1. The Ephrin B2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Is a Regulator of Proto-oncogene MYC and Molecular Programs Central to Barrett's Neoplasia.
- Author
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Venkitachalam S, Babu D, Ravillah D, Katabathula RM, Joseph P, Singh S, Udhayakumar B, Miao Y, Martinez-Uribe O, Hogue JA, Kresak AM, Dawson D, LaFramboise T, Willis JE, Chak A, Garman KS, Blum AE, Varadan V, and Guda K
- Subjects
- Swine, Animals, Ephrin-B2 genetics, Proteomics, Proto-Oncogenes, Protein-Tyrosine Kinases genetics, Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases genetics, Mammals genetics, Barrett Esophagus pathology, Esophageal Neoplasms pathology, Carcinoma, Squamous Cell pathology
- Abstract
Background & Aims: Mechanisms contributing to the onset and progression of Barrett's (BE)-associated esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) remain elusive. Here, we interrogated the major signaling pathways deregulated early in the development of Barrett's neoplasia., Methods: Whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing analysis was performed in primary BE, EAC, normal esophageal squamous, and gastric biopsy tissues (n = 89). Select pathway components were confirmed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in an independent cohort of premalignant and malignant biopsy tissues (n = 885). Functional impact of selected pathway was interrogated using transcriptomic, proteomic, and pharmacogenetic analyses in mammalian esophageal organotypic and patient-derived BE/EAC cell line models, in vitro and/or in vivo., Results: The vast majority of primary BE/EAC tissues and cell line models showed hyperactivation of EphB2 signaling. Transcriptomic/proteomic analyses identified EphB2 as an endogenous binding partner of MYC binding protein 2, and an upstream regulator of c-MYC. Knockdown of EphB2 significantly impeded the viability/proliferation of EAC and BE cells in vitro/in vivo. Activation of EphB2 in normal esophageal squamous 3-dimensional organotypes disrupted epithelial maturation and promoted columnar differentiation programs, notably including MYC. EphB2 and MYC showed selective induction in esophageal submucosal glands with acinar ductal metaplasia, and in a porcine model of BE-like esophageal submucosal gland spheroids. Clinically approved inhibitors of MEK, a protein kinase that regulates MYC, effectively suppressed EAC tumor growth in vivo., Conclusions: The EphB2 signaling is frequently hyperactivated across the BE-EAC continuum. EphB2 is an upstream regulator of MYC, and activation of EphB2-MYC axis likely precedes BE development. Targeting EphB2/MYC could be a promising therapeutic strategy for this often refractory and aggressive cancer., (Copyright © 2022 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2022
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