Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the deadliest solid cancers; thus, identifying more effective therapies is a major unmet need. In this study, we characterized the super-enhancer (SE) landscape of human PDAC to identify drivers of the disease that might be targetable. This analysis revealed MICAL2 as an SE-associated gene in human PDAC, which encodes the flavin monooxygenase enzyme that induces actin depolymerization and indirectly promotes serum response factor transcription by modulating the availability of serum response factor coactivators such as myocardin-related transcription factors (MRTF-A and MRTF-B). MICAL2 was overexpressed in PDAC, and high-MICAL2 expression correlated with poor patient prognosis. Transcriptional analysis revealed that MICAL2 upregulates KRAS and epithelial-mesenchymal transition signaling pathways, contributing to tumor growth and metastasis. In loss- and gain-of-function experiments in human and mouse PDAC cells, MICAL2 promoted both ERK1/2 and AKT activation. Consistent with its role in actin depolymerization and KRAS signaling, loss of MICAL2 also inhibited macropinocytosis. MICAL2, MRTF-A, and MRTF-B influenced PDAC cell proliferation and migration and promoted cell-cycle progression in vitro. Importantly, MICAL2 supported in vivo tumor growth and metastasis. Interestingly, MRTF-B, but not MRTF-A, phenocopied MICAL2-driven phenotypes in vivo. This study highlights the multiple ways in which MICAL2 affects PDAC biology and provides a foundation for future investigations into the potential of targeting MICAL2 for therapeutic intervention. Significance: Characterization of the epigenomic landscape of pancreatic cancer to identify early drivers of tumorigenesis uncovered MICAL2 as a super-enhancer-associated gene critical for tumor progression that represents a potential pharmacologic target.
MICAL2 Promotes Pancreatic Cancer Growth and Metastasis.
阅读:2
作者:Garg Bharti, Khan Sohini, Courelli Asimina S, Panneerpandian Ponmathi, Sheik Pran Babu Deepa, Mose Evangeline S, Gulay Kevin Christian Montecillo, Sharma Shweta, Sood Divya, Wenzel Alexander T, Martsinkovskiy Alexei, Rajbhandari Nirakar, Patel Jay, Jaquish Dawn, Esparza Edgar, Jaque Katelin, Aggarwal Neetu, Lambies Guillem, D'Ippolito Anthony, Austgen Kathryn, Johnston Brian, Orlando David A, Jang Gun Ho, Gallinger Steven, Goodfellow Elliot, Brodt Pnina, Commisso Cosimo, Tamayo Pablo, Mesirov Jill P, Tiriac Hervé, Lowy Andrew M
| 期刊: | Cancer Research | 影响因子: | 16.600 |
| 时间: | 2025 | 起止号: | 2025 Mar 14; 85(6):1049-1063 |
| doi: | 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-24-0744 | ||
特别声明
1、本文转载旨在传播信息,不代表本网站观点,亦不对其内容的真实性承担责任。
2、其他媒体、网站或个人若从本网站转载使用,必须保留本网站注明的“来源”,并自行承担包括版权在内的相关法律责任。
3、如作者不希望本文被转载,或需洽谈转载稿费等事宜,请及时与本网站联系。
4、此外,如需投稿,也可通过邮箱info@biocloudy.com与我们取得联系。
