Alpha-catenin is required for IGF-I-induced cellular migration but not invasion in human colonic cancer cells

The Insulin-like Growth Factor System and Colorectal Cancer

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are peptides which exert mitogenic, endocrine and cytokine activities. Together with their receptors, binding proteins and associated molecules, they participate in numerous pathophysiological processes, including cancer development. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a disease with high incidence and mortality rates worldwide, whose etiology usually represents a combination of the environmental and genetic factors. IGFs are most often increased in CRC, enabling excessive autocrine/paracrine stimulation of the cell growth. Overexpression or increased activation/accessibility of IGF receptors is a coinciding step which transmits IGF-related signals. A number of molecules and biochemical mechanisms exert modulatory effects shaping the final outcome of the IGF-stimulated processes, frequently leading to neoplastic transformation in the case of irreparable disbalance. The IGF system and related molecules and pathways which participate in the development of CRC are the focus of this review.

XIAP overexpression promotes bladder cancer invasion in vitro and lung metastasis in vivo via enhancing nucleolin-mediated Rho-GDIβ mRNA stability

Our recent studies demonstrate that X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) is essential for regulating colorectal cancer invasion. Here, we discovered that RhoGDIβ was a key XIAP downstream effector mediating bladder cancer (BC) invasion in vitro and in vivo. We found that both XIAP and RhoGDIβ expressions were consistently elevated in BCs of N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)-nitrosamine (BBN)-treated mice in comparison to bladder tissues from vehicle-treated mice and human BCs in comparison to the paired adjacent normal bladder tissues. Knockdown of XIAP attenuated RhoGDIβ expression and reduced cancer cell invasion, whereas RhoGDIβ expression was attenuated in BBN-treated urothelium of RING-deletion knockin mice. Mechanistically, XIAP stabilized RhoGDIβ mRNA by its positively regulating nucleolin mRNA stability via Erks-dependent manner. Moreover, ectopic expression of GFP-RhoGDIβ in T24T(shXIAP) cells restored its lung metastasis in nude mice. Our results demonstrate that XIAP-regulated Erks/nucleolin/RhoGDIβ axis promoted BC invasion and lung metastasis.

MicroRNA-30a-3p is overexpressed in the placentas of patients with preeclampsia and affects trophoblast invasion and apoptosis by its effects on IGF-1

OBJECTIVE

Preeclampsia (PE) affects many women globally and remains a primary cause of neonatal and maternal morbidity and mortality. Aberrant placental microRNA (miRNA) expression might be associated with PE. Previously, 33 PE-related miRNAs, 11 up-regulated and 23 down-regulated, were detected in placentas of women with severe PE when compared with those of normal patients. One of the most up-regulated miRNAs in PE is miR-30a-3p. The predicted target of it is insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which has been reported to have a relatively low expression level in PE patients. This study was conducted to determine the aberrant increased of miR-30a-3p in the placentas of women with preeclampsia and to elucidate the target and function of it in trophoblast cells.

STUDY DESIGN

miR-30a-3p expression in placenta tissues was compared between women with preeclampsia (n = 25) and normal pregnant women (n = 20). The miRNA target was studied by in silico and functional assay. The effects of the miRNA were verified by apoptosis assay and invasion assay in the trophoblast cell line.

RESULTS

miR-30a-3p was increased significantly in the placenta of women with preeclampsia when compared to those with normal pregnancies. Luciferase assay confirmed direct regulation of miR-30a-3p on the expression of IGF-1. Forced expression of miR-30a-3p suppressed IGF-1 protein expression in the HTR-8/SVneo cells. The functional assay suggests that the over-expression of miR-30a-3p alter the invasive capacity of JEG-3 cells and induce the apoptosis of HTR-8/SVneo cells (Figure).

CONCLUSION

Expression of miR-30a-3p was significantly increased in the placentas of patients with preeclampsia. miR-30a-3p might be involved in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia by targeting IGF-1 and regulating the invasion and apoptosis of trophoblast cells.

Divergent behaviors and underlying mechanisms of cell migration and invasion in non-metastatic T24 and its metastatic derivative T24T bladder cancer cell lines

Previous studies on cancer cell invasion were primarily focused on its migration because these two events were often considered biologically equivalent. Here we found that T24T cells exhibited higher invasion but lower migration abilities than T24 cells. Expression of Rho-GDPases was much lower and expression of SOD2 was much higher in T24T cells than those in T24 cells. Indeed, knockdown of SOD2 in T24T cells can reverse the cell migration but without affecting cell invasion. We also found that SOD2 inhibited the JNK/c-Jun cascade, and the inhibition of c-Jun activation by ectopic expression of TAM67 impaired Rho-GDPases expression and cell migration in T24T shSOD2 cells. Further, we found that Sp1 can upregulate SOD2 transcription in T24T cells. Importantly, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) was overexpressed in T24T and participated in increasing its invasion, and MMP-2 overexpression was mediated by increasing nuclear transport of nucleolin, which enhanced mmp-2 mRNA stability. Taken together, our study unravels an inverse relationship between cell migration and invasion in human bladder cancer T24T cells and suggests a novel mechanism underlying the divergent roles of SOD2 and MMP-2 in regulating metastatic behaviors of human bladder T24T in cell migration and invasion.

Inhibition of IGF-1-Mediated Cellular Migration and Invasion by Migracin A in Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma Cells

Previously we isolated migracin A from a Streptomyces culture filtrate as an inhibitor of cancer cell migration. In the present research, we found that migracin A inhibited migration and invasion of ovarian clear cell carcinoma ES-2 cells. In the course of our mechanistic study, migracin A was shown to enhance vasohibin-1 expression in an angiogenesis array. We also confirmed that it increased the mRNA expression of this protein. Moreover, overexpression of vasohibin-1 lowered the migration but not the invasion of ES-2 cells. Then, we looked for another target protein employing a motility array, and found that migracin A lowered the IGF-1 expression. Knockdown of IGF-1 by siRNA decreased the migration and invasion of ES-2 cells. Migracin A also decreased Akt phosphorylation involved in the downstream signaling. Crosstalk analysis indicated that overexpression of vasohibin-1 decreased the IGF-1 expression. On the other hand, it showed no direct anticancer activity in terms of the ES-2 growth in agar. Migracin A inhibited the migration and IGF-1 expression in not only ES-2 but also another ovarian clear cell carcinoma JHOC-5 cells. In addition, it also inhibited capillary tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Since its cytotoxicity is very low, migracin A may be a candidate for an anti-metastasis agent not exhibiting prominent toxicity.

Post-operative plasma osteopontin predicts distant metastasis in human colorectal cancer

Background

The overall prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients is unsatisfactory due to cancer metastasis after operation. This study aims to investigate the clinical significance of plasma osteopontin (OPN) levels as minimally invasive, predictive, and surrogate biomarkers for prognosis of CRC patients.

Methods

This randomized study design consists of pre-operative and post-operative plasma samples from a total of 79 patients. We determined plasma levels of OPN by ELISA and examined their correlation with the clinicopathological parameters of CRC patients. The effects of endogenous and exogenous OPN on CRC metastasis were investigated by examination of the effect on regulators of epithelial to messenchymal transition and migration assay.

Results

Our findings demonstrated for the first time the clinical correlation of plasma OPN with metastasis of CRC patients. High post-operative plasma OPN level (>153.02 ng/ml) associated with development of metastasis after curative resection (p<0.001). Moreover, post-operative plasma OPN level correlated with disease-free survival of CRC patients (p=0.009) and was an independent factor for predicting development of metastasis in CRC patients after curative resection (p=0.036). Our in vitro model showed that OPN ectopic expression induced DLD1 cell migration through Snail and Twist1 overexpression and E-cadherin repression, and secretory OPN level enhanced cell migration.

Conclusions

The results of the current study suggest that post-operative plasma OPN correlated with post-operative metastasis, suggesting that it is a potential non-invasive biomarker for the development of future metastasis in CRC patients. In addition, OPN was shown to be involved in the metastatic process and thus inhibition of OPN is a potential therapeutic approach to treat CRC patients.

Targeted approach to metastatic colorectal cancer: what comes beyond epidermal growth factor receptor antibodies and bevacizumab?

The prognosis of patients with cancer remains poor in spite of the advances obtained in recent years with new therapeutic agents, new approaches in surgical procedures and new diagnostic methods. The discovery of a plethora of cellular targets and the rational generation of selective targeting agents has opened an era of new opportunities and extraordinary challenges. The specificity of these agents renders them capable of specifically targeting the inherent abnormalities of cancer cells, potentially resulting in less toxicity than traditional nonselective cytotoxics. Among the many new types of rationally designed agents are therapeutics targeting various strategic facets of growth signal transduction, malignant angiogenesis, survival, metastasis and cell-cycle regulation. The evaluation of these agents is likely to require some changes from the traditional drug development paradigms to realize their full potential. Inhibition of the epidermal growth factor receptor and the vascular endothelial growth factor have provided proof of principle that disruption of signal cascades in patients with colorectal cancer has therapeutic potential. This experience has also taught us that resistance to such rationally developed targeted therapeutic strategies is common. In this article, we review the role of signal transduction in colorectal cancer, introduce promising molecular targets, and outline therapeutic approaches under development.

Guidance for life, cell death, and colorectal neoplasia by netrin dependence receptors

This review is focusing on a critical mediator of embryonic and postnatal development with multiple implications in inflammation, neoplasia, and other pathological situations in brain and peripheral tissues. These morphogenetic guidance and dependence processes are involved in several malignancies targeting the epithelial and immune systems including the progression of human colorectal cancers. We consider the most important findings and their impact on basic, translational, and clinical cancer research. Expected information can bring new cues for innovative, efficient, and safe strategies of personalized medicine based on molecular markers, protagonists, signaling networks, and effectors inherent to the Netrin axis in pathophysiological states.

Saccharomyces boulardii improves intestinal cell restitution through activation of the α2β1 integrin collagen receptor

Intestinal epithelial cell damage is frequently seen in the mucosal lesions of inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Complete remission of these diseases requires both the cessation of inflammation and the migration of enterocytes to repair the damaged epithelium. Lyophilized Saccharomyces boulardii (Sb, Biocodex) is a nonpathogenic yeast widely used as a therapeutic agent for the treatment and prevention of diarrhea and other gastrointestinal disorders. In this study, we determined whether Sb could accelerate enterocyte migration. Cell migration was determined in Sb force-fed C57BL6J mice and in an in vitro wound model. The impact on α2β1 integrin activity was assessed using adhesion assays and the analysis of α2β1 mediated signaling pathways both in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrated that Sb secretes compounds that enhance the migration of enterocytes independently of cell proliferation. This enhanced migration was associated with the ability of Sb to favor cell-extracellular matrix interaction. Indeed, the yeast activates α2β1 integrin collagen receptors. This leads to an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of cytoplasmic molecules, including focal adhesion kinase and paxillin, involved in the integrin signaling pathway. These changes are associated with the reorganization of focal adhesion structures. In conclusion Sb secretes motogenic factors that enhance cell restitution through the dynamic regulation of α2β1 integrin activity. This could be of major importance in the development of novel therapies targeting diseases characterized by severe mucosal injury, such as inflammatory and infectious bowel diseases.

Analysis of APC, alpha-, beta-catenins, and N-cadherin protein expression in aggressive fibromatosis (desmoid tumor)

The aims of this study were to analyze the cadherin/catenin adhesion complex in cells from abdominal and extra-abdominal aggressive fibromatosis tumors, and to estimate the correlation between the expression of the tested proteins and the clinical data of the desmoid patients. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the expression of the cadherin/catenin adhesion complex: APC protein, alpha-, beta-catenin, and N-cadherin in archival material derived from 15 cases of extra-abdominal desmoid tumor (E-AD) and 20 cases of abdominal (AD) desmoid tumor. The tested proteins demonstrated cytoplasmic (c) staining. Furthermore, nuclear (n) or cytoplasmic and nuclear (c+n) staining was observed for beta-catenin. The mean values of the percentage of positive cells for the tested proteins between E-AD vs. AD did not demonstrate any statistically significant difference except for alpha-catenin. In the E-AD group, in both cases of recurrent tumors, no alpha-catenin expression was observed but the expression of this protein was detected in primary tumors. In the groups investigated, no statistically significant correlation was found between alpha-catenin, beta-catenin (c), (n) and (c+n) expression, and tumor size (p>0.1). The results regarding beta-catenin expression obtained in our study confirm the previous findings that nuclear accumulation of this protein plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of aggressive fibromatosis.

Molecular signature and therapeutic perspective of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions in epithelial cancers

The mechanisms involved in the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) are integrated in concert with master developmental and oncogenic pathways regulating in tumor growth, angiogenesis, metastasis, as well as the reprogrammation of specific gene repertoires ascribed to both epithelial and mesenchymal cells. Consequently, it is not unexpected that EMT has profound impacts on the neoplastic progression, patient survival, as well as the resistance of cancers to therapeutics (taxol, vincristine, oxaliplatin, EGF-R targeted therapy and radiotherapy), independent of the "classical" resistance mechanisms linked to genotoxic drugs. New therapeutic combinations using genotoxic agents and/or EMT signaling inhibitors are therefore expected to circumvent the chemotherapeutic resistance of cancers characterized by transient or sustained EMT signatures. Thus, targeting critical orchestrators at the convergence of several EMT pathways, such as the transcription pathways NF-kappaB, AKT/mTOR axis, MAPK, beta-catenin, PKC and the AP-1/SMAD factors provide a realistic strategy to control EMT and the progression of human epithelial cancers. Several inhibitors targeting these signaling platforms are already tested in preclinical and clinical oncology. In addition, upstream EMT signaling pathways induced by receptor and nonreceptor tyrosine kinases (e.g. EGF-R, IGF-R, VEGF-R, integrins/FAK, Src) and G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) constitute practical options under preclinical research, clinical trials or are currently used in the clinic for cancer treatment: e.g. small molecule inhibitors (Iressa: targeting selectively the EGF-R; CP-751,871, AMG479, NVP-AEW541, BMS-536924, PQIP, AG1024: IGF-R; AZD2171, ZD6474: VEGF-R; AZD0530, BMS-354825, SKI606: Src; BIM-46174: GPCR; rapamycin, CCI-779, RAD-001: mTOR) and humanized function blocking antibodies (Herceptin: ErbB2; Avastin: VEGF-A; Erbitux: EGF-R; Abegrin: alphavbeta3 integrins). We can assume that silencing RNA and adenovirus-based gene transfer of therapeutic miR and dominant interferring expression vectors targeting EMT pathways and signaling elements will bring additional ways for the treatment of epithelial cancers. Identification of the factors that initiate, modulate and effectuate EMT signatures and their underlying upstream oncogenic pathways should provide the basis of more efficient strategies to fight cancer progression as well as genetic and epigenetic forms of drug resistance. This goal can be accomplished using global screening of human clinical tumors by EMT-associated cDNA, proteome, miRome, and tissue arrays.

Hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia may associate with the adenoma-carcinoma transition in colorectal epithelial cells

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Epidemiological studies have suggested the positive correlation between hyperlipidemia and/or hyperglycemia and colorectal cancer risk.

