DACT1 Overexpression in type I ovarian cancer inhibits malignant expansion and cis-platinum resistance by modulating canonical Wnt signalling and autophagy

Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 24;7(1):9285. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-08249-7.

Abstract

Type I epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is primarily resistant to platinum-based chemotherapies and needs novel therapeutics. Given the aberrant Wnt activation in type I EOC and the involvement of Dapper1 Antagonist of Catenin-1 (DACT1) in Wnt signalling, the role of DACT1 in tumourigenesis of type I EOC was evaluated. Firstly, all tested EOC cell lines and primary EOC tissues, especially type I EOC, were observed to have significantly lower DACT1 expression than normal controls. Next, 3AO cells, which arise from a patient with primary mucinous EOC and express low endogenous levels of DACT1, were transfected with a lentivirus carrying full-length DACT1 (3AO-DACT1), grew slower and formed smaller tumours in nude mice compared to 3AO-NC. Furthermore, 3AO-DACT1 had lower levels of key mediators of canonical Wnt signalling, Dvl2 and β-catenin, GSK-3β with phosphorylated Ser9, and the Wnt/β-catenin target genes, with significantly lower nuclear β-catenin levels. Additionally, 3AO-DACT which contained higher levels of lipidated LC3 (LC3-II) and Beclin1, but lower levels of p62/SQSTM1, were more sensitive to cis-platinum. And chloroquine partially rescued its cis-platinum resistance. We identified DACT1 as a negative regulator in type I EOC, protecting against malignant expansion by inhibiting canonical Wnt signalling and cis-platinum resistance by regulating autophagy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Autophagy / drug effects
  • Autophagy / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Cisplatin / pharmacology*
  • DNA Methylation
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway / drug effects*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • DACT1 protein, human
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • beta Catenin
  • Cisplatin