Project #3: IGF-Signal Transduction Pathway in Medulloblastoma A considerable line of evidence points at the IGF-I auto/paracrine system as an important component in the development and progression of brain tumors. Despite this, little attention has been paid to the role of IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR), and its signaling pathways, in primitive neuroectodermal tumors/ medulloblastomas (PNETs/MBs) that represent about 25% of all pediatric brain tumors. This research proposal is founded on the hypothesis that the IGF-IR system and the JCV T-antigen cooperate in the development and/or progression of medulloblastomas. Importance of this hypothesis is supported by several findings: (i) JC virus (JCV) infects greater than 80% of the human population; (ii) JCV T-antigen was found in human tumors including PNET/MBs; (iii) ectopic expression of JCV T-antigen transforms cells in culture and is tumorogenic in experimental animals; and (iv) JCV T-antigen, as well as, its murine counterpart - SV40 T-antigen, are not able to transform cells that do not possess functional IGF-IR. To further support our hypothesis, we have developed new evidence demonstrating overexpression of the major IGF-IR substrate, IRS-1, in both human and mouse medulloblastoma cell lines, and the activation of IGF-I system including constitutive phosphorylation of the IGF-IR protein in biopsies from patients with medulloblastoma. We have also found that both JCV-T-antigen and IGF-IR are necessary for medulloblastoma cell lines to survive and grow in anchorage-independent culture condition, and finally, we have demonstrated that JCV T-antigen and IRS-1 interact with each other.
Three specific aims are proposed to directly test the hypothesis on the functional role for IGF-1 signaling pathway in the genesis of medulloblastoma; in the first aim mutational analysis of the IGF-IR will be utilized to determine whether functional interaction between the IGF-IR and JCV T-antigen contributes to malignant transformation in medulloblastomas; in the second aim JCV T-antigen positive and negative medulloblastoma cell lines will be employed to determine whether a unique set of IGF-IR pathways is involved in JCV T-antigen mediated transformation. Metabolic inhibitors in combination with mutational analysis of signaling molecules, including IRS-1 and PTEN phosphatase, will be employed to alter IGF-IR pathways and to test their importance in both T-antigen and non T-antigen mediated transformation; finally in the third aim dominant negative strategies against the IGF-IR and IRS-1 function will be tested in vivo. The results of these in vivo studies will allow us to evaluate whether uncoupling of the IGF-IR signaling pathway/s from its functional synergy with JCV T-antigen will eliminate medulloblastoma tumors from cerebellar tissues.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Program Projects (P01)
Project #
5P01NS036466-11
Application #
7553676
Study Section
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Initial Review Group (NSD)
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2007-06-01
Budget End
2008-05-31
Support Year
11
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$181,839
Indirect Cost
Name
Temple University
Department
Type
DUNS #
057123192
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19122
Johnson, Edward M; Daniel, Dianne C; Gordon, Jennifer (2013) The pur protein family: genetic and structural features in development and disease. J Cell Physiol 228:930-7
Riolfi, Mirko; Ferla, Rita; Del Valle, Luis et al. (2010) Leptin and its receptor are overexpressed in brain tumors and correlate with the degree of malignancy. Brain Pathol 20:481-9
Urbanska, Katarzyna; Pannizzo, Paola; Lassak, Adam et al. (2009) Estrogen receptor beta-mediated nuclear interaction between IRS-1 and Rad51 inhibits homologous recombination directed DNA repair in medulloblastoma. J Cell Physiol 219:392-401
Gualco, Elisa; Wang, Jin Ying; Del Valle, Luis et al. (2009) IGF-IR in neuroprotection and brain tumors. Front Biosci (Landmark Ed) 14:352-75
Rossi, Alessandra; Russo, Giuseppe; Puca, Andrew et al. (2009) The antiretroviral nucleoside analogue Abacavir reduces cell growth and promotes differentiation of human medulloblastoma cells. Int J Cancer 125:235-43
Perez-Liz, Georgina; Del Valle, Luis; Gentilella, Antonio et al. (2008) Detection of JC virus DNA fragments but not proteins in normal brain tissue. Ann Neurol 64:379-87
Fiorilli, Paul; Partridge, Darren; Staniszewska, Izabela et al. (2008) Integrins mediate adhesion of medulloblastoma cells to tenascin and activate pathways associated with survival and proliferation. Lab Invest 88:1143-56
Urbanska, Katarzyna; Pannizzo, Paola; Grabacka, Maja et al. (2008) Activation of PPARalpha inhibits IGF-I-mediated growth and survival responses in medulloblastoma cell lines. Int J Cancer 123:1015-24
Brown, Meghan C; Staniszewska, Izabela; Del Valle, Luis et al. (2008) Angiostatic activity of obtustatin as alpha1beta1 integrin inhibitor in experimental melanoma growth. Int J Cancer 123:2195-203
Brown, Meghan C; Staniszewska, Izabela; Lazarovici, Philip et al. (2008) Regulatory effect of nerve growth factor in alpha9beta1 integrin-dependent progression of glioblastoma. Neuro Oncol 10:968-80

Showing the most recent 10 out of 77 publications