Mutant FOXL2C134W Hijacks SMAD4 and SMAD2/3 to Drive Adult Granulosa Cell Tumors

Stine E Weis-Banke, Mads Lerdrup, Daniela Kleine-Kohlbrecher, Faizaan Mohammad, Simone Sidoli, Ole N Jensen, Toshihiko Yanase, Tomoko Nakamura, Akira Iwase, Anthe Stylianou, Nadeem R Abu-Rustum, Carol Aghajanian, Robert Soslow, Arnaud Da Cruz Paula, Richard P Koche, Britta Weigelt, Jesper Christensen, Kristian Helin, Paul A C Cloos

36 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

The mutant protein FOXL2C134W is expressed in at least 95% of adult-type ovarian granulosa cell tumors (AGCT) and is considered to be a driver of oncogenesis in this disease. However, the molecular mechanism by which FOXL2C134W contributes to tumorigenesis is not known. Here, we show that mutant FOXL2C134W acquires the ability to bind SMAD4, forming a FOXL2C134W/SMAD4/SMAD2/3 complex that binds a novel hybrid DNA motif AGHCAHAA, unique to the FOXL2C134W mutant. This binding induced an enhancer-like chromatin state, leading to transcription of nearby genes, many of which are characteristic of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. FOXL2C134W also bound hybrid loci in primary AGCT. Ablation of SMAD4 or SMAD2/3 resulted in strong reduction of FOXL2C134W binding at hybrid sites and decreased expression of associated genes. Accordingly, inhibition of TGFβ mitigated the transcriptional effect of FOXL2C134W. Our results provide mechanistic insight into AGCT pathogenesis, identifying FOXL2C134W and its interaction with SMAD4 as potential therapeutic targets to this condition. SIGNIFICANCE: FOXL2C134W hijacks SMAD4 and leads to the expression of genes involved in EMT, stemness, and oncogenesis in AGCT, making FOXL2C134W and the TGFβ pathway therapeutic targets in this condition. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/80/17/3466/F1.large.jpg.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftCancer Research
Vol/bind80
Udgave nummer17
Sider (fra-til)3466-3479
Antal sider14
ISSN0008-5472
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 1 sep. 2020

Fingeraftryk

Dyk ned i forskningsemnerne om 'Mutant FOXL2C134W Hijacks SMAD4 and SMAD2/3 to Drive Adult Granulosa Cell Tumors'. Sammen danner de et unikt fingeraftryk.

Citationsformater