ANO9/TMEM16J promotes tumourigenesis via EGFR and is a novel therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer
Menée in vitro, puis à l'aide de xénogreffes de cancer du pancréas sur un modèle murin et d'échantillons tumoraux fixés au formaldéhyde et inclus en paraffine après prélèvement sur 78 patients, cette étude coréenne montre que les protéines ANO9/TMEM16J favorisent la tumorigenèse par l'intermédiaire du récepteur EGFR et peuvent, de ce fait, constituer une cible thérapeutique
Background : Anoctamin (ANO)/transmembrane member 16 (TMEM16) proteins mediate diverse physiological and pathophysiological functions including cancer cell proliferation. The present study aimed to identify the role of ANOs in pancreatic cancer. Methods : In an initial screen of ANOs, ANO9/TMEM16J was overexpressed in pancreatic cancer cells, and its role in the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer was evaluated using an integrated in vitro and in vivo approach. To determine clinical relevance of the experimental findings, the prognostic value of ANO9 was evaluated in patients with pancreatic cancer. Results : The ANO9 mRNA and protein levels were increased in pancreatic cancer-derived cells. Exogenous expression of ANO9 in PANC-1 cells significantly increased cell proliferation in cell cultures and in mice. In contrast, knockdown of ANO9 in AsPC-1, BxPC-3, and Capan-2 cells strongly inhibited cell proliferation. Mechanistic analysis suggested that physical association of ANO9 with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) underlies ANO9-induced cell proliferation. Knockdown of ANO9 augmented the effects of the EGFR inhibitor and the cytotoxic agent on pancreatic cancer cell proliferation. In addition, high ANO9 expression is a poor prognostic factor in patients with pancreatic cancer. Conclusions : The ANO9/TMEM16J appears to be a clinically useful prognostic marker for pancreatic cancer and a potential therapeutic target.