METHODS

We retrospectively examined the association between fasting blood sugar (BS) or triglycerides (TG) and the presence of colorectal adenoma, carcinoma in situ and invasive cancer in 867 patients who received total colonoscopy by medical health check.

RESULTS

An increased TG level, but not a BS level, was significantly associated with the increased risk of adenoma, although with non-independent multivariate analysis. In contrast, an elevated BS level was identified as an independent risk factor for invasive cancer in 93 patients with carcinoma lesions with an odds ratio of 1.74 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that hypertriglyceridemia and hyperglycemia may correlate with the development of adenoma and invasive cancer, respectively. The effectiveness of strict BS control in patients with hypertriglyceridemia for the prevention of the invasive colorectal carcinoma deserves further studies.

Insulin-like growth factor-I receptor, E-cadherin and alpha v integrin form a dynamic complex under the control of alpha-catenin

Dynamic crosstalk between cell adhesion molecules, extracellular matrix and soluble informative factors is essential for cancer cell migration and invasion. Here, we investigated the mechanisms by which the E-cadherin/catenin complex and alpha v integrin can modulate insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I)-induced cell migration. Human colon mucosa, human colon cancer cell lines, HT29-D4 and HCT-8 derivatives that differ in their expression of alpha-catenin, were used as models. Interactions between E-cadherin, alpha v integrin and IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) were analyzed by coimmunoprecipitation and immunolocalization experiments. The impact of these interactions on cell mobility was determined by haptotaxis assays. We report that alpha v integrin, E-cadherin and IGF-IR form a ternary complex in both cultured cancer cells and human normal colonic mucosa. alpha-Catenin regulates the scaffolding of this complex. IGF-IR ligation by IGF-I induces the disruption of the complex and the relocalization of alpha v integrin from cell-cell contacts to focal contact sites. This perturbation is correlated with the observed increase in cell migration. These results suggest that regulation of the alpha v integrin/E-cadherin/IGF-IR scaffolding is essential for the modulation of cell mobility. Its alteration could be of major importance to sustain alterations in cell adhesion that occur during cancer cell invasion and metastasis.

Expression of motility-related protein MRP1/CD9, N-cadherin, E-cadherin, alpha-catenin and beta-catenin in retinoblastoma

In our earlier study we showed that invasive retinoblastoma (RB) had down regulated tetraspanin protein KAI1/CD82, a family of cell surface glycoprotein. KAI1 may link to the cell surface molecules, such as integrins, E-cadherin, and other TM4SF members, and loss of KAI1 function may have a significant role in the progression of retinoblastoma. We also showed that epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is overexpressed in invasive RB. EpCAM expression decreases adhesion mediated by cadherins. Thus, we were further interested in studying the role of other adhesion molecules like cadherins and catenins in RB. We studied the expression of Motility-Related Protein 1 (MRP-1)/CD9, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, alpha-catenin and beta-catenin in RB and correlated clinicopathologically in 62 archival paraffin-embedded tumors by immunohistochemistry. There were 29 tumors with no invasion of choroids/optic nerve and 33 tumors with invasion of choroid/optic nerve/orbit. Western blotting was performed on 20 tumors using the same antibodies. We observed higher expression of CD9 (P<0.001), E-cadherin (P<0.001) and alpha-catenin (P<0.001) in the non-invasive RB and higher expression of N-cadherin (P<0.001) in invasive RB. The expression of beta-catenin was not significantly different between two groups of tumors. In Western blotting, we were able to see CD9 and E-cadherin expression in a minority of tumors while N-cadherin, alpha-catenin and beta-catenin were expressed with differing intensities in a majority of tumors. Thus, invasive tumors expressed increased N-cadherin, alpha-catenin and decreased E-cadherin and CD9. Thus, it appears that loss of E-cadherin and gain of N-cadherin expression are features of invasiveness. Further functional studies are required to evaluate the role of beta-catenin in RB.

Can anti-migratory drugs be screened in vitro? A review of 2D and 3D assays for the quantitative analysis of cell migration

The aim of the present review is to detail and analyze the pros and cons of in vitro tests available to quantify the anti-migratory effects of anti-cancer drugs for their eventual use in combating the dispersal of tumor cells, a clinical need which currently remains unsatisfied. We therefore briefly sum up why anti-migratory drugs constitute a promising approach in oncology while at the same time emphasizing that migrating cancer cells are resistant to apoptosis. To analyze the pros and cons of the various in vitro tests under review we also briefly sum up the molecular and cellular stages of cancer cell migration, an approach that enables us to argue both that no single in vitro test is sufficient to characterize the anti-migratory potential of a drug and that standardization is needed for the efficient quantitative analysis of cell locomotion in a 3D environment. Before concluding our review we devote the final two parts (i) to the description of new prototypes which, in the near future, could enter the screening process with a view to identifying novel anti-migratory compounds, and (ii) to the anti-migratory compounds currently developed against cancer, with particular emphasis on how these compounds were selected before entering the clinical trial phase.

The insulin-like growth factor system and colorectal cancer: clinical and experimental evidence

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this review is to clarify the involvement of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system in the development of colorectal malignancy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Medline searches were used to identify key articles relating the IGF system with the development of colorectal cancer.

RESULTS

The IGF system has been linked to colorectal malignancy by a convergence of data from epidemiological, clinical and laboratory-based sources.

CONCLUSION

Further work is needed to characterise the IGF system expression in the colon. Such clarification could lead to the identification of targets that can be manipulated for clinical advantage.

Cluster analysis of networks generated through homology: automatic identification of important protein communities involved in cancer metastasis

BACKGROUND

Protein-protein interactions have traditionally been studied on a small scale, using classical biochemical methods to investigate the proteins of interest. More recently large-scale methods, such as two-hybrid screens, have been utilised to survey extensive portions of genomes. Current high-throughput approaches have a relatively high rate of errors, whereas in-depth biochemical studies are too expensive and time-consuming to be practical for extensive studies. As a result, there are gaps in our knowledge of many key biological networks, for which computational approaches are particularly suitable.

RESULTS

We constructed networks, or 'interactomes', of putative protein-protein interactions in the rat proteome--the rat being an organism extensively used for cancer studies. This was achieved by integrating experimental protein-protein interaction data from many species and translating this data into the reference frame of the rat. The putative rat protein interactions were given confidence scores based on their homology to proteins that have been experimentally observed to interact. The confidence score was furthermore weighted according to the extent of the experimental evidence, giving a higher weight to more frequently observed interactions. The scoring function was subsequently validated and networks constructed around key proteins, identified as being highly up- or down-regulated in rat cell lines of high metastatic potential. Using clustering methods on the networks, we have identified key protein communities involved in cancer metastasis.

CONCLUSION

The protein network generation and subsequent network analysis used here, were shown to be useful for highlighting key proteins involved in metastasis. This approach, in conjunction with microarray expression data, can be extended to other species, thereby suggesting possible pathways around proteins of interest.

Membrane rafts segregate pro- from anti-apoptotic insulin-like growth factor-I receptor signaling in colon carcinoma cells stimulated by members of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily

In the tumor microenvironment, autocrine/paracrine loops of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) contribute to cancer cell survival. However, we report here that IGF-I can send contradictory signals that interfere with cell death induced by different ligands of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily. IGF-I protected human colon carcinoma cells from TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis, but it enhanced the apoptotic response to anti-Fas antibody and TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand stimulation. This proapoptotic effect of IGF-I, observed in several but not all tested colon cancer cell lines, was mediated via the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway. Furthermore, IGF-I receptors (IGF-IR) were located in and out of membrane lipid rafts and were tyrosine autophosphorylated in response to IGF-I. However, disruption of rafts by acute cholesterol depletion shifted IGF-IR to non-raft domains, abolished the IGF-I-mediated proapoptotic effect, and inhibited the IGF-I-dependent IRS-1 and Akt recruitment into and phosphorylation/activation within lipid rafts. Replenishing cell membranes with cholesterol reversed these effects. Activation of extracellular-regulated kinase-1/2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, which convey the IGF-I anti-apoptotic effect, occurred independently of lipid rafts. Thus, we propose that segregation of IGF-IR in and out of lipid rafts may dynamically regulate the pro- and anti-apoptotic effects of IGF-I on apoptosis induced by TNF superfamily members.

