Reference SummaryAndrijes R, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021 Sep 28;118(39):

Title

Tetraspanin 6 is a regulator of carcinogenesis in colorectal cancer.

Authors

Andrijes R; Hejmadi RK; Pugh M; Rajesh S; Novitskaya V; Ibrahim M; Overduin M; Tselepis C; Middleton GW; Gyorffy B; Beggs AD; Berditchevski F

Journal

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Volume

118

Issue

39

Year

2021

Pages

Abstract

Early stages of colorectal cancer (CRC) development are characterized by a complex rewiring of transcriptional networks resulting in changes in the expression of multiple genes. Here, we demonstrate that the deletion of a poorly studied tetraspanin protein Tspan6 in Apc(min/+) mice, a well-established model for premalignant CRC, resulted in increased incidence of adenoma formation and tumor size. We demonstrate that the effect of Tspan6 deletion results in the activation of EGF-dependent signaling pathways through increased production of the transmembrane form of TGF-alpha (tmTGF-alpha) associated with extracellular vesicles. This pathway is modulated by an adaptor protein syntenin-1, which physically links Tspan6 and tmTGF-alpha. In support of this, the expression of Tspan6 is frequently decreased or lost in CRC, and this correlates with poor survival. Furthermore, the analysis of samples from the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeting clinical trial (COIN trial) has shown that the expression of Tspan6 in CRC correlated with better patient responses to EGFR-targeted therapy involving Cetuximab. Importantly, Tspan6-positive patients with tumors in the proximal colon (right-sided) and those with KRAS mutations had a better response to Cetuximab than the patients that expressed low Tspan6 levels. These results identify Tspan6 as a regulator of CRC development and a potential predictive marker for EGFR-targeted therapies in CRC beyond RAS pathway mutations.

Links

J:311175 – MGI References
34521767 – National Library of Medicine/PubMed

Models

Strain Model Name Treatment Agent(s) Organ Affected Frequency Model Details
C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ Intestine - Large Intestine - Colon adenoma Intestine - Large Intestine - Colon

0

C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ Tspan6tm2Vlcg Intestine - Large Intestine - Colon adenoma Intestine - Large Intestine - Colon

39.13

C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ Intestine - Large Intestine - Colon dysplasia - high grade Intestine - Large Intestine - Colon

0

C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ Tspan6tm2Vlcg Intestine - Large Intestine - Colon dysplasia - high grade Intestine - Large Intestine - Colon

39.13

C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ Intestine - Large Intestine - Colon dysplasia - low grade Intestine - Large Intestine - Colon

15.79

C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ Tspan6tm2Vlcg Intestine - Large Intestine - Colon dysplasia - low grade Intestine - Large Intestine - Colon

65.22

C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ Intestine - Large Intestine - Colon polyp Intestine - Large Intestine - Colon

very low

C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ Intestine - Large Intestine polyp Intestine - Large Intestine

very low

C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ Intestine - Small Intestine adenoma Intestine - Small Intestine

5.26 - 94.74

C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ Tspan6tm2Vlcg Intestine - Small Intestine adenoma Intestine - Small Intestine

43.48 - 86.96

C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ Intestine - Small Intestine dysplasia - high grade Intestine - Small Intestine

5.26

C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ Tspan6tm2Vlcg Intestine - Small Intestine dysplasia - high grade Intestine - Small Intestine

43.48

C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ Intestine - Small Intestine dysplasia - low grade Intestine - Small Intestine

94.74

C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ Tspan6tm2Vlcg Intestine - Small Intestine dysplasia - low grade Intestine - Small Intestine

86.96

C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ Intestine - Small Intestine lesion Intestine - Small Intestine

observed

C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ Tspan6tm2Vlcg Intestine - Small Intestine lesion Intestine - Small Intestine

0

C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ Intestine - Small Intestine lesion - malignant Intestine - Small Intestine

0

C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ Tspan6tm2Vlcg Intestine - Small Intestine lesion - malignant Intestine - Small Intestine

observed

C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ Intestine - Small Intestine polyp Intestine - Small Intestine

observed

C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ Intestine lesion Intestine

observed

C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ Tspan6tm2Vlcg Intestine lesion Intestine

observed

C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ Intestine polyp Intestine

observed - 100

C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ Tspan6tm2Vlcg Intestine polyp Intestine

observed - 100

C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ Intestine tumor Intestine

observed

C57BL/6J-ApcMin/+ Tspan6tm2Vlcg Intestine tumor Intestine

observed