DLC1 is a chromosome 8p tumor suppressor whose loss promotes hepatocellular carcinoma

Genes Dev. 2008 Jun 1;22(11):1439-44. doi: 10.1101/gad.1672608.

Abstract

Deletions on chromosome 8p are common in human tumors, suggesting that one or more tumor suppressor genes reside in this region. Deleted in Liver Cancer 1 (DLC1) encodes a Rho-GTPase activating protein and is a candidate 8p tumor suppressor. We show that DLC1 knockdown cooperates with Myc to promote hepatocellular carcinoma in mice, and that reintroduction of wild-type DLC1 into hepatoma cells with low DLC1 levels suppresses tumor growth in situ. Cells with reduced DLC1 protein contain increased GTP-bound RhoA, and enforced expression a constitutively activated RhoA allele mimics DLC1 loss in promoting hepatocellular carcinogenesis. Conversely, down-regulation of RhoA selectively inhibits tumor growth of hepatoma cells with disabled DLC1. Our data validate DLC1 as a potent tumor suppressor gene and suggest that its loss creates a dependence on the RhoA pathway that may be targeted therapeutically.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / genetics*
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8*
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor*
  • Genes, myc
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Models, Animal
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein