EphA2-YES1-ANXA2 pathway promotes gastric cancer progression and metastasis

Oncogene. 2021 May;40(20):3610-3623. doi: 10.1038/s41388-021-01786-6. Epub 2021 May 3.

Abstract

Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular receptor A2 (EphA2) is a key member of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family, while YES Proto-Oncogene 1 (YES1) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase (nRTK) and annexin A2 (ANXA2) belongs to the calcium-dependent phospholipid-binding protein family annexins. Here, we show that EphA2, YES1, and ANXA2 form a signal axis, in which YES1 activated by EphA2 phosphorylates ANXA2 at Tyr24 site, leading to ANXA2 activation and increased ANXA2 nuclear distribution in gastric cancer (GC) cells. Overexpression (OE) of YES1 increases, while knockdown (KD) of YES1 or ANXA2 decreases GC cell invasion and migration in vitro and tumor growth in mouse models. Reexpression of wildtype (WT) rather than mutant ANXA2 (Tyr24F) in ANXA2 knockdown (ANXA2-KD) GC cells restores YES1-induced cell invasion and migration, while neither WT nor mutant ANXA2 (Tyr24F) can restore cell invasion and migration in YES1-KD GC cells. In addition, the activation of EphA2-YES1-ANXA2 pathway is correlated with poor prognosis. Thus, our results establish EphA2-YES1-ANXA2 axis as a novel pathway that drives GC invasion and metastasis, targeting this pathway would be an efficient way for the treatment of GC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Annexin A2 / genetics
  • Annexin A2 / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, SCID
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-yes / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-yes / metabolism*
  • Receptor, EphA2 / genetics
  • Receptor, EphA2 / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Stomach Neoplasms / genetics
  • Stomach Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Survival Rate
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • ANXA2 protein, human
  • Annexin A2
  • EPHA2 protein, human
  • Receptor, EphA2
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-yes
  • YES1 protein, human