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PubMed2025

Development of a new flippase-dependent mouse model for red fluorescence-based isolation of KRASG12D oncogene-expressing tumor cells.

Proto-oncogene KRAS, GTPase (KRAS) is one of the most intensively studied oncogenes in cancer research. Although several mouse models allow for regulated expression of mutant KRAS, selective isolation and analysis of transforming or tumor cells that produce the KRAS oncogene remains a challenge. In our study, we present a knock-in model of oncogenic variant KRASG12D that enables the "activation" of KRASG12D expression together with production of red fluorescent protein tdTomato. Both proteins are expressed from the endogenous Kras locus after recombination of a transcriptional stop box in the genomic DNA by the enzyme flippase (Flp). We have demonstrated the functionality of the allele termed RedRas (abbreviated KrasRR) under in vitro conditions with mouse embryonic fibroblasts and organoids and in vivo in the lung and colon epithelium. After recombination with adenoviral vectors carrying the Flp gene, the KrasRR allele itself triggers formation of lung adenomas. In the colon epithelium, it causes the progression of adenomas that are triggered by the loss of tumor suppressor adenomatous polyposis coli (APC). Importantly, cells in which recombination has successfully occurred can be visualized and isolated using the fluorescence emitted by tdTomato. Furthermore, we show that KRASG12D production enables intestinal organoid growth independent of epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling and that the KRASG12D function is effectively suppressed by specific inhibitor MRTX1133.

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PubMed2026

AI-Driven Multi-Omics Integration of Synthetic Colon Adenocarcinoma for Cluster-Guided PROTAC Candidate Design Targeting KRASG12D.

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer death, yet its molecular heterogeneity remains poorly translated into individualized treatment. We present a reproducible artificial intelligence (AI) framework that integrates multi-omics benchmarking, sample-level drug prioritization, E3 ubiquitin ligase selection, and shape-anchored Proteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTAC) design for KRASG12D in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD). A controlled synthetic benchmark comprising 425 tumor and 41 simulated normal profiles, parameterized to match The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) distributions, was used for pipeline verification. Among sixteen methods, the Balanced Latent Integration with Stability Selection (BLISS) model achieved the highest silhouette width (0.86) and competitive agreement (Adjusted Rand Index, ARI, 0.90). The pipeline was validated on real data: a TCGA COAD cohort (186 tumors) with independent Consensus Molecular Subtype (CMS) labels and a CPTAC cohort (104 tumors). Integration modestly recovered CMS (ARI 0.28), and stage, not molecular cluster, drove survival (log-rank p = 0.005 versus 0.81). Sample-level prioritization differed from cluster-level ranking in 82.6% of profiles, below chance (p < 0.0001), without indicating efficacy. Candidate NOVEL00489 showed a good MM-GBSA estimate, matching the reference ASP3082. Compounds are computational candidates requiring experimental validation. This establishes a transparent benchmark for in silico degrader generation in precision oncology.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Injury and inflammation promote cancer progression at the anorectal junction.

In anorectal cancer, epithelial tumors frequently develop in transition zones (TZs) between the anal and the rectal epithelia, a region subjected to inflammation and wounds. However, whether inflammation and wounds contribute to tumor development in the anorectal region remain totally unknown. Using mice with KRASG12D mutation selectively at the TZ cells, we found that recurrent wound and its associated sustained inflammation are essential to promote tumor development. We characterized at the single-cell level the malignant events that occurred at the TZ all along tumor development from early neoplastic, hyperplastic, to malignant transition. We showed that this tumoral development was under the influence of interleukin (IL)-17, a cytokine highly secreted by a γδ T lymphocyte subset, allowing the recruitment of neutrophils at the TZ, which was crucial for tumor progression. Hence, this study reveals the importance of wound and its associated IL-17/neutrophil inflammatory axis in cancer progression.

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PubMed2026

Targeting pancreatic cancer progression: The formononetin and salvianolic acid B combination suppresses JAK/STAT signaling via MBOAT2 downregulation.

OBJECTIVE: Formononetin and salvianolic acid B (FcS) are the primary bioactive components of the Astragalus mongholicus-Salvia miltiorrhiza herbal pair, a classic combination for treating pancreatic cancer associated with qi deficiency and blood stasis. This study elucidates the therapeutic potential and mechanisms of FcS in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. METHODS: A zebrafish xenograft model was used to screen bioactive combinations derived from A. mongholicus and S. miltiorrhiza, identifying FcS as a candidate with antitumor activity. Its efficacy was evaluated in vivo using the zebrafish model, orthotopic LSL-KrasG12D/+, LSL-Trp53R172H/+ and Pdx-1-Cre (KPC) mice, and subcutaneous xenograft models. Cell viability and proliferation were assessed using cell counting kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine and colony formation assays, and migration and invasion were evaluated by wound healing and transwell assays. Membrane-bound O-acyltransferase 2 (MBOAT2) was identified as a potential target through a molecular docking study and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) analysis. MBOAT2 knockdown cells were used to explore its roles and the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway in FcS-mediated inhibition. RESULTS: In the zebrafish model, FcS strongly inhibited pancreatic tumor growth. FcS reduced tumor volume, the expression of proliferation marker Ki-67, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen in KPC mice. In vitro, FcS inhibited pancreatic cancer cell viability, proliferation, migration and invasion, which was accompanied by downregulation of MBOAT2 expression. TCGA analysis linked high MBOAT2 expression to aggressive phenotypes. MBOAT2 knockdown reduced the survival, proliferation and invasion of BxPC-3 cells. Rescue experiments revealed that MBOAT2 knockdown attenuated the antitumor effects of FcS, possibly through modulation of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway. FcS also inhibited tumor proliferation in xenograft models, and MBOAT2 expression was elevated in tumor tissues from pancreatic cancer patients. CONCLUSION: FcS suppresses pancreatic cancer progression via MBOAT2 downregulation and JAK/STAT pathway inhibition, which highlights MBOAT2 as a potential therapeutic target. Please cite this article as: Xu Y, Xu CS, Jin HB, Gu WG, Shen HZ, Lu L, Chen Y, Xu DC, Zhang XF, Yang JF, Wang Y. Targeting pancreatic cancer progression: The formononetin and salvianolic acid B combination suppresses JAK/STAT signaling via MBOAT2 downregulation. J Integr Med. 2026; 24(5):725-741.

