The FGFR4-388arg Variant Promotes Lung Cancer Progression by N-Cadherin Induction
The FGFR4-388Arg variant has been related to poor prognosis in several types of cancer, including lung cancer. The mechanism underlying this association has not been addressed in detail in patients with this pathology. Here, we report that this FGFR4 variant induces MAPK and STAT3 activation and causes pro-oncogenic effects in NSCLC in vitro and in vivo. This variant induces the expression of EMT-related genes, such as N-cadherin, vimentin, Snail1 and Twist1. Indeed, the induction of N-cadherin protein expression by this variant is essential for its pro-tumorigenic role. The presence of the FGFR4-388Arg variant correlates with higher N-cadherin expression levels in clinical NSCLC samples and with poorer outcome in patients with FGFR expression. These results support the prognostic role of this FGFR variant in lung cancer and show that these effects may be mediated by the induction of N-cadherin expression and an EMT phenotype. ; L.P.A. was funded by ISCIII (PI14/01964 and PIE15/00076), CIBER (CB16/12/00442) and RTICC (R12/0036/0028) and co-funded by European Union (ERDF/ESF, "Investing in your future"). The laboratory of A.C. was supported by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, PN I+D+I 2008-2011, PE I+D+I 2013-2016, ISCIII (PI15/00045 and CB16/12/00275), Consejeria de Ciencia e Innovacion (CTS-1848) and Consejeria de Salud of the Junta de Andalucia (PI-0096-2014). S.M.P. is funded by Consejería de Salud y Bienestar Social (PI-0046-2012), ISCIII (PI17/00033) and co-funded by European Union (ERDF/ESF, "Investing in your future"), and Fundación Mutua Madrileña (2014). I.F. is funded by AECC (AIO2015) and Consejería de Igualdad, Salud y Políticas Sociales de la Junta de Andalucía (PI-0029-2013) and FIS (PI16/01311). A.Q. is funded by ISCIII (FI12/00429). L.O. is funded by Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte (FPU13/02595). ; Peer reviewed