SHP2 promotes the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in triple negative breast cancer cells by regulating β-catenin
Abstract Purpose Growing evidence suggests that the tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 is pivotal for tumor progression. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most lethal subtype of breast cancer, characterized by its high recurrence rate, aggressive metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapy. Understa...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-025-06097-x |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832572102771736576 |
|---|---|
| author | Shihan Qian Jingjing Zhu Qing Han Huang Cheng Huaibin Zhou |
| author_facet | Shihan Qian Jingjing Zhu Qing Han Huang Cheng Huaibin Zhou |
| author_sort | Shihan Qian |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Purpose Growing evidence suggests that the tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 is pivotal for tumor progression. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most lethal subtype of breast cancer, characterized by its high recurrence rate, aggressive metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapy. Understanding the mechanisms of tumorigenesis and the underlying molecular pathways in TNBC could aid in identifying new therapeutic targets. Methods In this study, we conducted bioinformatics analysis of the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases to examine PTPN11 (encoding SHP2) expression levels and perform survival analysis in TNBC. Additionally, we analyzed SHP2 levels in four TNBC cell lines and a normal breast epithelial cell line using Western blot. Furthermore, we knocked down SHP2 expression via RNA interference in three TNBC cell lines. To assess the impact of SHP2 on invasion and migration, we conducted transwell assays and wound healing experiments. An in vivo experiment utilizing a mouse xenograft model was also performed to evaluate tumor metastasis. Moreover, we detected the expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) biomarkers and investigated the mechanism between SHP2 and β-catenin using Western blot and immunofluorescence experiments. Results We found that high SHP2 expression was associated with a poor prognosis in patients with TNBC. The migratory and invasive abilities of TNBC cells in vitro, as well as the metastatic potential of TNBC in mouse xenograft models, were reduced after SHP2 depletion. Downregulation of SHP2 also decreased the expression of mesenchymal markers but induced upregulation of the epithelial marker E-cadherin. Additionally, SHP2 promoted β-catenin stability by inhibiting its degradation via the proteasome. Furthermore, c-Myc expression and GSK3β and AKT phosphorylation, which are involved in β-catenin signaling, were decreased in SHP2-depleted TNBC cells. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that SHP2 is involved in migration, invasion, and EMT in TNBC cells by modulating β-catenin. Manipulating SHP2 expression or its target protein β-catenin may offer a novel approach to TNBC therapy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e143e70eb26849d3949e59f2cbdf2d1d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1432-1335 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology |
| spelling | doaj-art-e143e70eb26849d3949e59f2cbdf2d1d2025-02-02T12:07:09ZengSpringerJournal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology1432-13352025-01-01151211210.1007/s00432-025-06097-xSHP2 promotes the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in triple negative breast cancer cells by regulating β-cateninShihan Qian0Jingjing Zhu1Qing Han2Huang Cheng3Huaibin Zhou4Clinical Research Center, School of Medicine, Women’s Hospital, Zhejiang UniversityKey Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education of China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical UniversityKey Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education of China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical UniversityKey Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education of China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical UniversityKey Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, Ministry of Education of China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical UniversityAbstract Purpose Growing evidence suggests that the tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 is pivotal for tumor progression. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most lethal subtype of breast cancer, characterized by its high recurrence rate, aggressive metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapy. Understanding the mechanisms of tumorigenesis and the underlying molecular pathways in TNBC could aid in identifying new therapeutic targets. Methods In this study, we conducted bioinformatics analysis of the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases to examine PTPN11 (encoding SHP2) expression levels and perform survival analysis in TNBC. Additionally, we analyzed SHP2 levels in four TNBC cell lines and a normal breast epithelial cell line using Western blot. Furthermore, we knocked down SHP2 expression via RNA interference in three TNBC cell lines. To assess the impact of SHP2 on invasion and migration, we conducted transwell assays and wound healing experiments. An in vivo experiment utilizing a mouse xenograft model was also performed to evaluate tumor metastasis. Moreover, we detected the expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) biomarkers and investigated the mechanism between SHP2 and β-catenin using Western blot and immunofluorescence experiments. Results We found that high SHP2 expression was associated with a poor prognosis in patients with TNBC. The migratory and invasive abilities of TNBC cells in vitro, as well as the metastatic potential of TNBC in mouse xenograft models, were reduced after SHP2 depletion. Downregulation of SHP2 also decreased the expression of mesenchymal markers but induced upregulation of the epithelial marker E-cadherin. Additionally, SHP2 promoted β-catenin stability by inhibiting its degradation via the proteasome. Furthermore, c-Myc expression and GSK3β and AKT phosphorylation, which are involved in β-catenin signaling, were decreased in SHP2-depleted TNBC cells. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that SHP2 is involved in migration, invasion, and EMT in TNBC cells by modulating β-catenin. Manipulating SHP2 expression or its target protein β-catenin may offer a novel approach to TNBC therapy.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-025-06097-xEpithelial-mesenchymal transitionTriple negative breast cancerSHP2β-cateninGSK3βAKT |
| spellingShingle | Shihan Qian Jingjing Zhu Qing Han Huang Cheng Huaibin Zhou SHP2 promotes the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in triple negative breast cancer cells by regulating β-catenin Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology Epithelial-mesenchymal transition Triple negative breast cancer SHP2 β-catenin GSK3β AKT |
| title | SHP2 promotes the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in triple negative breast cancer cells by regulating β-catenin |
| title_full | SHP2 promotes the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in triple negative breast cancer cells by regulating β-catenin |
| title_fullStr | SHP2 promotes the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in triple negative breast cancer cells by regulating β-catenin |
| title_full_unstemmed | SHP2 promotes the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in triple negative breast cancer cells by regulating β-catenin |
| title_short | SHP2 promotes the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in triple negative breast cancer cells by regulating β-catenin |
| title_sort | shp2 promotes the epithelial mesenchymal transition in triple negative breast cancer cells by regulating β catenin |
| topic | Epithelial-mesenchymal transition Triple negative breast cancer SHP2 β-catenin GSK3β AKT |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-025-06097-x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shihanqian shp2promotestheepithelialmesenchymaltransitionintriplenegativebreastcancercellsbyregulatingbcatenin AT jingjingzhu shp2promotestheepithelialmesenchymaltransitionintriplenegativebreastcancercellsbyregulatingbcatenin AT qinghan shp2promotestheepithelialmesenchymaltransitionintriplenegativebreastcancercellsbyregulatingbcatenin AT huangcheng shp2promotestheepithelialmesenchymaltransitionintriplenegativebreastcancercellsbyregulatingbcatenin AT huaibinzhou shp2promotestheepithelialmesenchymaltransitionintriplenegativebreastcancercellsbyregulatingbcatenin |