Yap1 activation enables bypass of oncogenic KRAS addiction in pancreatic cancer

Avnish Kapoor, Wantong Yao, Haoqiang Ying, Sujun Hua, Alison Liewen, Qiuyun Wang, Yi Zhong, Chang Jiun Wu, Anguraj Sadanandam, Baoli Hu, Qing Chang, Gerald C. Chu, Ramsey Al-Khalil, Shan Jiang, Hongai Xia, Eliot Fletcher-Sananikone, Carol Lim, Gillian I. Horwitz, Andrea Viale, Piergiorgio PettazzoniNora Sanchez, Huamin Wang, Alexei Protopopov, Jianhua Zhang, Timothy Heffernan, Randy L. Johnson, Lynda Chin, Y. Alan Wang, Giulio Draetta, Ronald A. Depinho

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

510 Scopus citations

Abstract

Activating mutations in KRAS are among the most frequent events in diverse human carcinomas and are particularly prominent in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). An inducible KrasG12D-driven mouse model of PDAC has established a critical role for sustained KrasG12D expression in tumor maintenance, providing a model to determine the potential for and the underlying mechanisms of KrasG12D-independent PDAC recurrence. Here, we show that some tumors undergo spontaneous relapse and are devoid of KrasG12D expression and downstream canonical MAPK signaling and instead acquire amplification and overexpression of the transcriptional coactivator Yap1. Functional studies established the role of Yap1 and the transcriptional factor Tead2 in driving KrasG12D-independent tumor maintenance. The Yap1/Tead2 complex acts cooperatively with E2F transcription factors to activate a cell cycle and DNA replication program. Our studies, along with corroborating evidence from human PDAC models, portend a novel mechanism of escape from oncogenic Kras addiction in PDAC.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)185-197
Number of pages13
JournalCell
Volume158
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 3 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

MD Anderson CCSG core facilities

  • Flow Cytometry and Cellular Imaging Facility
  • Genetically Engineered Mouse Facility
  • Research Animal Support Facility
  • Small Animal Imaging Facility
  • Tissue Biospecimen and Pathology Resource

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