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Targeting FAK scaffold functions inhibits human renal cell carcinoma growth
Author(s) -
Béraud Claire,
Dormoy Valérian,
Danilin Sabrina,
Lindner Véronique,
Béthry Audrey,
Hochane Mazène,
Coquard Catherine,
Barthelmebs Mariette,
Jacqmin Didier,
Lang Hervé,
Massfelder Thierry
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.29522
Subject(s) - focal adhesion , carcinogenesis , cell growth , cancer research , signal transduction , microbiology and biotechnology , cell , biology , gene knockdown , cell culture , cell migration , chemistry , apoptosis , cancer , biochemistry , genetics
Human conventional renal cell carcinoma (CCC) remains resistant to current therapies. Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) is upregulated in many epithelial tumors and clearly implicated in nearly all facets of cancer. However, only few reports have assessed whether FAK may be associated with renal tumorigenesis. In this study, we investigated the potential role of FAK in the growth of human CCC using a panel of CCC cell lines expressing or not the von Hippel‐Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene as well as normal/tumoral renal tissue pairs. FAK was found constitutively expressed in human CCC both in culture cells and freshly harvested tumors obtained from patients. We showed that CCC cell growth was dramatically reduced in FAK‐depleted cells or after FAK inhibition with various inhibitors and this effect was obtained through inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of cell apoptosis. Additionally, our results indicated that FAK knockdown decreased CCC cell migration and invasion. More importantly, depletion or pharmacological inhibition of FAK substantially inhibited tumor growth in vivo . Interestingly, investigations of the molecular mechanism revealed loss of FAK phosphorylation during renal tumorigenesis impacting multiple signaling pathways. Taken together, our findings reveal a previously uncharacterized role of FAK in CCC whereby FAK exerts oncogenic properties through a non canonical signaling pathway involving its scaffolding kinase‐independent properties. Therefore, targeting the FAK scaffold may represent a promising approach for developing innovative and highly specific therapies in human CCC.