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In epithelia, breakdown of tensional homeostasis is closely associated with E-cadherin dysfunction and disruption of tissue function and integrity. In this study, we investigated the effect of E-cadherin mutations affecting distinct protein domains on tensional homeostasis of gastric cancer cells. We used micropattern traction microscopy to measure temporal fluctuations of cellular traction forces in AGS cells transfected with the wild-type E-cadherin or with variants affecting the extracellular, the juxtamembrane, and the intracellular domains of the protein. We focused on the dynamic aspect of tensional homeostasis, namely the ability of cells to maintain a consistent level of tension, with low temporal variability around a set point. Cells were cultured on hydrogels micropatterned with different extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins to test whether the ECM adhesion impacts cell behavior. A combination of Fibronectin and Vitronectin was used as a substrate that promotes the adhesive ability of E-cadherin dysfunctional cells, whereas Collagen VI was used to test an unfavorable ECM condition. Our results showed that mutations affecting distinct E-cadherin domains influenced differently cell tensional homeostasis, and pinpointed the juxtamembrane and intracellular regions of E-cadherin as the key players in this process. Furthermore, Fibronectin and Vitronectin might modulate cancer cell behavior towards tensional homeostasis.

Individuals with germline E-cadherin (CDH1) mutations are at high risk of developing diffuse gastric cancer (GC) and prophylactic total gastrectomy (PTG) represents the only life-saving treatment. We reviewed all PTGs reported in literature associated with CDH1 germline mutations. A total of 224 PTGs were reported. The majority were described in the United States of America (50%), the Netherlands (17.8%), and Canada (12.5%). GC was identified in 85.4% of cases after PTG, with a high rate of "no cancer" at histopathology identified in the United States of America (19.6%). Considering the mutation type, a total of 61 different germline mutations was reported, primarily non-missense versus missense alterations (86.9% v 13.1%). Twenty-one PTGs were performed in individuals with no family history of GC, and tumor was detected in 33.3% of investigated cases; regarding individuals with a family history of GC, tumor was identified in 85% of cases. PTG remains the best treatment for individuals harboring germline CDH1 mutations and fulfilling specific clinical criteria; in other CDH1-associated conditions, PTG should be suggested, but not strongly recommended. Additional studies are required to assess the cancer risk in those conditions., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)