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OncoTargets and Therapy logoLink to OncoTargets and Therapy
. 2016 Apr 21;9:2429–2436. doi: 10.2147/OTT.S104556

Metadherin regulates epithelial–mesenchymal transition in carcinoma

Zhao Wang 1,2, Zheng-yan Tang 2, Zhuo Yin 1, Yong-bao Wei 1,3, Long-fei Liu 2, Bin Yan 1, Ke-qin Zhou 1, Ye-qi Nian 1, Yun-liang Gao 1, Jin-rui Yang 1,✉
PMCID: PMC4844438  PMID: 27143938

Abstract

Metadherin (MTDH) was first identified in primary human fetal astrocytes exposed to HIV-1 in 2002 and then recognized as an important oncogene mediating tumorigenesis, progression, invasiveness, and metastasis of carcinomas. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a vital process in embryonic development, organ repair, and cancer progression. MTDH and EMT have also been proved to be related to the prognosis of patients with cancers. Recent studies reveal a relationship between MTDH overexpression and EMT in some malignancies. This review highlights the overexpression of MTDH and EMT in cancers and their correlations in clinical studies. Positive correlations have been established between MTDH and mesenchymal biomarkers, and negative correlations between MTDH and epithelial biomarkers have also been established. Furthermore, experiments reveal EMT regulated by MTDH, and some signal pathways have been established. Some anticancer drugs targeting MTDH and EMT are introduced in this review. Some perspectives concerning EMT regulation by MTDH are also presented in this review.

Keywords: signal pathway, chemoprevention, oncogene, biomarker, progression, therapeutic target

Introduction

Metadherin (MTDH) is also known as lysine-rich carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule (CEACAM)-1-coisolated (LYRIC) protein and astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) protein.1,2 MTDH was first identified in primary human fetal astrocytes exposed to HIV-1 in 2002,3 and then some researchers found that MTDH was overexpressed in many cancer tissues and cell lines.4,5 MTDH has been considered a vital oncogene located in 8q22.6,7 Further investigations and studies reveal that MTDH also mediates tumor progression, angiogenesis, invasiveness, metastasis, and chemotherapy resistance.4–9 MTDH overexpression may serve as an important biomarker to predict prognosis in clinical retrospective analyses.1,10 Signal pathways and drugs or molecular targets of MTDH have also been studied, which have indicated potential therapeutic effects of MTDH in malignancies.1,5,11,12

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) refers to a morphogenetic process in which cells lose epithelial polarization and gain mesenchymal characteristics, such as motility and invasiveness.13 During EMT, epithelial biomarkers (such as E-cadherin and cytokeratin) are downregulated, while mesenchymal biomarkers (such as vimentin) are upregulated, accompanied by changes of transcriptional factors in the process.14,15 EMT originates from embryonic development, and then in cancers, it extends to progression and metastasis.13,14

The relationship between MTDH expression and EMT has been established in some cancers.2,10,12,15 This review highlights the overexpression of MTDH and EMT biomarkers in cancers and their clinical significance (summed up in Table 1). Signal pathways of EMT regulated by MTDH are also involved. Drugs regulating MTDH and EMT are introduced in this review.

Table 1.

