IMP3 promotes stem-like properties in triple-negative breast cancer by regulating SLUG.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-3-2016

JAX Source

Oncogene 2016 Mar 3; 35(9):1111-21.

Volume

35

Issue

9

First Page

1111

Last Page

1121

ISSN

1476-5594

PMID

25982283

Grant

CA168464, CA034196, AI46629

Abstract

IMP3 (insulin-like growth factor-2 mRNA binding protein 3) is an oncofetal protein whose expression is prognostic for poor outcome in several cancers. Although IMP3 is expressed preferentially in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), its function is poorly understood. We observed that IMP3 expression is significantly higher in tumor initiating than in non-tumor initiating breast cancer cells and we demonstrate that IMP3 contributes to self-renewal and tumor initiation, properties associated with cancer stem cells (CSCs). The mechanism by which IMP3 contributes to this phenotype involves its ability to induce the stem cell factor SOX2. IMP3 does not interact with SOX2 mRNA significantly or regulate SOX2 expression directly. We discovered that IMP3 binds avidly to SNAI2 (SLUG) mRNA and regulates its expression by binding to the 5' UTR. This finding is significant because SLUG has been implicated in breast CSCs and TNBC. Moreover, we show that SOX2 is a transcriptional target of SLUG. These data establish a novel mechanism of breast tumor initiation involving IMP3 and they provide a rationale for its association with aggressive disease and poor outcome. Oncogene 2016 Mar 3; 35(9):1111-21.

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS