PrPC Regulates the Cancer Stem Cell Properties via Interaction With c-Met in Colorectal Cancer Cells

Background/Aim: Studies have reported that the expression of c-Met and PrPC improves tumor progression. However, not much is known about their relationship. We hypothesized that c-Met and PrPC interact with each other, and enhance cancer stem cell (CSC) characteristics. Materials and Methods: Magnetic activated cell sorting was used to examine the interaction between c-Met and PrPC. The effects of the interaction on downstream signals, stem cell marker expression, and sphere formation of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells were investigated. Results: We demonstrated the increased expression and binding levels of c-Met and PrPC in CRC cells compared to normal colon epithelial cells. We revealed that the c-Met and PrPC interaction induced the ERK activation and Oct4 upregulation. The inhibition of c-Met by crizotinib reduced ERK activation and Oct4 expression and suppressed CSC properties. Conclusion: c-Met and PrPC interact with each other, and targeting c-Met using crizotinib could be a powerful strategy for CRC therapy.