MEN1 deficiency leads to neuroendocrine differentiation of lung cancer and disrupts the DNA damage response

Nat Commun. 2020 Feb 21;11(1):1009. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-14614-4.

Abstract

The MEN1 gene, a tumor suppressor gene that encodes the protein menin, is mutated at high frequencies in neuroendocrine (NE) tumors; however, the biological importance of this gene in NE-type lung cancer in vivo remains unclear. Here, we established an ATII-specific KrasG12D/+/Men1-/- driven genetically engineered mouse model and show that deficiency of menin results in the accumulation of DNA damage and antagonizes oncogenic Kras-induced senescence and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition during lung tumorigenesis. The loss of menin expression in certain human primary lung cancers correlates with elevated NE profiles and reduced overall survival.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinogenesis / genetics
  • Carcinogenesis / metabolism
  • Carcinogenesis / pathology
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / metabolism
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / pathology
  • DNA Damage / genetics*
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / genetics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Lung Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / genetics*
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / metabolism
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / pathology
  • Prognosis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / deficiency*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / genetics
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • MEN1 protein, human
  • Men1 protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Hras protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)