The scaffold protein IQGAP1 is crucial for extravasation and metastasis

Sci Rep. 2020 Feb 12;10(1):2439. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-59438-w.

Abstract

IQGAP1 is a scaffold protein involved in a range of cellular activities, including migration, invasion, adhesion and proliferation. It is also oncogenic in a variety of cancers, promoting primary tumor growth and invasiveness. However, the role of IQGAP1 in tumor progression and metastasis remains unclear. In this study, we use both knockdown and knockout of IQGAP1 to investigate its role in the metastatic cascade of both melanoma and breast cancer cells in vivo. We find that reduction of IQGAP1 expression decreases the formation of both spontaneous and experimental metastases, without limiting primary or metastatic tumor growth. Furthermore, IQGAP1 knockout significantly inhibits extravasation of tumor cells from circulation, possibly involving invadopodial function. By expressing mutant forms of IQGAP1 in a knockout context, we also determine that IQGAP1's pro-metastatic functions are dependent on multiple domains and functions. These data demonstrate that IQGAP1 is crucial for metastasis in vivo through regulation of extravasation and suggest that it may represent a valid therapeutic target for inhibiting metastasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • Humans
  • Melanoma / genetics*
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / genetics
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / pathology
  • ras GTPase-Activating Proteins / genetics*

Substances

  • IQ motif containing GTPase activating protein 1
  • ras GTPase-Activating Proteins