Activation of KRAS promotes the mesenchymal features of basal-type breast cancer

作者：Kim Rae Kwon; Suh Yongjoon; Yoo Ki Chun; Cui Yan Hong; Kim Hyeonmi; Kim Min Jung; Kim In Gyu; Lee Su Jae^*

来源：Experimental and Molecular Medicine, 2015, 47(1): e137.

DOI：10.1038/emm.2014.99

Basal-type breast cancers are among the most aggressive and deadly breast cancer subtypes, displaying a high metastatic ability associated with mesenchymal features. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the maintenance of mesenchymal phenotypes of basal-type breast cancer cells remain obscure. Here, we report that KRAS is a critical regulator for the maintenance of mesenchymal features in basal-type breast cancer cells. KRAS is preferentially activated in basal-type breast cancer cells as compared with luminal type. By loss and gain of KRAS, we found that KRAS is necessary and sufficient for the maintenance of mesenchymal phenotypes and metastatic ability through SLUG expression. Taken together, this study demonstrates that KRAS is a critical regulator for the metastatic behavior associated with mesenchymal features of breast cancer cells, implicating a novel therapeutic target for basal-type breast cancer.

• 出版日期2015-1