A role for the scaffolding adapter GAB2 in breast cancer

Mohamed Bentires-Alj, Susana G. Gil, Richard Chan, Zhigang C. Wang, Yongping Wang, Naoko Imanaka, Lyndsay N. Harris, Andrea Richardson, Benjamin G. Neel, Haihua Gu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

163 Scopus citations

Abstract

The scaffolding adapter GAB2 maps to a region (11q13-14) commonly amplified in human breast cancer, and is overexpressed in breast cancer cell lines and primary tumors, but its functional role in mammary carcinogenesis has remained unexplored. We found that overexpression of GAB2 (Grb2-associated binding protein 2) increases proliferation of MCF10A mammary cells in three-dimensional culture. Coexpression of GAB2 with antiapoptotic oncogenes causes lumenal filling, whereas coexpression with Neu (also known as ErbB2 and HER2) results in an invasive phenotype. These effects of GAB2 are mediated by hyperactivation of the Shp2-Erk pathway. Furthermore, overexpression of Gab2 potentiates, whereas deficiency of Gab2 ameliorates, Neu-evoked breast carcinogenesis in mice. Finally, GAB2 is amplified in some GAB2-overexpressing human breast tumors. Our data suggest that GAB2 may be a key gene within an 11q13 amplicon in human breast cancer and propose a role for overexpression of GAB2 in mammary carcinogenesis. Agents that target GAB2 or GAB2-dependent pathways may be useful for treating breast tumors that overexpress GAB2 or HER2 or both.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)114-121
Number of pages8
JournalNature medicine
Volume12
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2006
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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