Trophoblastic cell surface antigen 2 (TROP2) is a membrane glycoprotein overexpressed in many solid tumors with a poor prognosis, including intestinal neoplasms. In our study, we show that TROP2 is expressed in preneoplastic lesions, and its expression is maintained in most colorectal cancers (CRC). High TROP2 positivity correlated with lymph node metastases and poor tumor differentiation and was a negative prognostic factor. To investigate the role of TROP2 in intestinal tumors, we analyzed two mouse models with conditional disruption of the adenomatous polyposis coli (Apc) tumor-suppressor gene, human adenocarcinoma samples, patient-derived organoids, and TROP2-deficient tumor cells. We found that Trop2 is produced early after Apc inactivation and its expression is associated with the transcription of genes involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition, the regulation of migration, invasiveness, and extracellular matrix remodeling. A functionally similar group of genes was also enriched in TROP2-positive cells from human CRC samples. To decipher the driving mechanism of TROP2 expression, we analyzed its promoter. In human cells, this promoter was activated by β-catenin and additionally by the Yes1-associated transcriptional regulator (YAP). The regulation of TROP2 expression by active YAP was verified by YAP knockdown in CRC cells. Our results suggest a possible link between aberrantly activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling, YAP, and TROP2 expression.

• Klíčová slova
• APC, EMT, TACSTD2, WNT/β-catenin signaling, colorectal cancer, expression profiling, organoids,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men in Western countries, and there is still an urgent need for a better understanding of PCa progression to inspire new treatment strategies. Skp2 is a substrate-recruiting component of the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, whose activity is regulated through neddylation. Slug is a transcriptional repressor involved in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, which may contribute to therapy resistance. Although Skp2 has previously been associated with a mesenchymal phenotype and prostate cancer progression, the relationship with Slug deserves further elucidation. We have previously shown that a high Gleason score (≥8) is associated with higher Skp2 and lower E-cadherin expression. In this study, significantly increased expression of Skp2, AR, and Slug, along with E-cadherin downregulation, was observed in primary prostate cancer in patients who already had lymph node metastases. Skp2 was slightly correlated with Slug and AR in the whole cohort (Rs 0.32 and 0.37, respectively), which was enhanced for both proteins in patients with high Gleason scores (Rs 0.56 and 0.53, respectively) and, in the case of Slug, also in patients with metastasis to lymph nodes (Rs 0.56). Coexpression of Skp2 and Slug was confirmed in prostate cancer tissues by multiplex immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy. The same relationship between these two proteins was observed in three sets of prostate epithelial cell lines (PC3, DU145, and E2) and their mesenchymal counterparts. Chemical inhibition of Skp2, but not RNA interference, modestly decreased Slug protein in PC3 and its docetaxel-resistant subline PC3 DR12. Importantly, chemical inhibition of Skp2 by MLN4924 upregulated p27 and decreased Slug expression in PC3, PC3 DR12, and LAPC4 cells. Novel treatment strategies targeting Skp2 and Slug by the neddylation blockade may be promising in advanced prostate cancer, as recently documented for other aggressive solid tumors.

• Klíčová slova
• Skp2 (S-phase kinase-associated protein 2), Slug, immunohistochemistry, multiplex, neddylation, prostate cancer,
• MeSH
• androgenní receptory genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• buňky PC-3 MeSH
• CD antigeny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• cyklopentany farmakologie   MeSH
• docetaxel farmakologie   MeSH
• epitelo-mezenchymální tranzice genetika   MeSH
• inhibitor p27 cyklin-dependentní kinasy genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• kadheriny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lymfatické metastázy MeSH
• malá interferující RNA genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• nádory prostaty genetika   metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• posttranslační úpravy proteinů * MeSH
• prostata metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• protein NEDD8 genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• proteiny asociované s kinázou S-fáze antagonisté a inhibitory   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• protinádorové látky farmakologie   MeSH
• pyrimidiny farmakologie   MeSH
• regulace genové exprese u nádorů MeSH
• rodina transkripčních faktorů Snail genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• stupeň nádoru MeSH
• viabilita buněk účinky léků   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• androgenní receptory MeSH
• CD antigeny MeSH
• CDH1 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• cyklopentany MeSH
• docetaxel MeSH
• inhibitor p27 cyklin-dependentní kinasy MeSH
• kadheriny MeSH
• malá interferující RNA MeSH
• NEDD8 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• pevonedistat MeSH Prohlížeč
• protein NEDD8 MeSH
• proteiny asociované s kinázou S-fáze MeSH
• protinádorové látky MeSH
• pyrimidiny MeSH
• rodina transkripčních faktorů Snail MeSH
• SKP2 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• SNAI1 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč

Trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (Trop2) is a widely expressed glycoprotein and an epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) family member. Although initially identified as a transmembrane protein, other subcellular localizations and processed forms were described. Its congenital mutations cause a gelatinous drop-like corneal dystrophy, a disease characterized by loss of barrier function in corneal epithelial cells. Trop2 is considered a stem cell marker and its expression associates with regenerative capacity in various tissues. Trop2 overexpression was described in tumors of different origins; however, functional studies revealed both oncogenic and tumor suppressor roles. Nevertheless, therapeutic potential of Trop2 was recognized and clinical studies with drug-antibody conjugates have been initiated in various cancer types. One of these agents, sacituzumab govitecan, has been recently granted an accelerated approval for therapy of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. In this article, we review the current knowledge about the yet controversial function of Trop2 in homeostasis and pathology.

• Klíčová slova
• TACSTD2, Trop2, cancer, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, metastases, proliferation, therapy,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH