Activin is a growth suppressive member of the TGFbeta super-family. It initiates its signaling via a specific receptor, activin receptor type 2 (ACVR2), that subsequently phosphorylates receptor type 1 to activate a signaling cascade via nuclear translocation of SMAD proteins. We show that mutation of ACVR2 occurs in 83% of primary colorectal cancers with high frequency microsatellite instability (MSI-H) leading to complete loss of protein expression due to a frameshift in an exon 10 polyadenine tract within ACVR2. Thus, the goal of this project is to understand the role of activin signaling in colon tumorigenesis. We hypothesize that defective ACVR2 causes abrogation of activin-induced growth suppression in colorectal cancer cells. We propose to study this hypothesis by utilizing a cell model where ACVR2-mutated colon cancer cells are complemented with a single copy of ACVR2. We will study the consequences of restored ACVR2 in colon cells through analysis of the activin signaling cascade, as well as transactivation and expression of downstream effectors; the effect of activin on cell growth and apoptosis, and modulation of the activin pathway by mitogenic signals that are simultaneously operative in colon cancer cells. We will also compare the relative contribution of loss of activin and TGFbeta signaling, since receptors for both pathways are often mutated in MSI-H colon cancers and both share SMAD cytoplasmic signaling proteins. Determining the role of activin signaling in colorectal cancers will further our insight into colorectal carcinogenesis and provide future targets to direct diagnosis and treatment. During the P.l.'s training , she was awarded a Fellow to Faculty Transition Award from the FDHN and has accepted a faculty position at UCSD effective 8/04. This proposal is designated to enhance the P.l.'s development as an independent physician-scientist by the end of the proposed funding period.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
1K08DK074019-01A1
Application #
6922380
Study Section
Subcommittee G - Education (NCI)
Program Officer
Podskalny, Judith M,
Project Start
2005-09-01
Project End
2010-08-31
Budget Start
2005-09-01
Budget End
2006-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$121,770
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California San Diego
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
804355790
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92093
Sporn, Judith C; Jung, Barbara (2012) Differential regulation and predictive potential of MacroH2A1 isoforms in colon cancer. Am J Pathol 180:2516-26
Bauer, Jessica; Sporn, Judith C; Cabral, Jennifer et al. (2012) Effects of activin and TGF? on p21 in colon cancer. PLoS One 7:e39381
Sporn, Judith C; Hothorn, Torsten; Jung, Barbara (2011) BARD1 expression predicts outcome in colon cancer. Clin Cancer Res 17:5451-62
Garcia-Marcos, Mikel; Jung, Barbara H; Ear, Jason et al. (2011) Expression of GIV/Girdin, a metastasis-related protein, predicts patient survival in colon cancer. FASEB J 25:590-9
Jung, Barbara; Gomez, Jessica; Chau, Eddy et al. (2009) Activin signaling in microsatellite stable colon cancers is disrupted by a combination of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. PLoS One 4:e8308
Beck, Stayce E; Jung, Barbara H; Del Rosario, Eunice et al. (2007) BMP-induced growth suppression in colon cancer cells is mediated by p21WAF1 stabilization and modulated by RAS/ERK. Cell Signal 19:1465-72
Jung, Barbara H; Beck, Stayce E; Cabral, Jennifer et al. (2007) Activin type 2 receptor restoration in MSI-H colon cancer suppresses growth and enhances migration with activin. Gastroenterology 132:633-44