Programming of Schwann Cells by Lats1/2-TAZ/YAP Signaling Drives Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumorigenesis

Lai Man Natalie Wu, Yaqi Deng, Jincheng Wang, Chuntao Zhao, Jiajia Wang, Rohit Rao, Lingli Xu, Wenhao Zhou, Kwangmin Choi, Tilat A. Rizvi, Marc Remke, Joshua B. Rubin, Randy L. Johnson, Thomas J. Carroll, Anat O. Stemmer-Rachamimov, Jianqiang Wu, Yi Zheng, Mei Xin, Nancy Ratner, Q. Richard Lu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

80 Scopus citations

Abstract

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are highly aggressive Schwann cell (SC)-lineage-derived sarcomas. Molecular events driving SC-to-MPNST transformation are incompletely understood. Here, we show that human MPNSTs exhibit elevated HIPPO-TAZ/YAP expression, and that TAZ/YAP hyperactivity in SCs caused by Lats1/2 loss potently induces high-grade nerve-associated tumors with full penetrance. Lats1/2 deficiency reprograms SCs to a cancerous, progenitor-like phenotype and promotes hyperproliferation. Conversely, disruption of TAZ/YAP activity alleviates tumor burden in Lats1/2-deficient mice and inhibits human MPNST cell proliferation. Moreover, genome-wide profiling reveals that TAZ/YAP-TEAD1 directly activates oncogenic programs, including platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) signaling. Co-targeting TAZ/YAP and PDGFR pathways inhibits tumor growth. Thus, our findings establish a previously unrecognized convergence between Lats1/2-TAZ/YAP signaling and MPNST pathogenesis, revealing potential therapeutic targets in these untreatable tumors. Wu et al. find that HIPPO-TAZ/YAP expression is elevated in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST). Lats1/2 deficiency in Schwann cells induces hyperactivation of TAZ/YAP and increased PDGFR signaling, leading to the development of MPNST in mice. Inhibition of TAZ/YAP and PDGFR reduces MPNST growth.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)292-308.e7
JournalCancer cell
Volume33
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 12 2018

Keywords

  • Lats1/2
  • MPNST
  • PDGF signaling
  • Schwann cells
  • TAZ
  • YAP
  • hippo signaling
  • murine models
  • peripheral nerve sheath tumor
  • tumor suppressor

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Research

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