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Specific deletion of focal adhesion kinase suppresses tumor formation and blocks malignant progression

Gordon W McLean1, Noboru H Komiyama, Bryan Serrels

  • 1The Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Garscube Estate, Bearsden, Glasgow, G61 1BD, United Kingdom. g.mclean@beatson.gla.ac.uk

Genes & Development
|December 17, 2004
PubMed

Insights

This study shows that deleting the focal adhesion kinase (FAK) gene in mice suppresses skin tumor formation and progression. FAK deletion also increases skin cell death, impacting cancer development.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Dermatology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a non-receptor protein tyrosine kinase.
  • FAK plays a role in cell signaling pathways regulating cell proliferation, survival, and migration.
  • The role of FAK in skin tumorigenesis is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of FAK in skin tumor initiation and progression using a genetically engineered mouse model.
  • To determine the effects of FAK deletion on keratinocyte behavior in vitro and in vivo.

Main Methods:

  • Generated mice with a floxed FAK allele controlled by a keratin-14-driven Cre-estrogen receptor (CreER(T2)) system.
  • Administered 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen to induce FAK deletion in the epidermis.
  • Assessed chemically induced skin tumor formation and progression.
  • Evaluated keratinocyte migration and cell death in vitro and in vivo.
  • Examined wound re-epithelialization in vivo.

Main Results:

  • FAK deletion in the epidermis suppressed chemically induced skin tumor formation.
  • Loss of FAK inhibited malignant progression of existing benign tumors.
  • FAK deletion reduced keratinocyte migration in vitro but did not affect wound re-epithelialization in vivo.
  • Increased keratinocyte cell death (apoptosis) was observed both in vitro and in vivo following FAK deletion.

Conclusions:

  • This study provides the first experimental evidence implicating FAK in skin tumorigenesis.
  • FAK plays a critical role in promoting skin tumor development and progression.
  • FAK inhibition may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for skin cancer by promoting apoptosis.

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