1. Academic Validation
  2. YAP inhibits ERα and ER+ breast cancer growth by disrupting a TEAD-ERα signaling axis

YAP inhibits ERα and ER+ breast cancer growth by disrupting a TEAD-ERα signaling axis

  • Nat Commun. 2022 Jun 2;13(1):3075. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-30831-5.
Xu Li  # 1 Shu Zhuo  # 1 2 3 Ting Zhuang  # 4 Yong Suk Cho 1 Guojin Wu 5 Yuchen Liu 2 6 7 Kun Mu 8 9 Kai Zhang 10 Peng Su 8 Yingzi Yang 2 6 7 Cheng Cheng Zhang 5 Jian Zhu  # 11 12 13 Jin Jiang 14 15
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
  • 2 Department of Developmental Biology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, 188 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
  • 3 Signet Therapeutics Inc., Research Institute of Tsinghua University In Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518057, PR China.
  • 4 Henan Key Laboratory of Immunology and Targeted Drugs, School of Laboratory Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453000, PR China.
  • 5 Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
  • 6 Harvard Stem Cell Institute, 188 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
  • 7 Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, 188 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
  • 8 Department of Pathology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, PR China.
  • 9 Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, PR China.
  • 10 Department of Breast Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, PR China.
  • 11 Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA. [email protected].
  • 12 Henan Key Laboratory of Immunology and Targeted Drugs, School of Laboratory Medicine, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453000, PR China. [email protected].
  • 13 Department of General Surgery, the Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, PR China. [email protected].
  • 14 Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA. [email protected].
  • 15 Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA. [email protected].
  • # Contributed equally.
Abstract

Hippo signaling restricts tissue growth by inhibiting the transcriptional effector YAP. Here we uncover a role of Hippo signaling and a tumor suppressor function of YAP in Estrogen Receptor positive (ER+) breast Cancer. We find that inhibition of Hippo/MST1/2 or activation of YAP blocks the ERα transcriptional program and ER+ breast Cancer growth. Mechanistically, the Hippo pathway transcription factor TEAD physically interacts with ERα to increase its promoter/enhancer occupancy whereas YAP inhibits ERα/TEAD interaction, decreases ERα occupancy on its target promoters/enhancers, and promotes ERα degradation by the Proteasome. Furthermore, YAP inhibits hormone-independent transcription of ERα gene (ESR1). Consistently, high levels of YAP correlate with good prognosis of ER+ breast Cancer patients. Finally, we find that pharmacological inhibition of Hippo/MST1/2 impeded tumor growth driven by hormone therapy resistant ERα mutants, suggesting that targeting the Hippo-YAP-TEAD signaling axis could be a potential therapeutical strategy to overcome endocrine therapy resistance conferred by ERα mutants.

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