2767

GNA11

guanine nucleotide binding protein (G protein), alpha 11 (Gq class);GNA11;guanine nucleotide binding protein (G protein), alpha 11 (Gq class)

G-protein subunit alpha-11|g alpha-11|guanine nucleotide-binding protein G(y) subunit alpha|guanine nucleotide-binding protein subunit alpha-11

19p13.3

protein-coding

OBJECTIVES: The identification of critical proteins regulating cancer cell metastasis, in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC), is important for prediction of prognosis, prevention of metastasis, and treatment of this lethal malignancy. In the present study, we evaluated the role of CX3CR1 in cellular adhesion, migration, and metastasis in CCRCC. We further investigated the downstream molecular signaling mechanism of fractalkine (FKN)-CX3CR1-induced migration and metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression and localization of CX3CR1 in RCC cell lines were assessed by immunofluorescence analysis. The migration of cancer cells was examined by wound healing and transwell migration assay. The expression level of CX3CR1 and FKN in 78 CCRCC individual samples, 16 normal kidney cortex tissue samples, and 16 cases of metastatic lesions of CCRCC were evaluated using immunohistochemical analysis on tissue microarray. The signal pathway of functional FKN was analyzed by the use of the western-blotting method and inhibitory migration assay. RESULTS: CX3CR1 was expressed in human RCC cell lines, and only membrane positive cells were responsible for FKN-induced cell migration. Extracellular signal-related kinases (ERK1/2) and phosphatidyl-inositide 3 kinase/Akt (PI3K/Akt) were each activated upon soluble FKN stimulation in a time-dependent manner, whereas blockades of MEK, PI3K, and G proteins prevented FKN-mediated cellular migration. Furthermore, CCRCC tissue microarray immunohistochemistry data revealed a clear association of strong CX3CR1 expression with tumor metastasis and poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: CX3CR1 expression is associated with the process of cellular migration in vitro and tumor metastasis of CCRCC in vivo. Both clinical and molecular cellular evidence suggest that CX3CR1 is a potential marker and therapeutic target for CCRCC prognostic prediction and treatment.

PURPOSE: Somatic mutations in GNAQ, GNA11, SF3B1, EIF1AX, and BAP1 have been identified in uveal melanoma (UM). The aim of this study was to determine whether mutations in these genes in primary tumors were associated with metastases in individuals diagnosed with UM. METHODS: A total of 63 UM cases who developed a metastasis within 48 months of primary treatment and 53 UM controls who were metastasis-free over a similar time period were selected for the study. Primary UM cases were screened for mutations in GNAQ, GNA11, SF3B1, EIF1AX, and BAP1. The association of these mutations with tumor characteristics, chromosome 3 copy number, and metastatic status was analyzed by logistic regression to estimate the odds of developing metastasis within 48 months. RESULTS: As expected, tumor diameter, thickness, cilio-choroidal location, and chromosome 3 monosomy were all significantly (P < 0.02) associated with the presence of metastasis. In univariate analysis, GNA11 (odds ratio [OR] 2.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-5.5) and BAP1 (OR 6.3, 95%