ANTICANCER RESEARCH 36: 677-682 (2016)

High PTPRQ Expression and Its Relationship to Expression of PTPRZ1 and the Presence of KRAS Mutations in Colorectal Cancer Tissues

IZABELA LACZMANSKA1, PAWEL KARPINSKI1, JUSTYNA GIL1, LUKASZ LACZMANSKI2, MAREK BEBENEK3 and MARIA M. SASIADEK1

1Genetics Department, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland; 2Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland; 3First Department of Surgical Oncology, Lower Silesian Oncology Center, Wroclaw, Poland

Abstract. Background: The risk of sporadic colorectal CRC diagnosis and therapy, the prognosis in late-stage cases cancer (CRC) is strongly influenced by Iifestyle, environmental is poor. Approximately 70-85% of cases are sporadic and no and genetic factors. tyrosine belong to genetic risk factors have been identified (1, 2). However, the a group of whose role in CRC has not yet been risk of sporadic CRC is strongly influenced by diet, physical intensively studied. They play an important role in activity, the environment, and genetic changes accumulated activation/de-activation of many enzymes, influencing cell during life (1, 2). Accumulation of somatic mutations and biology by catalyzing reactions opposing those catalyzed by alterations in epigenetic mechanisms influencing expression kinases. Protein tyrosine receptor-like type Q of proto-oncogenes, tumor suppressors and mismatch repair (PTPRQ) and protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor-like type (MMR) , along with genomic instability [chromosomal Z polypeptide 1 (PTPRZ1) have both been shown to be instability (CIN), microsatellite instability (MSI) and CpG important in development of many cancer types including island methylator phenotype of (CIMP)], play a key role in CRC. Materials and Methods: The expression level of PTPRQ CRC development and progression (2). Moreover, genetic and PTPRZ1 was determined by real-time polymerase chain heterogeneity of CRC strongly suggests the importance of reaction in 16 CRC tissues obtained from patients diagnosed alteration and deregulation of many other genes important with adenocarcinoma coli. Results: We revealed a high level for cellular metabolism (2). of PTPRQ expression (p=0.0080), as well as an association Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) as candidate tumor- between expression levels of PTPRQ and PTPRZ1 (p<0.0001). suppressor genes belong to the group of the principal genes Moreover PTPRQ expression was higher in tissues presenting examined recently in many types of cancer, including CRC. with Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) In contrast, genes encoding protein kinases that catalyze the mutation (p=0.0293). Conclusion: We confirmed the opposite reaction by activating many enzymes were shown contribution of PTPRZ1 and especially PTPRQ in CRC to be proto-oncogenes (3-5). The role of PTPs in development, supporting the hypothesis that PTPRQ is a dephosphorylation of many makes them essential for candidate oncogene, playing a crucial role in homeostasis, , apoptosis and other processes, phosphorylation/dephosphorylation signaling pathways. alterations of which are crucial for (4, 6). However, several studies demonstrate an oncogenic potential Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a one of the most common of PTPs, suggesting their pleiotropic and crucial biological cancer types worldwide and, despite immense progress in role in this process (3, 7, 8). A key role in CRC development was recently revealed for alterations in the following PTPs: PTPRA, PTPRE, PTPRH, PTPRF, PTPRG, PTPRJ, PTPRM, PTPRT, PTPRR, PTPRQ, PTPRZ1, PTP4A3, PTPN5, Correspondence to: Izabela Laczmanska, Genetics Department, PTPN13, PTPN14, PTPN21, PTPN23 and others (3-5). Medical University, Wroclaw, Marcinkowskiego 1, 50-368 Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor-like type Q Wroclaw, Poland. Tel: +48 0717841258, Tel/Fax: +48 0717840063, (PTPRQ) [OMIM *603317] and protein tyrosine e-mail: [email protected] phosphatase receptor-like type Z polypeptide 1 (PTPRZ1) Key Words: Protein tyrosine phosphatase, PTPRQ, PTPRZ1, [OMIM *176891] both have been described as being active colorectal cancer. in the cellular protein phosphorylation network that is

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Table I. The clinical and molecular characteristic of colorectal cancer tissues.

