Overexpression of the csk gene suppresses tumor metastasis in vivo

The non-receptor tyrosine kinase c-Src has been implicated in the development of numerous human cancers. c-Src is activated in colon cancers, particularly in highly metastatic cells, and its overexpression strongly correlates with tumor progression. C-terminal Src kinase (Csk) has been demonstrated to negatively regulate Src family tyrosine kinases through tyrosine phosphorylation at the C-terminal regulatory site (Tyr-527). We report herein that down-regulation of Src kinase activity by adenovirus-mediated csk gene transfer abrogated the highly metastatic phenotype of colon cancer cells. Overexpression of Csk decreased Src tyrosine kinase activity in NL-17 cells, the highly metastatic clone of mouse colon adenocarcinoma 26. Importantly, Csk overexpression in NL-17 cells resulted in significant suppression of in vivo metastasis, without affecting its tumorgenicity. Csk overexpression decreased the invasiveness of NL-17 cells through Matrigel, in vitro reconstituted basement membrane. Gelatin zymography confirmed the decreased protein levels of MMP-2 (gelatinase A) in the supernatants of Csk-overexpressed NL-17 cells. These results provide a therapeutic basis for interfering with metastasis of colon cancer by csk gene-mediated down-regulation of Src kinase activity. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.