Xu J, Roe J, Lee E, Tonelli C, Ji KY, Younis OW, Somervile TD, Yao M, Milazzo JP, Tiriac H, Kolarzyk AM, Lee E, Grem JL, Lazenby AJ, Grunkemeyer JA, Hollingsworth MA, Grandgenett PM, Borowsky AD, Park Y, Vakoc CR, Tuveson DA, Hwang C. Engrailed-1 Promotes Pancreatic Cancer Metastasis.
Adv Sci (Weinh) 2024;
11:e2308537. [PMID:
38110836 PMCID:
PMC10853725 DOI:
10.1002/advs.202308537]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Engrailed-1 (EN1) is a critical homeodomain transcription factor (TF) required for neuronal survival, and EN1 expression has been shown to promote aggressive forms of triple negative breast cancer. Here, it is reported that EN1 is aberrantly expressed in a subset of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) patients with poor outcomes. EN1 predominantly repressed its target genes through direct binding to gene enhancers and promoters, implicating roles in the activation of MAPK pathways and the acquisition of mesenchymal cell properties. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments demonstrated that EN1 promoted PDA transformation and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. The findings nominate the targeting of EN1 and downstream pathways in aggressive PDA.
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