Reciprocal stabilization of CtBP and TRIM28 represses autophagy to promote metastasis

Deciphering the processes through which cancer cells overcome stress, escape a repressive microenvironment and metastasize remains a challenge. Autophagy has been demonstrated to regulate cancer metastasis and C-terminal binding protein (CtBP) has been previously implicated in promoting metastasis in breast cancer. Here we identify the formation of a complex between CtBP and tripartite-motif-containing protein 28 (TRIM28) in the nucleus. Interestingly, this complex regulates the stability of both proteins, as the removal of either partner leads to degradation of the other. Furthermore, the stability of this complex in the nucleus inhibits autophagy through two independent mechanisms. Firstly, the formation of the complex sequesters TRIM28 in the nucleus, preventing its involvement in and its degradation through autophagy. Secondly, this complex participates in the suppression of PTEN expression and leads to inhibition of Unc-51-like kinase 1-mediated autophagy through activation of the protein kinase B-mammalian target of rapamycin pathway. Using mammary gland-specific CtBP-knockout mice, we demonstrate that repression of autophagy by the CtBP-TRIM28 complex modulates luminal duct formation. In breast cancer models, CtBP-TRIM28-dependent inhibition of cellular autophagy also promotes malignant metastasis. Therefore, our study reveals similarities between the mechanisms driving tumor progression and those involved in normal mammary gland development, potentially helping to pave the way toward targeted intervention in breast cancer metastasis.