No. Age, Gender Side T N M Stage Dukes' MSI MLH1 HME LME BRAF KRAS years stage status V600E codon 12

1 72 F R 4 2 0 IIIC C MSI 1 1 0 0 0 2 58 M R 4 2 0 IIIC C MSI 1 0 0 0 0 3 63 F L 4 1 0 IIIB C MSS 0 0 0 0 0 4 70 M L 3 1 0 IIIB C MSS 0 0 0 0 1 5 52 M L 3 0 0 II C MSS 0 0 0 0 0 6 55 F R 3 2 1 IV D MSS 0 0 0 0 0 7 78 F L 3 nd 0 IIIC C MSS 0 0 0 0 0 8 58 F R 4 1 0 IIIB C MSS 0 1 0 1 0 9 64 M R 4 1 0 IIIB C MSS 0 0 0 0 1 10 53 F R 3 1 0 IIIB C MSS 0 0 1 0 0 11 76 F L 2 1 0 IIIA C MSS 0 0 1 0 1 12 74 F L 2 1 0 IIIA C MSS 0 0 0 0 0 13 87 M R 4 2 1 IV D MSS 0 1 0 1 0 14 69 M R 4 1 0 IIIB C MSS 0 0 0 0 0 15 88 F R 4 1 0 IIIB C MSS 0 0 0 1 0 16 59 F L 3 1 0 IIIB C MSS 0 0 0 0 0

F: Female; M: male; mutation: 0: lack of mutation, 1: presence of mutation; R: right; L: left; T: tumor; N: nodules; M: metastasis; MSI: microsatellite instability; MSS: microsatellite stability; MLH1: MutL homolog 1; HME: high methylation epigenotype; LME: low methylation epigenotype; BRAF: B-Raf proto-oncogene; KRAS: Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog; nd: no data.

crucial for carcinogenesis (9-13). PTPRQ (located in Molecular characterization of tumors included analysis of: the B- 12q21.2) is expressed as a cytosolic or receptor-like Raf proto-oncogene (BRAF) V600E (exon 15) and KRAS (codon 12 protein depending on an alternative promoter usage or and codon 13) mutations, methylator phenotype (CIMP), MSI and CIN (18). The clinical and molecular data of all CRC tissues are alternative splicing (14). Their potential growth-regulatory presented in Table I. functions have been described in in vitro experiments (15). The study design was accepted by the Wroclaw Medical Moreover, epigenetic silencing of PTPRQ and PTPRZ1 has University Ethical Committee (Approval number 328/2009). been described in CRC (16). In contrast, an amplification of regions encoding these enzymes (12q21.2 and 7q31.3 RNA isolation. Fresh cancer and healthy tissues were collected for PTPRQ and PTPRZ1, respectively) was reported in during surgery in RNAlater (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). Total RNA CRC (11, 17). PTPRZ1 (located in 7q31.3) has also been was extracted from homogenized frozen samples using TriPure Isolation Reagent (Roche, Basel, Switzerland) according to the shown to be expressed in oral squamous cell, cervical and producer's protocol based on a published method (19). The RNAs small-cell lung carcinoma and in colorectal cancer (9, 10, were examined using Experion RNA StdSens Chips (Bio-Rad, 12, 13). Hercules, CA, USA) for Experion Automated Electrophoresis Thus, the aim of our investigation was to examine the System (Bio-Rad). For further analysis, RNA samples with expression of PTPRQ and PTPRZ1. An amplification of the concentration over 100 ng/μl and RNA quality indicator (RQI) over respective coding loci (12q21.2 and 7q31.3) along with 5 were qualified. PTPRZ1 protein over-production was revealed in our Reverse transcription and expression analysis. cDNA synthesis was previous study (9, 11). performed using Transcriptor First-Strand cDNA Synthesis (Roche) according to the producer's protocol. cDNA was diluted to 100 ng/μl. Materials and Methods Relative quantification of PTPRZ1 and PTPRQ and the reference beta actin (ACTB) were measured with the Precision 2X qPCR Analyses were performed on 16 CRC tissues in comparison to mastermix SG (Primer Design, Southampton, Hampshire, UK) using healthy ones derived from the same individuals. All samples were RotorGene RT-PCR (Qiagen). Primer sequences are described in obtained from patients of the First Department of Surgical Oncology Table II. of the Lower Silesian Oncology Centre in Wroclaw, diagnosed with The following PCR conditions were used: initial denaturation at adenocarcinoma coli, before chemo- and radiotherapy. All the 95°C for 2 min, and then 50 cycles of denaturation at 95°C for 15 s, patients included in study group had a negative family history in with data collection at 60°C for 60 s. qPCR normalization was regard to both accumulation of cancer in their family and hereditary carried out according to The Minimum Information for Publication cancer syndromes. The group consisted of 10 females and six males, of Quantitative Real-Time PCR Experiments standards (20). Results with a mean age of 67.25±11 years (Table I). are shown in Table III.

678 Laczmanska et al: Expression of PTPRZ1 and PTPRQ in CRC

Table II. The primer sequences used in this study.

Gene Name Sequence

PTPRQ Protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor type Q Forward 5’GTGGTGAATCTCACAGTTGAGG Reverse 5’CCATTTGGTTGCCGAGGTAAATA PTPRZ1 Protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor type Z1 Forward 5’GCCTGGATTGGGCTAATGGAT Reverse 5’CAGTGCTCCTGTATAGGACCA ACTB Beta-actin Forward 5’CAAGATCAACCGGGAAAAGATGA Reverse 5’TGGATGGCGACATACATGGC

Table III. Normalization of the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method.

Gene Name R2 ME

ACTB (reference gene) Beta-actin 0.999 −3.084 2.1 PTPRQ Protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor type Q 0.999 −3.12 2.1 PTPRZ1 Protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor type Z1 0.999 −3.10 2.1

R2: Coefficient of determination, M: the slope of the PCR reaction, E: efficiency of the PCR.

Table IV. The results of protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor type Z1 (PTPRZ1) and protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor type Q (PTPRQ) expression.

Gene ΔCtz ΔCtg FC Wilcoxon matched-pairs test p-Value

PTPRZ1 4.87±3.04 3.91±1.54 8.17 1.444 0.1488 PTPRQ 5.49±3.71 2.45±1.83 98.51 3.029 0.0080*

ΔCtz: Ct difference between test and reference sample in normal tissue; ΔCtg: Ct difference between test and reference sample in tumor tissue; FC: fold change; *p-value <0.05.

Statistical analysis. Each set of analyses was repeated three times. (p<0.0001). PTPRQ expression was also found to rise 121- Fold changes (FC) in the expression of each gene was calculated fold in tissues with KRAS mutation in comparison to tissues using the ΔΔCt method. Non-parametric Wilcoxon signed- test without this alteration (p=0.0293) (Table V). was used for the statistical analysis of differences in data for healthy We did not observe any correlation between the expression and cancerous tissue. PTPRQ expression was analyzed by multiple regression. level of either of the examined genes and other genetic or Statistical analysis was performed by Statistica ver. 10 (StatSoft, clinical variables. Tulsa, OK, USA). The differences were considered at a p-value less than 0.05. Discussion

Results PTPs, catalyzing dephosphorylation, act in close cooperation with protein kinases and thus control signaling pathways of We observed a high level of expression of both examined crucial processes in the cell (3). Therefore, different PTPs genes (FC>2), but only for PTPRQ was the difference have been recently examined in many types of cancer and between cancerous and healthy tissue statistically significant their dual role as either tumor suppressors or oncogenes has (p=0.0080) (Table IV). been demonstrated (3, 4). Analyzing expression and the clinical pattern by multiple PTPRZ1 was firstly described as being expressed in the regression revealed that PTPRZ1 expression was associated central nervous system, but recently its expression in a with PTPRQ expression: an increase of PTPRZ1 expression variety of cancer tissue such as gastric (8), oral squamous by 1 unit raised the PTPRQ expression by 11.3 times cell (10), colorectal and cervical carcinoma (12), as well as

679 ANTICANCER RESEARCH 36: 677-682 (2016)

Table V. Multiple regression of protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor type Q (PTPRQ) expression.

ddPTPRQ (R2=0.875, p=0.00002)

b Error b t(12) p-Value

Intercept −15.8424 25.25471 −0.62730 0.542212 ddPTPRZ1 11.2974 1.34329 8.41019 0.000002* KRAS codon 12 mutation 120.9458 48.89171 2.47375 0.029292* LME −75.7167 57.80734 −1.30981 0.214781 BRAF V600E 54.5675 47.15609 1.15717 0.269720

PTPRZ1: Protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor type Z1; LME: low methylation epigenotype; BRAF: B-Raf proto-oncogene; KRAS: Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog; *p-value <0.05.

in normal colonic tissue was also reported (9). Moreover, in In conclusion, we confirmed the contribution of PTPRZ1, an in vitro experiment, invasion of cells was and especially PTPRQ, in CRC carcinogenesis and inhibited by PTPRZ1 expression (21). demonstrated that PTPRQ expression is correlated with KRAS PTPRQ is described as a phosphatase with double protein- mutation. Despite the fact that further studies are needed to tyrosine phosphatase and phosphatidylinositol phosphatase evaluate the role of elevated expression of PTPRQ in CRC, activity. In cultured cells, PTPRQ overexpression inhibits we hypothesize that PTPRQ is a candidate oncogene playing proliferation and promotes apoptosis (15). an important role in phosphorylation/dephosphorylation In our previous study, comparative genomic hybridization signaling pathway in CRC carcinogenesis. analysis indicated an amplification of regions containing both PTPRZ1 (7q31.2) and PTPRQ (12q21.2), along with PTPRZ1 Acknowledgements protein overexpression (using immunohistochemical and western blot methods), thus suggesting that both PTPRZ1 and The Authors are grateful to N. Blin for supporting the manuscript's PTPRQ may act as oncogenes and therefore promote preparation. tumorigenesis. While analyzing chromosomal instability in CRC, we recorded amplification of the 12q21.2 region References containing PTPRQ (9, 11). Our present study aimed at expanding previous 1 Birkenkamp-Demtroder K, Christensen LL, Olesen SH, observations. Here we observed not only an increase in Frederiksen CM, Laiho P, Aaltonen LA, Laurberg S, Sørensen PTPRQ expression in CRC when compared to matched FB, Hagemann R and ØRntoft TF: in colorectal cancer. Cancer Res 62(15): 4352-4363, 2002. healthy tissues (p=0.0080), but also an association between 2 Mundade R, Imperiale TF, Prabhu L, Loehrer PJ and Lu T: the levels of PTPRQ and PTPRZ1 expression. Moreover, in Genetic pathways, prevention, and treatment of sporadic CRC tissues carrying KRAS mutation expression of colorectal cancer. Oncoscience 1(6): 400-406, 2014. PTPRZ1 was far higher than in CRC tissues without this 3 Hoekstra E, Peppelenbosch MP and Fuhler GM: The role of alteration. RAS genes belong to the group of oncogenes protein tyrosine phosphatases in colorectal cancer. Biochim most frequently mutated (30-50% of all CRCs). Mutations Biophys Acta 1826(1): 179-188, 2012. are mainly located at the first exon, codons 12 (80%) and 4 Wang Z, Shen D, Parsons DW, Bardelli A, Sager J, Szabo S, Ptak J, Silliman N, Peters BA, van der Heijden MS, Parmigiani 13 (15-20%) (22). As KRAS acts on signal transduction G, Yan H, Wang TL, Riggins G, Powell SM, Willson JK, pathway for cellular growth and differentiation downstream Markowitz S, Kinzler KW, Vogelstein B and Velculescu VE: of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), mutations can Mutational analysis of the tyrosine phosphatome in colorectal result in resistance to anti-EGFR therapy (22). An cancers. Science 304(5674): 1164-1166, 2004. association between an increase in PTPRQ expression and 5 Laczmanska I and Sasiadek MM: Tyrosine phosphatases as a KRAS mutations may suggest their interrelations in the superfamily of tumor suppressors in colorectal cancer. Acta molecular background of CRC. Biochim Pol 58(4): 467-470, 2011. In our study, an increase of PTPRZ1 expression in CRC 6 Zhao S, Sedwick D and Wang Z: Genetic alterations of protein tyrosine phosphatases in cancers. Oncogene 1: 3885- versus tissues healthy tissues was not statistically significant 3894, 2015. but does appear to be associated with PTPRQ expression. 7 Hardy S, Julien SG and Tremblay ML: Impact of oncogenic From our results and those of others, the data seem to protein tyrosine phosphatases in cancer. Anticancer Agents Med suggest a role of PTPRZ1 in carcinogenesis (9-12, 21). Chem 12(1): 4-18, 2012.

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