Current research on EMT regulation by MTDH (AEG-1) in carcinoma

First author Publication year Cancer type Specimens Main conclusions References
Liu et al 2014 Cervical cancer Human tissue samples, HeLa Inhibition of MTDH expression decreased migration, invasiveness, EMT, and chemoresistance in cervical cancer 2
Liu et al 2013 LSCC Human tissue samples A negative correlation between MTDH and E-cadherin has been established in LSCC 10
Liu et al 2013 Lung cancer A549 and H1975 cell lines Ursolic acid inhibited lung cancer cell invasion and metastasis through MTDH/NF-κB/EMT pathway 12
Li et al 2011 Breast cancer MCF-7, NIH3T3 MTDH regulates EMT and drives tumor progression in breast cancer cells through NF-κB pathway 15
Zheng et al 2014 Liver cancer Human tissue samples MTDH is overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma, and MTDH plays a role in regulating tumor progression through EMT; MTDH is also a potential target to treat hepatocellular carcinoma 23
He et al 2015 Lung cancer Human tissue samples; NCI-H226, NCI-H460, L-78, A549, and Slu-01 MTDH promotes EMT and aggressive metastasis of lung cancer by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling; MTDH is also a potential tool to develop prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for lung cancer 24
Yu et al 2014 SCCHN Human tissue samples; Tu686 and 5-8F cell lines A negative correlation between MTDH and E-cadherin has been detected in the carcinoma; MTDH and EMT biomarkers are prognostic tools in SCCHN; MTDH might induce EMT through AKT signaling pathway to promote SCCHN metastasis 25
Tang et al 2014 Osteosarcoma Human tissue samples; U2OS, SaOS-2, SoSP-M, OS-9901, MG-63, and SoSP-9607 cell lines MTDH promotes metastasis by regulating EMT in OS; overexpressed MTDH in OS can activate NF-κB, AKT, and ERK pathways in vivo and vitro; MTDH could be a therapeutic target in OS 26
Zhu et al 2011 Liver cancer Human tissue samples; nude mice; MHCC97-L, MHCC97-H, HCCLM3, and HepG2k cell lines MTDH may induce EMT and promote HCC metastasis; MTDH may be a potential biomarker for evaluating prognosis and serve as a target for therapy 27
Liu et al 2015 Lung cancer A549 and HEK-293T cell lines miRNA-30a directly acts on MTDH and mesenchymal biomarkers to regulate cancer cell migration and invasiveness; MTDH 3′-UTR has been verified as ceRNA that regulates EMT in non-small-cell lung cancer indirectly 28
Zhang et al 2015 Cervical cancer Human tissue samples; SiHa MTDH mediates CCL20/CCR6-induced EMT through ERK1/2 and AKT pathway in cervical cancer 29
Song et al 2015 Cervical cancer Human tissue samples; SiHa AEG-1 regulates EMT through Wnt signaling pathway in cervical squamous cell carcinoma and is associated with tumor progression 30
Pan et al 2015 TSCC Human tissue samples; nude mice; UM1 and Scc25 cell lines MTDH promotes TSCC invasion through EMT, and MTDH combined with EMT biomarkers had better performance in predicting death in TSCC; MTDH-mediated invasion, migration, and EMT in TSCC was through Wnt/PCP-Rho-JNK pathway 31
Ward et al 2013 Breast cancer Human tissue samples; MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, H1703, H1299, HEK-293FT, and Ovcar-5 miRNA-375 targets MTDH to regulate EMT in breast cancer and is associated with chemotherapy resistance 32
Srivastava et al 2015 Liver cancer Mice; primary mouse hepatocytes Liver cancer invasion and metastasis might be explained by sustained EMT induced by combined expression of AEG-1 and c-Myc 39
Wang et al 2015 Colorectal cancer Human tissue samples; HT29, DLD-1, HCT-15, CoL0320, SW480, and SW620 cell lines RARRES3 suppresses colorectal cancer metastasis and EMT by acting on MTDH 40
Li et al 2015 Breast cancer Human tissue samples; MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 miRNA-153 suppresses breast cancer EMT, migration, and invasion by targeting MTDH 41
Zhu et al 2014 Liver cancer Nude mice; HCCLM3 and HUVEC cell lines miRNA-302c inhibited liver cancer cell growth, through targeting of MTDH 3′-UTR and suppression of mesenchymal transition of endothelial cells; miR-302c and MTDH are potential treatment targets in HCC 42
Suh et al 2014 Lung cancer Human tissue samples; nude mice; A549, H460, and H1299 Fragile histidine triad (FHIT) upregulates miRNA-30c, and miRNA-30c targets MTDH 3′-UTR to regulate lung cancer metastasis and EMT 43
Wang et al 2013 Breast cancer MDA-MB-231 SU6668 suppresses breast cancer progression by acting on EMT, inducing cancer cell DNA polyploidization, and inhibiting expression of MTDH 48
Zheng et al 2014 Liver cancer MHCC97-H Huaier polysaccharides inhibited hepatocarcinoma cell proliferation, invasiveness, and metastasis by suppressing expression of MTDH and reversing EMT 53
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Abbreviations: AEG-1, astrocyte elevated gene-1; ceRNA, competitive endogenous RNA; EMT, epithelial–mesenchymal transition; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; HUVEC, human umbilical vein endothelial cells; LSCC, laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma; MTDH, metadherin; OS, osteosarcoma; SCCHN, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck; TSCC, tongue squamous cell carcinoma; UTR, untranslated region; RARRES3, Retinoic acid receptor responder 3; PCP, planar cell polarity.

