Pten and Dicer1 loss in the mouse uterus causes poorly differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma

Oncogene. 2020 Oct;39(40):6286-6299. doi: 10.1038/s41388-020-01434-5. Epub 2020 Aug 25.

Abstract

Endometrial cancer remains the most common gynecological malignancy in the United States. While the loss of the tumor suppressor, PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog), is well studied in endometrial cancer, recent studies suggest that DICER1, the endoribonuclease responsible for miRNA genesis, also plays a significant role in endometrial adenocarcinoma. Conditional uterine deletion of Dicer1 and Pten in mice resulted in poorly differentiated endometrial adenocarcinomas, which expressed Napsin A and HNF1B (hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 homeobox B), markers of clear-cell adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinomas were hormone-independent. Treatment with progesterone did not mitigate poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, nor did it affect adnexal metastasis. Transcriptomic analyses of DICER1 deleted uteri or Ishikawa cells revealed unique transcriptomic profiles and global miRNA downregulation. Computational integration of miRNA with mRNA targets revealed deregulated let-7 and miR-16 target genes, similar to published human DICER1-mutant endometrial cancers from TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas). Similar to human endometrial cancers, tumors exhibited dysregulation of ephrin-receptor signaling and transforming growth factor-beta signaling pathways. LIM kinase 2 (LIMK2), an essential molecule in p21 signal transduction, was significantly upregulated and represents a novel mechanism for hormone-independent pathogenesis of endometrial adenocarcinoma. This preclinical mouse model represents the first genetically engineered mouse model of poorly differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / pathology*
  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases / genetics*
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / genetics
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Endometrium / pathology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • Humans
  • Lim Kinases / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / genetics*
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase / metabolism
  • RNA-Seq
  • Ribonuclease III / genetics*
  • Ribonuclease III / metabolism

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • Lim Kinases
  • Limk2 protein, mouse
  • DICER1 protein, human
  • Dicer1 protein, mouse
  • Ribonuclease III
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • Pten protein, mouse
  • DEAD-box RNA Helicases