Study highlights link between gene fusion in bladder and brain cancer

Published: 1-Sep-2017

Researchers have found that a previously overlooked part of a specific gene fusion has a worsening effect on cancer cells

A study by the University of Warwick sheds light on gene fusion in bladder and brain cancer. Researchers have found that preventing cell ‘signalling’ from this particular fusion may not be an effective route for future cancer treatment research.

Their findings have just been published in the paper "FGFR3–TACC3 cancer gene fusions cause mitotic defects by removal of endogenous TACC3 from the mitotic spindle" in the Royal Society journal Open Biology.

Sometimes chromosomes break and become reattached to a different chromosome in an unusual way, resulting in a fusion between one gene and another, making a new gene, called a gene fusion.

The scientists at Warwick Medical School examined the gene fusion FGFR3-TACC3, which is associated with bladder and brain cancers. Previously scientists focused on the first part of the fusion, FGFR3, because this was known to be associated with cancer.

However, the team decided to look at the second half — transforming acidic coiled-coil protein (TACC3) — of the gene fusion. They found this part of the fusion causes mistakes in cell division, making the cancer worse.

Professor Stephen Royle, research team leader, said: “Cancer cells often have gene fusions, which happen because the DNA in cancer cells is really messed up such as the well-known Philadelphia chromosome in chronic myelogenous leukaemia.

“A few years ago, a new fusion was discovered in bladder and brain cancers, called FGFR3-TACC3. Previously most of the emphasis has been on the former part of the fusion. However, we found that the latter part of the fusion causes mistakes in cell division, which could make the cancer worse.

“Doing work like this is important as it helps us to understand all the possible ways to tackle a specific cancer and to find any problems with potential treatments.”

Many gene fusions have been found to be the result of a protein that continues to send a signal to the cell when it should not. It is thought this transforms the cell to divide uncontrollably as is the case in FGFR3-TACC3; FGFR3 can send signals and TACC3 is thought to lead to the cell dividing uncontrollably.

TACC3 is important for cell division, helping chromosomes to separate to the two ‘daughter’ cells when a cell divides. Chromosomes are shared out by the mitotic spindle, which is built inside the cell made up of tiny threads called microtubules.

TACC3 stabilises the microtubules and adds strength to the mitotic spindle.

Previously scientists suggested that the gene fusion FGFR3-TACC3 might bind to the mitotic spindle but not be able to work properly. Professor Royle’s team decided to examine this in further depth.

The team found FGFR3-TACC3 is not actually bound to the mitotic spindle. Instead it is found at the cell’s membrane and in small vesicles in the cell. They found the TACC3 section of the fusion gene FGFR3-TACC3 was acting like a vacuum cleaner ‘hoovering’ the normal TACC3 off the spindle, preventing normal cell division.

Using a process of elimination to further their research, the scientists first made the cancer cells express some normal TACC3 and this repaired the faulty division. Then they removed the FGFR3-TACC3 fusion, which returned the cells to normal. Finally they made a fake FGFR3-TACC3 with a dummy part in place of FGFR3 and they found that this also caused problems by hoovering up normal TACC3 and causing cell division.

Professor Royle said: “An ideal cancer treatment might be to block TACC3 interactions as well as stopping signalling. However this is very difficult to do and is far in the future.

Drug companies can develop chemicals, which stop cell signalling from fusions and these could work as anti-cancer agents.

 

“In the case of FGFR3-TACC3 even if you stop the signalling there will still be cell division problems in the cancer cells. We hope our study will provide a basis for further research into how these gene fusions are linked to bladder and brain cancer.”

References

  • S Sarkar, et al., “FGFR3–TACC3 cancer gene fusions cause mitotic defects by removal of endogenous TACC3 from the mitotic spindle,” Open Biol. 7, (2017). http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsob.170080

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