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FOXK2 transcriptionally activating VEGFA induces apatinib resistance in anaplastic thyroid cancer through VEGFA/VEGFR1 pathway
- Source :
- Oncogene. 40:6115-6129
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2021.
-
Abstract
- Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a rare and extremely aggressive type of thyroid cancer, and the potential mechanisms involved in ATC progression remains unclarified. In this study, we found that forkhead box K2 (FOXK2) was upregulated in ATC tissues, and the expression of FOXK2 was associated with tumor size. Evidenced by RNA-seq and Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-seq assays, FOXK2 positively regulated VEGF and VEGFR signaling network, among which only VEGFA could be noticed in both RNA-seq and ChIP-seq results. ChIP, dual-luciferase reporter system and functional experiments further confirmed that FOXK2 promoted angiogenesis by inducing the transcription of VEGFA. On VEGFR2 blockage by specific targeting agent, such as Apatinib, FOXK2 could rapidly trigger therapeutic resistance. Mechanical analyses revealed that VEGFA transcriptionally induced by FOXK2 could bind to VEGFR1 as a compensation for VEGFR2 blockage, which promoted angiogenesis by activating ERK, PI3K/AKT and P38/MAPK signaling in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Synergic effect on anti-angiogenesis could be observed when VEGFR1 suppressor AF321 was included in VEGFR2 inhibition system, which clarified the pivot role of FOXK2 in VEGFR2 targeting therapy resistance. More importantly, the binding of VEGFA to VEGFR1 could further promoter FOXK2-mediated VEGFA transcription, which consequently constituted a positive feedback loop. Therefore, the novel loop VEGFA/VEGFR1/FOXK2 functioned importantly in resistance to VEGFR2 targeting therapy in FOXK2+ ATCs. Altogether, FOXK2 plays critical roles in ATC angiogenesis and VEGFR2 blockage resistance by inducing VEGFA transcription. FOXK2 represents a potentially new therapeutic strategy and biomarker for anti-angiogenic therapy against ATC.
- Subjects :
- Male
Transcriptional Activation
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
MAPK/ERK pathway
Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
endocrine system
Cancer Research
Pyridines
Angiogenesis
Biology
Thyroid Carcinoma, Anaplastic
Mice
chemistry.chemical_compound
Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
Genetics
medicine
Animals
Humans
Apatinib
Thyroid Neoplasms
Anaplastic thyroid cancer
Molecular Biology
Protein kinase B
PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1
Sequence Analysis, RNA
Gene Expression Profiling
Forkhead Transcription Factors
medicine.disease
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
Vascular endothelial growth factor A
chemistry
Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
cardiovascular system
Cancer research
Female
Chromatin immunoprecipitation
Neoplasm Transplantation
Signal Transduction
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14765594 and 09509232
- Volume :
- 40
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Oncogene
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....bde110b8f179c0ad5aa7362b5261383b