In colon cancer cells, fascin1 functions as a mechanosensor that transforms adherens junction mechanotransduction

Abstract

SummaryFascin1 expression in colorectal carcinomas (CRCs) is linked to a clinically aggressive disease with poor prognosis. Despite that fascin1’s role in the etiology of CRCs has not been directly investigated. We show fascin1 expression in one-third of all CRCs underscoring the critical need to identify fascin1’s function in colorectal carcinogenesis. Here, we identify for the first time, fascin1’s role as a mechanosensor that modulates CRC cell adherens junction (AJ) plasticity to induce tumor growth and metastasis. We show that fascin1 expression drives protein sorting to transform AJ mechanotransduction and we reveal how these force-sensitive pathways activate oncogenic signaling in CRC cells. We made the novel finding that AJ remodeling by fascin1 also controls “collective plasticity” and bidirectional cell migration. Few studies have examined AJ plasticity in cancer cells, which remains poorly understood and has not been therapeutically targeted. Our findings could have widespread implications for understanding and treating metastatic carcinomas.