Oncogenic Ras diverts a host TNF tumor suppressor activity into tumor promoter

Cordero, J.B., Macagno, J.P., Stefanatos, R.K. , Strathdee, K.E., Cagan, R.L. and Vidal, M. (2010) Oncogenic Ras diverts a host TNF tumor suppressor activity into tumor promoter. Developmental Cell, 18(6), pp. 999-1011. (doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2010.05.014)

Abstract

The roles of inflammatory cytokines and the immune response in cancer remain paradoxical. In the case of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), there is undisputed evidence indicating both protumor and antitumor activities. Recent work in Drosophila indicated that a TNF-dependent mechanism eliminates cells deficient for the polarity tumor suppressors dig or scrib. In this study, however, we show that in tumors deficient for scrib that also expressed the Ras oncoprotein, the TNF signal was diverted into a protumor signal that enhanced tumor growth through larval arrest and stimulated invasive migration. In this case, TNF promoted malignancy and was detrimental to host survival. TNF was expressed at high levels by tumor-associated hemocytes recruited from the circulation. The expression of TNF by hemocytes was both necessary and sufficient to trigger TNF signaling in tumor cells. Our evidence suggests that tumors can evolve into malignancy through oncogenic Ras activation and the hijacking of TNF signaling.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Cordero, Professor Julia and Vidal, Dr Marcos and Macagno, Mr Juan and Strathdee, Mrs Karen and Stefanatos, Dr Rhoda
• Authors: Cordero, J.B., Macagno, J.P., Stefanatos, R.K., Strathdee, K.E., Cagan, R.L., and Vidal, M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences
• Journal Name: Developmental Cell
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1534-5807
• ISSN (Online): 1878-1551
• Published Online: 14 June 2010