Mutant p53 regulates Survivin to foster lung metastasis

Q Tang, G Efe, AM Chiarella, J Leung… - Genes & …, 2021 - genesdev.cshlp.org
Q Tang, G Efe, AM Chiarella, J Leung, M Chen, T Yamazoe, Z Su, JR Pitarresi, J Li, M Islam
Genes & Development, 2021genesdev.cshlp.org
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most lethal cancers worldwide
and evolves often to lung metastasis. P53 R175H (homologous to Trp53 R172H in mice) is a
common hot spot mutation. How metastasis is regulated by p53 R175H in ESCC remains to
be investigated. To investigate p53 R175H-mediated molecular mechanisms, we used a
carcinogen-induced approach in Trp53 R172H/− mice to model ESCC. In the primary Trp53
R172H/− tumor cell lines, we depleted Trp53 R172H (shTrp53) and observed a marked …
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most lethal cancers worldwide and evolves often to lung metastasis. P53 R175H (homologous to Trp53 R172H in mice) is a common hot spot mutation. How metastasis is regulated by p53 R175H in ESCC remains to be investigated. To investigate p53 R175H-mediated molecular mechanisms, we used a carcinogen-induced approach in Trp53 R172H/− mice to model ESCC. In the primary Trp53 R172H/− tumor cell lines, we depleted Trp53 R172H (shTrp53) and observed a marked reduction in cell invasion in vitro and lung metastasis burden in a tail-vein injection model in comparing isogenic cells (shCtrl). Furthermore, we performed bulk RNA-seq to compare gene expression profiles of metastatic and primary shCtrl and shTrp53 cells. We identified the YAP-BIRC5 axis as a potential mediator of Trp53 R172H-mediated metastasis. We demonstrate that expression of Survivin, an antiapoptotic protein encoded by BIRC5, increases in the presence of Trp53 R172H. Furthermore, depletion of Survivin specifically decreases Trp53 R172H-driven lung metastasis. Mechanistically, Trp53 R172H but not wild-type Trp53, binds with YAP in ESCC cells, suggesting their cooperation to induce Survivin expression. Furthermore, Survivin high expression level is associated with increased metastasis in several GI cancers. Taken together, this study unravels new insights into how mutant p53 mediates metastasis.
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