MTDH and EMT biomarkers expressed in malignancies

Overexpressed MTDH has been detected in many types of malignant states, such as gastric carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal carcinoma, breast cancer, non-small-cell lung cancer, and prostate cancer.4,7,8,16–20 EMT, elevated mesenchymal markers, and decreased epithelial biomarkers have also been found in malignancies.21,22 Combined detection of MTDH and EMT biomarkers in malignancies shows a relationship between these biomarkers in carcinomas.

A study23 involving 158 hepatocellular carcinoma specimens and matched normal tissues showed that expression of MTDH, E-cadherin, and vimentin in these two types of liver tissues was significantly different. Further analysis indicated positive correlation between MTDH and vimentin, as well as negative correlation between MTDH and E-cadherin expression, in liver cancer tissues.23 Analysis of the relationship between MTDH and EMT biomarkers shows that they are expressed similarly in lung cancer.24 Results from laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) also showed a negative correlation between MTDH and E-cadherin.10,25 To further clarify the expressions of these biomarkers in metastatic and nonmetastatic osteosarcoma (OS) tissues, four metastatic cases and four nonmetastatic cases have been studied.26 Higher expressions of MTDH and mesenchymal biomarkers (N-cadherin and vimentin), as well as lower expression of E-cadherin, were verified in metastatic tissues, compared to nonmetastatic ones.26

In vitro studies25–27 also showed overexpression of MTDH and mesenchymal biomarkers and decreased expressions of epithelial biomarkers in liver cancer cells (MHCC97-L, MHCC97-H, HCCLM3, HepG2), SCCHN cells (TU686, 5-8F), and OS cells (U2OS, SOSP-M). In non-small-cell lung cancer, MTDH was upregulated when EMT was induced by transforming growth factor-β and tumor necrosis factor-α in A549 cells.28 A positive correlation between overexpression of MTDH and mesenchymal biomarkers has been established in this cell model.28

Tumor progression and prognosis

It has been verified that MTDH is overexpressed in some malignancies, and MTDH is considered an important oncogene.6 MTDH overexpression is also associated with carcinoma progression, invasiveness, angiogenesis, and metastasis of carcinomas.1,5,9 EMT has also been proven to be an important process in cancer progression and metastasis.14 Researchers10,23,25 have already shown a correlation between expressions of MTDH and EMT.

In a study by Zheng et al,23 MTDH and EMT biomarkers were significantly associated with the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage and Edmonson grade of liver carcinoma, and a potential link between carcinoma progression, MTDH overexpression, and EMT had been established. In SCCHN analysis, a significant correlation had also been established between MTDH overexpression, decreased E-cadherin expression, and clinicopathological parameters, including primary tumor site, T-classification, clinical stage, metastasis, and recurrence.25 Similar conclusions were also arrived in LSCC and cervical cancer.10,29,30 Through analysis of metastatic and nonmetastatic OS tissues, it was proposed that metastasis may be regulated by MTDH through the EMT process.26 Nude mice experiments also demonstrated upregulated MTDH promoting tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) invasion, along with an upregulation of vimentin and downregulation of E-cadherin.31

Results of in vitro cell experiments further confirmed that EMT is regulated by MTDH and demonstrated their significant effects on invasiveness, metastasis, and progression in carcinoma. In liver carcinoma cell lines, inhibition of MTDH by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) decreased expression of N-cadherin and transcription factor Snail, in addition to upregulating E-cadherin.27 Knockdown of MTDH in HeLa cells and the TSCC cell line UM1 also yielded similar results as in liver carcinoma.2,31 EMT induction by CCL-20 in SiHa cell lines was also been eliminated by silencing MTDH expression.29 On further investigation of effect of MTDH on EMT in carcinoma cell lines, EMT was found to be restored or reversed by upregulating or downregulating MTDH, respectively.24,30 MTDH is an important regulator of EMT in carcinoma. Inhibition of MTDH expression decreases migration, invasiveness, and colony formation in liver, cervical cancer, and non-small-cell lung cancer cell lines.2,27,28,30 Overexpressed MTDH increases migration and invasiveness in breast cancer and cervical cancer cell lines.15,30 Orthotopic mouse model also confirmed that MTDH promotes metastasis in lung cancer cells (Slu-01) by means of regulating EMT.24 EMT is an important process induced by MTDH, and it regulates biological functions, such as progression, invasiveness, and metastasis, in cancer cells.2,15,24,27,30

