Loss of tumor suppressor Merlin results in aberrant activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in cancer.

ABSTRACT: The expression of the tumor suppressor Merlin is compromised in nervous system malignancies due to genomic aberrations. We demonstrated for the first time, that in breast cancer, Merlin protein expression is lost due to proteasome-mediated elimination. Immunohistochemical analysis of tumor tissues from patients with metastatic breast cancer revealed characteristically reduced Merlin expression. Importantly, we identified a functional role for Merlin in impeding breast tumor xenograft growth and reducing invasive characteristics. We sought to determine a possible mechanism by which Merlin accomplishes this reduction in malignant activity. We observed that breast and pancreatic cancer cells with loss of Merlin show an aberrant increase in the activity of β-catenin concomitant with nuclear lo

SUBMITTER: Morrow KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4951266 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature