EphA receptors regulate prostate cancer cell dissemination through Vav2-RhoA mediated cell-cell repulsion

Jennifer Batson, Lucy Maccarthy-Morrogh, Amy Archer, Helen Tanton, Catherine D Nobes

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

34 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Metastatic prostate cancer cells display EphB receptor-mediated attraction when they contact stromal fibroblasts but EphA-driven repulsion when they contact one another. The impact of these 'social' interactions between cells during cancer cell invasion and the signalling mechanisms downstream of Eph receptors are unclear. Here we show that EphA receptors regulate prostate cancer cell dissemination in a 2D dispersal assay and in a 3D cancer cell spheroid assay. We show that EphA receptors signal via the exchange factor Vav2 to activate RhoA and that both Vav2 and RhoA are required for prostate cancer cell-cell repulsion. Furthermore, we find that in EphA2/EphA4, Vav2 or RhoA siRNA-treated cells, contact repulsion can be restored by partial microtubule destabilisation. We propose that EphA-Vav2-RhoA-mediated repulsion between contacting cancer cells at the tumour edge could enhance their local invasion away from the primary tumour.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)453-62
Number of pages10
JournalBiology Open
Volume3
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Jun 2014

Bibliographical note

© 2014. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'EphA receptors regulate prostate cancer cell dissemination through Vav2-RhoA mediated cell-cell repulsion'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this