KRAS Mutations As Essential Promoters of Lymphangiogenesis via Extracellular Vesicles in Pancreatic Cancer

Authors

Radu Pirlog
George A Calin

Publication Date

7-15-2022

Journal

Journal of Clinical Investigation

Abstract

Kirsten rat sarcoma virus (KRAS) gene mutations are present in more than 90% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs). KRASG12D is the most frequent alteration, promoting preneoplastic lesions and associating with a more aggressive phenotype. These tumors possess increased intratumoral lymphatic networks and frequent lymph node (LN) metastases. In this issue of the JCI, Luo, Li, et al. explored the relationship between the presence of the KRASG12D mutation and lymphangiogenesis in PDAC. The authors used in vitro and in vivo models and an elegant mechanistic approach to describe an alternative pathway for lymphangiogenesis promotion. KRASG12D induced SUMOylation of heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNPA1) via SAE1 and SUMO2 activation. SUMOylated hnRNPA1 was loaded into extracellular vesicles (EVs) and internalized by human endothelial lymphatic cells (HLEC). Further, SUMOylated hnRNPA1 promoted lymphangiogenesis and LN metastasis by stabilizing prospero homeodomain protein 1 (PROX1) mRNA. These data provide mechanistic insight into cancer lymphangiogenesis with the potential for developing biomarkers and RAS pathway therapeutics.

Keywords

Cell Line, Tumor, Extracellular Vesicles, Humans, Kirsten murine sarcoma virus, Lymphangiogenesis, Lymphatic Metastasis, Mutation, Pancreatic Neoplasms, Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)

DOI

10.1172/JCI161454

PMID

35838046

PMCID

PMC9282924

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

7-15-2022

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Published Open-Access

yes