To study the roles of aminopeptidase A on epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation in colorectal cancer

• Main Authors: Hui-Ching Tu, 凃蕙菁
• Other Authors: Jason C. Huang
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/31359270048772060434

碩士 === 國立陽明大學 === 醫學生物技術暨檢驗學系 === 103 === Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third cause of cancer-related death in Taiwan, and most CRC patients die from cancer metastasis. Aminopeptidase A (APA), a member of the M1 family of zinc metalloenzymes, participates in renin angiotensin system for hypertension regulation. In our preliminary study, we demonstrated that APA is highly expressed on the surface of colorectal cancer cells to promote cell migration and the expression correlates with cancer malignancy. Furthermore, investigation of the therapeutic effects by targeting EGFR demonstrated that EGFR blockade is suitable for metastatic colorectal cancer therapy. So we want to know the correlation between APA and EGFR. In this report, we provide a functional link between APA and EGFR. APA is associated with the positive effects on EGFR phosphorylation in response to EGF. Also, knockdown experiments revealed a positive correlation between APA and EGFR phosphorylation. Moreover, a peptide inhibitor, which inhibits APA enzyme activity, abolished the positive effects of APA on EGFR phosphorylation. Altogether, our results identify APA as a positive modifier of EGFR activation and the effects may depend on its enzymatic activity.