In clinical analysis, MTDH is also an important factor associated with prognosis of carcinomas. In SCCHN and LSCC survival analysis, MTDH overexpression and E-cadherin decreased expression were negatively correlated with overall survival and disease-free survival.10,25 Further statistical analysis revealed that MTDH is an independent prognostic factor in SCCHN and LSCC.10,25 However, both Pan et al31 and He et al24 hold the viewpoint that the combination of MTDH and EMT biomarkers had better performance in predicting death in TSCC and lung cancer. In breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen, MTDH overexpression is a poor factor associated with relapse-free survival.32

In summary, MTDH expression is a potential prognostic factor in cancer, and this could be explained by the biological effects mediated by MTDH through regulation of EMT. Invasiveness, progression, and metastasis are regulated by MTDH through EMT, as already verified in cancer cell lines.2,15,24,27,28,30 These biological effects are important factors associated with development of cancer and survival of patients.

Signal pathways

MTDH exhibits many biological effects on cancers, and these could be mediated by signal pathways, proteins, and factors. Studies27,33 have shown that the NF-κB, Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/AKT, and MAPK pathways are activated as part of the MTDH-mediated biological effects in cancers. Some proteins or factors, such as Staphylococcal nuclease domain containing protein 1 (SND1) and cytoplasmic polyadenylation element-binding protein 1 (CPEB1), also interact with the MTDH gene to affect MTDH expression and activity.33–36 Small noncoding RNAs, termed microRNAs or miRNAs, including miRNA-375, miRNA-137, miRNA-30a, and so on, also have been confirmed to regulate MTDH in cancer cell lines; MTDH has also been verified as a target of these miRNAs in carcinoma.11,37,38

Similar to MTDH, EMT could also be regulated by many pathways and factors. NF-κB, Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/AKT, and miRNAs have also been confirmed in mediating EMT in carcinomas.14 Recent studies have shown some signal pathways regulating EMT through MTDH in cancers.2,15,25,30

In SCCHN, PI3K/AKT pathways are activated during the processes of EMT and metastasis, and they are regulated by MTDH.25 It has been identified that NF-κB is involved in EMT induced by MTDH in breast and cervical cancer cell lines.2,15 Song et al30 investigated the pathways through which MTDH exerts its effects on both EMT and the biological behavior of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) cells; they propose that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, apart from PI3K/AKT or NF-κB, regulates EMT in CSCC. He et al24 also found that the Wnt/β-catenin pathways had been activated in the cascade of EMT regulated by MTDH, and in this process, GSK-3β and CKIδ are involved. However, MTDH-mediated invasion, migration, and EMT were studied in TSCC, and Pan et al31 consider that this process is regulated by the Wnt/PCP-Rho-JNK pathway. In OS cell lines, EMT has been found to be reversed by inhibition of MTDH through upregulation of Elf-5.26 Overexpressed MTDH has also been confirmed to activate NF-κB, AKT, and ERK pathways in OS both in vivo and in vitro.26 ERK1/2 and AKT pathways were involved in MTDH mediation of EMT, which was induced by CCL20/CCR6.29 In a cooperation of overexpression AEG-1 and c-Myc mice model (Alb/AEG-1/c-Myc), Srivastava et al39 found that invasion and metastasis in liver cancer might be explained by the sustained EMT induced by the combined expression of AEG-1 and c-Myc. MTDH also has been detected to be an important mediator in signal transduction of carcinoma suppressors, eg, RARRES3 suppresses colorectal cancer metastasis and EMT by acting on MTDH.40

Recent studies reveal that miRNAs constitute a class of vital regulators of MTDH and EMT, and some of them are targeting MTDH to regulate EMT in cancers.32,40 Ward et al32 suggested that miRNA-375 targets MTDH to regulate EMT in breast cancer, and this process is associated with chemotherapy resistance. Li et al41 indicated that miRNA-153 suppresses EMT, migration, and invasion by targeting MTDH. miRNA-302c inhibits growth of liver cancer cells, through targeting of the 3′-untranslated region (UTR) of MTDH and suppressing the EMT of endothelial cells.42 Fragile histidine triad (FHIT) upregulates miRNA-30c, and then miRNA-30c targets the MTDH 3′-UTR to regulate lung cancer metastasis and EMT.43 miRNA-30a is a suppressing regulator of non-small-cell lung cancer, and it can directly act on MTDH and mesenchymal biomarkers to regulate cancer cell migration and invasiveness.28 MTDH 3′-UTR has also been verified as a ceRNA (competitive endogenous RNA) that regulates EMT in non-small-cell lung cancer indirectly.28

A complex network of signaling pathways for EMT regulation by MTDH has been established (Figure 1), and their relationships and targets are under further study.