Tracking of migrating cells under phase-contrast video microscopy with combined mean-shift processes

In this paper, we propose a combination of mean-shift-based tracking processes to establish migrating cell trajectories through in vitro phase-contrast video microscopy. After a recapitulation on how the mean-shift algorithm permits efficient object tracking we describe the proposed extension and apply it to the in vitro cell tracking problem. In this application, the cells are unmarked (i.e., no fluorescent probe is used) and are observed under classical phase-contrast microscopy. By introducing an adaptive combination of several kernels, we address several problems such as variations in size and shape of the tracked objects (e.g., those occurring in the case of cell membrane extensions), the presence of incomplete (or noncontrasted) object boundaries, partially overlapping objects and object splitting (in the case of cell divisions or mitoses). Comparing the tracking results automatically obtained to those generated manually by a human expert, we tested the stability of the different algorithm parameters and their effects on the tracking results. We also show how the method is resistant to a decrease in image resolution and accidental defocusing (which may occur during long experiments, e.g., dozens of hours). Finally, we applied our methodology on cancer cell tracking and showed that cytochalasin-D significantly inhibits cell motility.

Insulinlike growth factor-I-mediated migration and invasion of human colon carcinoma cells requires activation of c-Met and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether insulinlike growth factor-I (IGF-I) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) cooperate to induce migration and invasion of human colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells and whether the effects of IGF-I and/or HGF are mediated through activation of the urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA)/uPA receptor (uPAR) system, a central mediator of tumor-cell migration and invasion.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

CRC cells must invade through the basement membrane of the colon and migrate to form metastases. CRC cells are known to overexpress IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR), c-Met, and uPAR, 3 cell-surface receptors known to mediate cell migration and invasion. We hypothesized that IGF-IR and c-Met cooperate to induce migration and invasion in CRC cells and that this signaling is dependent on uPAR.

METHODS

KM12L4 human CRC cells were treated with IGF-I, HGF, or IGF-I + HGF in transwell migration and invasion chambers; cells that had migrated or invaded were counted. To determine the role of c-Met in IGF-I-induced migration and invasion, c-Met was inhibited by infection of cells with an adenovirus containing a c-Met ribozyme; transwell assays were then repeated. To determine the role of the uPA/uPAR system in IGF-I-induced CRC cell migration and invasion, transwell assays were repeated after pretreating cells with the uPA inhibitor amiloride or with neutralizing antibodies to uPA and uPAR.

RESULTS

IGF-I and HGF, alone or in combination, increased cell migration and invasion. The c-Met ribozyme inhibited IGF-I- and HGF-mediated migration and invasion, indicating that c-Met is essential for these processes. uPA and uPAR inhibition blocked IGF-I- and HGF-mediated migration and invasion, suggesting that uPAR is downstream of IGF/IGF-IR and HGF/c-Met in the signaling pathways that mediate cell migration and invasion.

CONCLUSIONS

IGF-I and HGF cooperate to induce migration and invasion of CRC cells, and c-Met and uPA/uPAR are required for IGF-I-mediated migration and invasion. In our in vitro model of CRC migration and invasion, uPA and uPAR appear to be downstream of IGF-IR and c-Met and are required for migration and invasion. Elucidation of the pathways that contribute to tumor progression and metastasis should provide a foundation for the rational development and use of targeted therapies for CRC.