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An siRNA screen identifies RSK1 as a key modulator of lung cancer metastasis

Oncogene volume 30, pages 3513–3521 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

We performed a kinome-wide siRNA screen and identified 70 kinases altering cell migration in A549 lung cancer cells. In particular, ribosomal S6 kinase 1 (RSK1) silencing increased, whereas RSK2 and RSK4 downregulation inhibited cell motility. In a secondary collagen-based three-dimensional invasion screen, 38 of our hits cross-validated, including RSK1 and RSK4. In two further lung cancer cell lines, RSK1 but not RSK4 silencing showed identical modulation of cell motility. We therefore selected RSK1 for further investigation. Bioinformatic analysis followed by co-immunoprecipitation-based validation revealed that the actin regulators VASP and Mena interact with RSK1. Moreover, RSK1 phosphorylated VASP on T278, a site regulating its binding to actin. In addition, silencing of RSK1 enhanced the metastatic potential of these cells in vivo using a zebrafish model. Finally, we investigated the relevance of this finding in human lung cancer samples. In isogenically matched tissue, RSK1 was reduced in metastatic versus primary lung cancer lesions. Moreover, patients with RSK1-negative lung tumours showed increased number of metastases. Our results suggest that the findings of our high-throughput in vitro screen can reliably identify relevant clinical targets and as a proof of principle, RSK1 may provide a biomarker for metastasis in lung cancer patients.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from Cancer Treatment and Research Trust, Cancer Research UK, Department of Health and our Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology, Hammersmith Campus, Cyclotron Building, London, UK

    R Lara, M J Seckl & O E Pardo

  2. Histopathology Imperial College London, Hammersmith Campus, London, UK

    F A Mauri & R J Shiner

  3. Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK

    H Taylor, A Shia, M Dallman & J Lamb

  4. Labo Proteïne Fosforylatie en Proteomics, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    R Derua & E Waelkens

  5. Light Microscopy Department, London Research Institute, London, UK

    C Gray, A Nicols & D Zicha

  6. Biomolecular Modelling Laboratory, London Research Institute, London, UK

    E Schofield & P A Bates

  7. Signal Transduction Laboratory, Cancer Research UK, London Research Institute, London, UK

    R Lara & J Downward

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  1. R Lara
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Correspondence to M J Seckl or O E Pardo.

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Lara, R., Mauri, F., Taylor, H. et al. An siRNA screen identifies RSK1 as a key modulator of lung cancer metastasis. Oncogene 30, 3513–3521 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/onc.2011.61

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