Cell Reports (Nov 2024)

A platform of functional studies of ESCC-associated gene mutations identifies the roles of TGFBR2 in ESCC progression and metastasis

  • Jian Wang,
  • Jiajia Du,
  • Xiangmeng Luo,
  • Linjie Guo,
  • Yixin Liu,
  • Jianfeng Zhou,
  • Yang Zou,
  • Zhenghao Lu,
  • Xiangyu Pan,
  • Xuelan Chen,
  • Ailing Zhong,
  • Xudong Wan,
  • Lu Wang,
  • Hongyu Liu,
  • Siqi Dai,
  • Shiyu Zhang,
  • Xingyu Xiong,
  • Ping Tan,
  • Manli Wang,
  • Baohong Wu,
  • Qi Zhang,
  • Yingjie Wang,
  • Mengsha Zhang,
  • Runda Lu,
  • Huahang Lin,
  • Yuan Li,
  • Yaxin Li,
  • Zongkai Han,
  • Longqi Chen,
  • Bing Hu,
  • Yu Liu,
  • Feifei Na,
  • Chong Chen

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 43, no. 11
p. 114952

Abstract

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Summary: Genomics studies have detected numerous genetic alterations in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the functions of these mutations largely remain elusive, partially due to a lack of feasible animal models. Here, we report a convenient platform with CRISPR-Cas9-mediated introduction of genetic alterations and orthotopic transplantation to generate a series of primary ESCC models in mice. With this platform, we validate multiple frequently mutated genes, including EP300, FAT1/2/4, KMT2D, NOTCH2, and TGFBR2, as tumor-suppressor genes in ESCC. Among them, TGFBR2 loss dramatically promotes tumorigenesis and multi-organ metastasis. Paradoxically, TGFBR2 deficiency leads to Smad3 activation, and disruption of Smad3 partially restrains the progression of Tgfbr2-mutated tumors. Drug screening with tumor organoids identifies that pinaverium bromide represses Smad3 activity and restrains Tgfbr2-deficient ESCC. Our studies provide a highly efficient platform to investigate the in vivo functions of ESCC-associated mutations and develop potential treatments for this miserable malignancy.

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