 845 05 Bratislava Slovak Republic

Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute RECAMO 656 53 Brno Czech Republic

University of Bordeaux ACTION F 33000 Bordeaux France

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AGR2 protein expression in colorectal tumour epithelialcompartment

An Ultrasensitive Biosensor for Detection of Femtogram Levels of the Cancer Antigen AGR2 Using Monoclonal Antibody Modified Screen-Printed Gold Electrodes