The KRAS-variant and its impact on normal breast epithelial cell biology

Cell Death Differ. 2019 Dec;26(12):2568-2576. doi: 10.1038/s41418-019-0320-y. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Abstract

MicroRNA (miRNA)-binding site variants in 3' untranslated regions (3'UTRs) are a novel class of germ-line, functional mutations, which are now recognized as powerful biomarkers of human cancer risk and biology. The first mutation discovered in this class is the KRAS-variant, a let-7-binding site mutation in the 3'UTR of the KRAS oncogene. The KRAS-variant predicts increased cancer risk for certain populations, is a predictive biomarker of cancer treatment response across cancer types, leads to conserved tumor biology and elevated AKT signaling in KRAS-variant patient tumors, and was recently found to predict elevated TGF-β and immunosuppression in cancer patients. Based on the functional biology of the KRAS-variant in cancer patients, here we chose to investigate altered normal cellular biology in the presence of the KRAS-variant, through interrogation of an isogenic normal breast epithelial cell line model with and without the KRAS-variant. We find that KRAS-variant normal breast epithelial cells exhibit a mesenchymal phenotype, which appears to be due to numerous molecular changes, including miRNA dysregulation and autocrine pathway alterations, including elevated TGF-β, resulting in ZEB and SNAIL upregulation. Our findings support the hypothesis that the KRAS-variant has a fundamental biological impact on normal cellular biology, that is conserved in these patients when they develop cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Breast / cytology*
  • Breast / enzymology*
  • Breast / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology*
  • Epithelial Cells / enzymology*
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / metabolism*

Substances

  • KRAS protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)