The src homology 2 (SH2) domain-containing protein-tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 has been implicated as an important positive regulator of several mitogenic signaling pathways. SHP-2 has more recently been shown to be tyrosine phosphorylated and recruited to the gp130 component of the ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) receptor complex upon stimulation with CNTF. CNTF does not, however, have a proliferative effect on responsive cells, but rather enhances the survival and differentiation of sympathetic, motor, and sensory neurons. In this study, expression of an interfering mutant of SHP-2 in the neuroblastoma cell line NBFL increased CNTF induction of a vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) reporter gene, and in cultures of sympathetic neurons, it resulted in an up-regulation of endogenous VIP and substance P (SP) gene expression. Members of the CNTF family of cytokines transmit their signal by activating signaling pathways involving both STAT and Fos-Jun transcription factors. In CNTF-stimulated NBFL cells that constitutively express the SHP-2 interfering mutant, there was increased and prolonged formation of STAT/DNA complexes, but decreased AP-1 binding activity, that mirrored a down-regulation of c-fos expression both at the mRNA and protein level. Taken together, these data indicate that SHP-2 has dual and opposing roles in a signaling cascade triggered by the same ligand, as illustrated by its ability to differentially regulate the levels of activity of both STAT and AP-1 transcription factors.

Deregulated signaling through the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is involved in chemoresistance. To identify the molecular determinants of sensitivity to the EGFR inhibitor gefitinib (Iressa, ZD1839) in chemoresistance, we compared the response of matched chemosensitive and chemoresistant glioma and ovarian cancer cell lines. We found that chemoresistant cell lines were 2‐ to 3‐fold more sensitive to gefitinib growth‐inhibitory effects, because of decreased proliferation rather than survival. Sensitivity to gefitinib correlated with overexpression and constitutive phosphorylation of HER2 and HER3, but not EGFR, altered HER ligand expression, and enhanced activation of EGF‐triggered EGFR pathway. No activating mutations were found in EGFR. Gefitinib fully inhibited EGF‐induced and constitutive Akt activation only in chemoresistant cells. In parallel, gefitinib downregulated constitutively phosphorylated HER2 and HER3, and activated GSK3β with a concomitant degradation of cyclin D1. Ectopically overexpressed HER2 on its own was insufficient to sensitize chemonaive cells to gefitinib. pHER3 coimmunoprecipitated with p85‐PI3K in chemoresistant cells and gefitinib dissociated these complexes. siRNA‐mediated inhibition of HER3 decreased constitutive activation of Akt and sensitivity to gefitinib in chemoresistant cells. Our study indicates that in chemoresistant cells gefitinib inhibits both an enhanced EGF‐triggered pathway and a constitutive HER3‐mediated Akt activation, indicating that inhibition of HER3 together with that of EGFR could be relevant in chemorefractory tumors. Furthermore, in combination experiments gefitinib enhanced the effects of coadministered drugs more in chemoresistant than chemosensitive ovarian cancer cells. Combined treatment might be therapeutically beneficial in chemoresistant tumors from ovary and likely from other tissues.