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CCN6: a modulator of breast cancer progression

Andrew Leask1,2

  • 1Department of Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Dental Sciences Building, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada. Andrew.leask@schulich.uwo.ca.

Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling
|April 18, 2016
PubMed

Insights

CCN6 (WISP3) protein expression loss correlates with aggressive breast cancers. Modulating Notch signaling with CCN6 may offer a novel therapeutic strategy against metastatic breast cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The CCN family of matricellular proteins is dysregulated in fibrosis and metastatic cancers.
  • Reduced CCN6 (WISP3) expression is linked to aggressive breast cancers.
  • Loss of CCN6 is associated with elevated Akt phosphorylation and TAK1 activation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of CCN6 in maintaining epithelial phenotype and reducing cancer cell migration and invasion.
  • To explore CCN6 as a potential therapeutic target for aggressive breast cancers.

Main Methods:

  • Modulation of Notch signaling pathways.
  • Analysis of cancer cell migration, invasion, and tumor initiation.
  • Assessment of metastasis in preclinical models.

Main Results:

  • Modulating Notch signaling with CCN6 promotes epithelial phenotype maintenance.
  • CCN6 reduces cancer cell migration, invasion, tumor initiation, and metastasis.
  • These findings support CCN6's role in suppressing aggressive cancer phenotypes.

Conclusions:

  • CCN6 plays a crucial role in suppressing aggressive breast cancer characteristics.
  • CCN6 peptides represent a potential novel therapeutic strategy for blocking metastatic breast cancers.
Keywords:
Breast cancerCCN familyCCN2CCN6CTGFMetastasisWISP3

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