Journal Article

Functional interaction between receptor tyrosine kinase MET and ETS transcription factors promotes prostate cancer progression

Burnichon, Clémence, Chotteau‐Lelièvre, Anne, Carouge, Elisa, Vinchent, Audrey, Duterque‐Coquillaud, Martine, Sebda, Shéhérazade, Tulasne, David, Figeac, Martin, Vanpouille, Nathalie, Truong, Marie‐José

2025

Overview

Prostate cancer, the most common malignancy in men, has a relatively favourable prognosis. However, when it spreads to the bone, the survival rate drops dramatically. The development of bone metastases leaves patients with aggressive prostate cancer, the leading cause of death in men. Moreover, bone metastases are incurable and very painful. Hepatocyte growth factor receptor (MET) and fusion of genes encoding E26 transformation‐specific (ETS) transcription factors are both involved in the progression of the disease. ETS gene fusions, in particular, have the ability to induce the migratory and invasive properties of prostate cancer cells, whereas MET receptor, through its signalling cascades, is able to activate transcription factor expression. MET signalling and ETS gene fusions are intimately linked to high‐grade prostate cancer. However, the collaboration of these factors in prostate cancer progression has not yet been investigated. Here, we show, using cell models of advanced prostate cancer, that ETS translocation variant 1 (ETV1) and transcriptional regulator ERG (ERG) transcription factors (members of the ETS family) promote tumour properties, and that activation of MET signalling enhances these effects. By using a specific MET tyrosine kinase inhibitor in a humanised hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) mouse model, we also establish that MET activity is required for ETV1/ERG‐mediated tumour growth. Finally, by performing a comparative transcriptomic analysis, we identify target genes that could play a relevant role in these cellular processes. Thus, our results demonstrate for the first time in prostate cancer models a functional interaction between ETS transcription factors (ETV1 and ERG) and MET signalling that confers more aggressive properties and highlight a molecular signature characteristic of this combined action. The MET receptor activation pathway is intrinsically linked to the activity of the transcription factors ETV1 and ERG (ETS family) to promote tumorigenesis in prostate cancer cells. Here we focus on the transcriptional programme leading to this partnership and have identified 5 commonly regulated target genes that may represent a potential signature of prostate cancer progression at advanced stages.

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc,FEBS Press,John Wiley and Sons Inc,Wiley
• Subject: Androgens / Animal models / Animals / Aprotinin / B cells / Biochemistry, Molecular Biology / Bone cancer / Bone growth / c-Met protein / Cancer / Capmatinib / Cell culture / Cell cycle / Cell Line, Tumor / Cell Signalling / Clinical trials / Disease Progression / DNA binding proteins / DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics / DNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism / Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid / ETS protein / ETS transcription factors / Ewings sarcoma / Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Genes / Genomics / Growth factors / Health aspects / Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Human health and pathology / Humans / Infections / Kinases / Life Sciences / Male / Malignancy / Membranes / MET signalling / Metastases / Metastasis / Mice / Phenols / Plasmids / Prognosis / Prostate Cancer / Prostatic Neoplasms - genetics / Prostatic Neoplasms - metabolism / Prostatic Neoplasms - pathology / Protein-tyrosine kinase receptors / Proteins / Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets - genetics / Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets - metabolism / Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met - genetics / Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met - metabolism / Signal Transduction / Transcription activation / Transcription Factors / Transcription Factors - genetics / Transcription Factors - metabolism / Transcriptional Regulator ERG - metabolism / transcriptomic analysis / Transcriptomics / Tumors / Tyrosine / Urology and Nephrology / Vectors (Biology)