Publicaciones científicas

Lamc2 Regulates Key Transcriptional and Targetable Effectors to Support Pancreatic Cancer Growth

06-ene-2023 | Revista: Clinical Cancer Research

Oihane Erice  1 , Shruthi Narayanan  1 , Iker Feliu  2 , Rodrigo Entrialgo-Cadierno  2 , Antonia Malinova  3 , Caterina Vicentini  4 , Elizabeth Guruceaga  5 , Pietro Delfino  6 , Marija Trajkovic-Arsic  7 , Haritz Moreno  8 , Karmele Valencia  2 , Ester Blanco  9 , Irati Macaya  2 , Daniel Öhlund  10 , Purvesh Khatri  11 , Fernando Lecanda  9 , Aldo Scarpa  4 , Jens T Siveke  12 , Vincenzo Corbo  4 , Mariano Ponz-Sarvise  13 , Silvestre Vicent  9


Purpose: The identification of PDAC dysregulated genes may unveil novel molecular targets entering inhibitory strategies. Laminins are emerging as potential targets in PDAC given their role as diagnostic and prognostic markers. Here we investigated the cellular, functional and clinical relevance of LAMC2 and its regulated network, with the ultimate goal of identifying potential therapies.

Experimental design: LAMC2 expression was analyzed in PDAC tissues, a panel of human and mouse cell lines, and a genetically engineered mouse model. Genetic perturbation in 2D, 3D, and in vivo allograft and xenograft models was done. Expression profiling of a LAMC2 network was performed by RNA sequencing, and publicly available gene expression datasets from experimental and clinical studies queried for human relevance. Dual inhibition of pharmacologically targetable LAMC2-regulated effectors was investigated.

Results: LAMC2 was upregulated in human and mouse experimental models as well as in human PDAC specimens, and associated with tumor grade and survival. LAMC2 inhibition impaired cell cycle, induced apoptosis, and sensitized PDAC to MEK1/2 inhibitors. A LAMC2-regulated network was featured in PDAC including classical and quasi-mesenchymal subtypes, and contained downstream effectors transcriptionally shared by the KRAS signaling pathway. LAMC2 regulated a functional FOSL1-AXL axis via AKT phosphorylation. Furthermore, genetic LAMC2 or pharmacological AXL inhibition elicited a synergistic antiproliferative effect in combination with MEK1/2 inhibitors that was consistent across 2D and 3D human and mouse PDAC models, including primary patient-derived organoids.

Conclusions: LAMC2 is a molecular target in PDAC which regulates a transcriptional network that unveils a dual drug combination for cancer treatment.

CITA DEL ARTÍCULO  Clin Cancer Res. 2023 Mar 14;29(6):1137-1154.  doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-22-0794