The level of oncogenic Ras determines the malignant transformation of Lkb1 mutant tissue in vivo

Commun Biol. 2021 Jan 29;4(1):142. doi: 10.1038/s42003-021-01663-8.

Abstract

The genetic and metabolic heterogeneity of RAS-driven cancers has confounded therapeutic strategies in the clinic. To address this, rapid and genetically tractable animal models are needed that recapitulate the heterogeneity of RAS-driven cancers in vivo. Here, we generate a Drosophila melanogaster model of Ras/Lkb1 mutant carcinoma. We show that low-level expression of oncogenic Ras (RasLow) promotes the survival of Lkb1 mutant tissue, but results in autonomous cell cycle arrest and non-autonomous overgrowth of wild-type tissue. In contrast, high-level expression of oncogenic Ras (RasHigh) transforms Lkb1 mutant tissue resulting in lethal malignant tumors. Using simultaneous multiview light-sheet microcopy, we have characterized invasion phenotypes of Ras/Lkb1 tumors in living larvae. Our molecular analysis reveals sustained activation of the AMPK pathway in malignant Ras/Lkb1 tumors, and demonstrate the genetic and pharmacologic dependence of these tumors on CaMK-activated Ampk. We further show that LKB1 mutant human lung adenocarcinoma patients with high levels of oncogenic KRAS exhibit worse overall survival and increased AMPK activation. Our results suggest that high levels of oncogenic KRAS is a driving event in the malignant transformation of LKB1 mutant tissue, and uncovers a vulnerability that may be used to target this aggressive genetic subset of RAS-driven tumors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung / enzymology
  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung / mortality
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Cell Death
  • Cell Movement
  • Databases, Genetic
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics*
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism
  • Drosophila melanogaster / embryology
  • Drosophila melanogaster / enzymology
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics*
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Genes, ras*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Humans
  • Larva / enzymology
  • Larva / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / mortality
  • Mutation*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / enzymology
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / genetics*
  • Phenotype
  • Protein Kinases / genetics*
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / genetics

Substances

  • Drosophila Proteins
  • KRAS protein, human
  • Protein Kinases
  • LKB1 protein, Drosophila
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • STK11 protein, human
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)