Nexus of signaling and endocytosis in oncogenesis driven by non-small cell lung cancer-associated epidermal growth factor receptor mutants - PubMed (original) (raw)

Review

Nexus of signaling and endocytosis in oncogenesis driven by non-small cell lung cancer-associated epidermal growth factor receptor mutants

Byung Min Chung et al. World J Clin Oncol. 2014.

Abstract

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) controls a wide range of cellular processes, and aberrant EGFR signaling as a result of receptor overexpression and/or mutation occurs in many types of cancer. Tumor cells in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients that harbor EGFR kinase domain mutations exhibit oncogene addiction to mutant EGFR, which confers high sensitivity to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). As patients invariably develop resistance to TKIs, it is important to delineate the cell biological basis of mutant EGFR-induced cellular transformation since components of these pathways can serve as alternate therapeutic targets to preempt or overcome resistance. NSCLC-associated EGFR mutants are constitutively-active and induce ligand-independent transformation in nonmalignant cell lines. Emerging data suggest that a number of factors are critical for the mutant EGFR-dependent tumorigenicity, and bypassing the effects of TKIs on these pathways promotes drug resistance. For example, activation of downstream pathways such as Akt, Erk, STAT3 and Src is critical for mutant EGFR-mediated biological processes. It is now well-established that the potency and spatiotemporal features of cellular signaling by receptor tyrosine kinases such as EGFR, as well as the specific pathways activated, is determined by the nature of endocytic traffic pathways through which the active receptors traverse. Recent evidence indicates that NSCLC-associated mutant EGFRs exhibit altered endocytic trafficking and they exhibit reduced Cbl ubiquitin ligase-mediated lysosomal downregulation. More recent work has shown that mutant EGFRs undergo ligand-independent traffic into the endocytic recycling compartment, a behavior that plays a key role in Src pathway activation and oncogenesis. These studies are beginning to delineate the close nexus between signaling and endocytic traffic of EGFR mutants as a key driver of oncogenic processes. Therefore, in this review, we will discuss the links between mutant EGFR signaling and endocytic properties, and introduce potential mechanisms by which altered endocytic properties of mutant EGFRs may alter signaling and vice versa as well as their implications for NSCLC therapy.

Keywords: Cbl; Endocytosis; Epidermal growth factor receptor; Non-small cell lung cancer; Signaling; Src; Ubiquitination.

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Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1

Model of mutant epidermal growth factor receptor endocytic trafficking. Upon ligand binding, activated wtEGFR becomes internalized and localized to endosomes. Internalized EGFR has been linked to Erk and Akt activation. Depending on type of ligand bound, ligand concentration, dimerization partner, mutational statuses and/or availability of other regulators, wtEGFR may recycle to cell surface or be sorted to lysosomes. EGFR bound to EGF is mostly targeted for lysosomes, where it becomes degraded. Sorting of ligand-induced wtEGFR to lysosome is mediated by E3 ubiquitin ligase Cbl which remains attached to receptor throughout endocytosis. Mutant EGFR, however, escapes ligand-induced downregulation through decreased interaction with Cbl, enhanced dimerization with ErbB2, which prefers recycling pathway, and/or constitutive interaction with Src, which antagonizes Cbl. EGFR: Epidermal growth factor receptor.

Figure 2

Figure 2

Mutant epidermal growth factor receptor vs wt-epidermal growth factor receptor signaling. While wtEGFR signaling to Akt and Erk is subjected to Cbl-mediated degradation, mutant EGFR cooperates with Src to exaggerate signaling through downstream effectors. EGFR: Epidermal growth factor receptor.

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