An EphB-Abl signaling pathway is associated with intestinal tumor initiation and growth
Menée sur des modèles murins, cette étude met en évidence le rôle joué par les voies de signalisation EphB et Abl dans le développement et la croissance d'un adénome du côlon
EphB receptors regulate the proliferation and positioning of intestinal stem and progenitor cells. In addition, they can act as tumor promoters for adenoma development but suppress progression to invasive carcinoma. We used imatinib to abrogate Abl kinase activity in ApcMin/+ mice and in mice with LGR5+ stem cells that were genetically engineered to develop adenomatous polyposis coli. Imatinib treatment inhibited the tumor-promoting effects of EphB signaling without attenuating EphB-mediated tumor suppression, demonstrating a role for EphB signaling in the initiation of intestinal tumors. The imatinib treatment regimen extended the life span of ApcMin/+ mice and reduced cell proliferation in cultured slices of adenomas from patients with familial adenomatous polyposis. These findings connect the EphB signaling pathway to the regulation of intestinal adenoma initiation via Abl kinase. Our findings may have clinical implications for pharmacological therapy against adenoma formation and cancer progression in patients predisposed to develop colorectal cancer.