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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A summary of the complex signal pathway network involved in EMT regulation by MTDH in carcinoma.

Abbreviations: EMT, epithelial–mesenchymal transition; FHIT, fragile histidine triad; miRNA, microRNA; MTDH, metadherin; RARRES3, Retinoic acid receptor responder 3; PCP, planar cell polarity.

Therapeutic targets

MTDH has been demonstrated to regulate EMT in cancers, and it has been considered to be a potential therapeutic target. In breast and cervical cancer cells, knockdown of MTDH enhances the sensitivity to chemotherapy and reverses EMT.2,32 Recent studies highlight MTDH as an important target in the treatment of breast, cervical, and non-small-cell lung cancer, as well as for OS.2,15,24,26

SU6668 is an angiogenesis inhibitor targeting multiple tyrosine kinase receptors.44 SU6668 has been reported to be an important anticancer agent in colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, and mesothelioma.45–47 A recent study48 has revealed that MTDH and EMT are regulated by SU6668. In breast cancer cells, SU6668 suppressed proliferation and metastasis by reversing EMT, inducing cancer cell DNA polyploidization, and inhibiting expression of MTDH.48

Natural source drugs, which are derived or extracted from plants, microbes, and marine organisms, show biological activity and anticancer effects, and they account for >60% of anticancer drugs currently.49 Chemoprevention refers to administration of nontoxic substances to disturb carcinogenesis and invasiveness; natural products are an important part of chemoprevention.50

Ursolic acid (UA) is a pentacyclic triterpene acid extracted from many plants.51 Recent studies reveal that UA exhibits anticancer activity against various cancers by inducing apoptosis, by inhibiting proliferation, invasiveness, and metastasis, as well as by antiangiogenesis.12,51 UA decreases MTDH expression to inhibit EMT in lung cancer cells; furthermore, a study12 has shown that the NF-κB pathway is involved in this process. In this cited study, Liu et al12 provide a new strategy for both anticancer approach and chemoprevention by targeting MTDH through application of natural products.

Polysaccharides extracted from Huaier showed anticancer effects and immunomodulation.52 Zheng et al53 proved that Huaier polysaccharides exhibited inhibition of hepatocarci-noma cell proliferation, invasiveness, and metastasis by suppressing expression of MTDH and reversing EMT. Another experiment performed by Zheng et al54 again showed that MTDH downregulation enhanced the suppression effects of the Huaier polysaccharides on hepatocarcinoma cells. Further investigation revealed that the PI3K/AKT pathway was inhibited and the natural killer cell-mediated immune response was enhanced in the process of inhibition of hepa-tocarcinoma cells by Huaier polysaccharides induced by MTDH shRNA.54

Perspectives

MTDH plays a vital role in cancer progression, invasiveness, and metastasis, and EMT is induced in the process. MTDH and EMT are associated with chemotherapy resistance and prognosis. Complex signal pathways are also involved in the regulation of EMT by MTDH. Some drugs target MTDH to regulate cancer progression and metastasis induced by EMT. Some perspectives on regulation of EMT by MTDH are listed as follows.

First, many more tissue specimens and more follow-up data should be included in future studies. This increase in the sample size could reduce the errors or bias that may have crept into this study. Multicenter studies are an ideal way to arrive at more accurate conclusions. MTDH and EMT may serve as biomarkers useful to evaluate cancer progression, predict prognosis, and guide therapy.

Second, cancer types studied may also be increased. Currently, studies are limited to EMT regulation by MTDH in liver cancer, breast cancer, SCCHN, non-small-cell lung cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, TSCC, and OS. Other cancers, such as meningioma, as well as hematologic and digestive malignancies, could also be studied to investigate EMT induction by MTDH. This is a good method to broaden the application of MTDH and EMT biomarkers in cancers.

Third, signal pathways should be explored further. Currently, the PI3K/AKT, NF-κB, and ERK pathways, as well as miRNAs, are known to be involved in EMT mediated by MTDH. Detailed pathway networks could be studied further, and targeted therapy may be explored based on these studies.

Finally, chemoprevention using drugs developed from natural products is a therapeutic direction based on the regulation of MTDH and EMT. Further research on molecular mechanisms and biochemistry should be conducted. Chemotherapeutic side effects may be reduced through this therapeutic regimen.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Free Exploration Project for Undergraduates in Central South University (number 2282014bks198).

Footnotes

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

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