E-cadherin can limit the transforming properties of activating β-catenin mutations

• Published in: The EMBO journal Vol. 34; no. 18; pp. 2321 - 2333
• Main Authors: Huels, David J, Ridgway, Rachel A, Radulescu, Sorina, Leushacke, Marc, Campbell, Andrew D, Biswas, Sujata, Leedham, Simon, Serra, Stefano, Chetty, Runjan, Moreaux, Guenievre, Parry, Lee, Matthews, James, Song, Fei, Hedley, Ann, Kalna, Gabriela, Ceteci, Fatih, Reed, Karen R, Meniel, Valerie S, Maguire, Aoife, Doyle, Brendan, Söderberg, Ola, Barker, Nick, Watson, Alastair, Larue, Lionel, Clarke, Alan R, Sansom, Owen J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Blackwell Publishing Ltd 14-09-2015; Nature Publishing Group UK; John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
• Subjects: Animals; APC; beta Catenin - genetics; beta Catenin - metabolism; beta-catenin; Cadherins - genetics; Cadherins - metabolism; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - genetics; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - metabolism; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - pathology; Colonic Neoplasms - genetics; Colonic Neoplasms - metabolism; Colonic Neoplasms - pathology; colorectal cancer; E-cadherin; EMBO03; EMBO05; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Mutation; Neoplasm Proteins - genetics; Neoplasm Proteins - metabolism; Wnt Signaling Pathway; β-catenin; colorectal cancer; APC; β‐catenin; E‐cadherin
• ISSN: 0261-4189; 1460-2075; 1460-2075
• DOI: 10.15252/embj.201591739

Wnt pathway deregulation is a common characteristic of many cancers. Only colorectal cancer predominantly harbours mutations in
APC
, whereas other cancer types (hepatocellular carcinoma, solid pseudopapillary tumours of the pancreas) have activating mutations in β‐catenin
(CTNNB1)
. We have compared the dynamics and the potency of β‐catenin mutations
in vivo
. Within the murine small intestine (SI), an activating mutation of β‐catenin took much longer to achieve Wnt deregulation and acquire a crypt‐progenitor cell (CPC) phenotype than
Apc
or
Gsk3
loss. Within the colon, a single activating mutation of β‐catenin was unable to drive Wnt deregulation or induce the CPC phenotype. This ability of β‐catenin mutation to differentially transform the SI versus the colon correlated with higher expression of E‐cadherin and a higher number of E‐cadherin:β‐catenin complexes at the membrane. Reduction in E‐cadherin synergised with an activating mutation of β‐catenin resulting in a rapid CPC phenotype within the SI and colon. Thus, there is a threshold of β‐catenin that is required to drive transformation, and E‐cadherin can act as a buffer to sequester mutated β‐catenin.
Synopsis
In contrast to other Wnt‐driven malignancies colorectal cancer is usually linked to APC loss, and very rarely to β‐catenin activating mutations. Different E‐cadherin levels can explain the variation in transforming potential of β‐catenin mutations in different tumors.
Activating β‐catenin mutations in the mouse small intestine but not the colon lead to Wnt‐activation.
Increased E‐cadherin levels can buffer mutated β‐catenin in the colon epithelium.
β‐catenin activating mutations are linked to human cancers that show reduced levels of E‐cadherin.
Graphical Abstract
In contrast to other Wnt‐driven malignancies colorectal cancer is usually linked to APC loss, and very rarely to β‐catenin activating mutations. Different E‐cadherin levels can explain the variation in transforming potential of β‐catenin mutations in different tumors.