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mTOR regulate EMT through RhoA and Rac1 pathway in prostate cancer

XianGuo Chen1, HaiYan Cheng2,3, TengFei Pan1

  • 1Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, PR China.

Molecular Carcinogenesis
|July 22, 2014
PubMed

Insights

mTOR signaling pathways, specifically Raptor and Rictor, are elevated in prostate cancer, driving tumor cell migration and invasion. Inhibiting these pathways can reduce metastasis by impacting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Emerging research highlights the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway's role in cancer cell motility, invasion, and metastasis.
  • The specific signaling mechanisms by which mTOR regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in prostate cancer remain largely unelucidated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of Raptor and Rictor, components of mTORC1 and mTORC2, in prostate cancer progression and metastasis.
  • To elucidate the signaling pathways through which mTOR regulates EMT in prostate cancer cells.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of Raptor and Rictor expression levels in prostate cancer tissues.
  • Inhibition of mTORC1 and mTORC2 via Raptor and Rictor knockdown.
  • Assessment of prostate cancer cell migration and invasion.
  • Evaluation of EMT markers (E-cadherin, β-catenin, N-cadherin, vimentin) and small GTPases (RhoA, Rac1) expression and activity.

Main Results:

  • Elevated expression of Raptor and Rictor was observed in prostate cancer tissues, correlating with disease progression.
  • Knockdown of Raptor or Rictor significantly attenuated prostate cancer cell migration and invasion.
  • Inhibition of Raptor or Rictor led to changes in EMT markers and inactivation of RhoA and Rac1 signaling pathways.

Conclusions:

  • mTOR signaling, through Raptor and Rictor, plays a critical role in regulating prostate cancer cell migration, invasion, and EMT.
  • mTOR regulates EMT, at least partly, by downregulating RhoA and Rac1 signaling pathways.
  • Inhibition of mTOR signaling pathways presents a promising therapeutic strategy to retard prostate cancer metastasis in early stages.
Keywords:
EMTmTORprostate cancer

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