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PubMed2025

Sustained NF-κB activation allows mutant alveolar stem cells to co-opt a regeneration program for tumor initiation.

Disruptions to regulatory signals governing stem cell fate open the pathway to tumorigenesis. To determine how these programs become destabilized, we fate-map thousands of murine wild-type and KrasG12D-mutant alveolar type II (AT2) stem cells in vivo and find evidence for two independent AT2 subpopulations marked by distinct tumorigenic capacities. By combining clonal analyses with single-cell transcriptomics, we unveil striking parallels between lung regeneration and tumorigenesis that implicate Il1r1 as a common activator of AT2 reprogramming. We show that tumor evolution proceeds through the acquisition of lineage infidelity and reversible transitions between mutant states, which, in turn, modulate wild-type AT2 dynamics. Finally, we discover how sustained nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation sets tumorigenesis apart from regeneration, allowing mutant cells to subvert differentiation in favor of tumor growth.

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PubMed2024

Stool Protein Mass Spectrometry Identifies Biomarkers for Early Detection of Diffuse-type Gastric Cancer.

There is a high unmet need for early detection approaches for diffuse gastric cancer (DGC). We examined whether the stool proteome of mouse models of gastric cancer (GC) and individuals with hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) have utility as biomarkers for early detection. Proteomic mass spectrometry of the stool of a genetically engineered mouse model driven by oncogenic KrasG12D and loss of p53 and Cdh1 in gastric parietal cells [known as Triple Conditional (TCON) mice] identified differentially abundant proteins compared with littermate controls. Immunoblot assays validated a panel of proteins, including actinin alpha 4 (ACTN4), N-acylsphingosine amidohydrolase 2 (ASAH2), dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), and valosin-containing protein (VCP), as enriched in TCON stool compared with littermate control stool. Immunofluorescence analysis of these proteins in TCON stomach sections revealed increased protein expression compared with littermate controls. Proteomic mass spectrometry of stool obtained from patients with HDGC with CDH1 mutations identified increased expression of ASAH2, DPP4, VCP, lactotransferrin (LTF), and tropomyosin-2 relative to stool from healthy sex- and age-matched donors. Chemical inhibition of ASAH2 using C6 urea ceramide was toxic to GC cell lines and GC patient-derived organoids. This toxicity was reversed by adding downstream products of the S1P synthesis pathway, which suggested a dependency on ASAH2 activity in GC. An exploratory analysis of the HDGC stool microbiome identified features that correlated with patient tumors. Herein, we provide evidence supporting the potential of analyzing stool biomarkers for the early detection of DGC. Prevention Relevance: This study highlights a novel panel of stool protein biomarkers that correlate with the presence of DGC and has potential use as early detection to improve clinical outcomes.

Feces↗

PubMed2026

Induction and characterization of neoplastic bladder tumors in a transgenic porcine model.

BACKGROUND: Large animal models of bladder cancer are lacking. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop and characterize a transgenic porcine model of bladder cancer (BC) using Oncopigs expressing Cre-inducible KRASG12D and TP53R167H mutations. METHODS: Eleven female Oncopigs underwent tumor induction via three cystoscopic inoculation procedures: Procedure I (N = 3, 1 inoculation/pig), chemical dissolution of the glycosaminoglycan layer with N-Dodecyl-β-d-Maltoside DDM followed by adenoviral Cre-recombinase (AdCre) instillation; Procedure II (N = 4, 3 inoculation/pig), mechanical mucosal denudation followed by AdCre instillation; and Procedure III (N = 4, 3 inoculation/pig), cystoscopy-guided submucosal injection of AdCre. Animals were clinically monitored throughout follow-up (14-28 days). Tumor development was assessed on cystoscopy and ultrasonography, and pathologically, immunohistochemically (IHC), and genomically characterized. RESULTS: All pigs remained clinically healthy. Tumors developed at 59% (16/27) of inoculation sites: nine (33%) were neoplastic and seven (26%) were inflammatory. Procedure I achieved 100% neoplastic tumors and produced both non-muscle invasive (71%) and muscle-invasive (29%) tumors. Procedure II achieved 50% neoplastic tumors, all of which were muscle invasive (100%). Procedure III generated only inflammatory tumors. Histologically, neoplastic tumors were pathologically interpreted as urothelial cell carcinomas with sarcomatoid differentiation, with IHC confirming the presence of both epithelioid and sarcomatoid features with abundant mixed leukocytic infiltrates. Genomic analyses verified Cre-induced alterations alongside other mutations seen in human BC. CONCLUSIONS: We herein demonstrate an efficient and reproducible method for developing autochthonous neoplastic bladder tumors in Oncopigs that resemble human bladder cancer of varying stages. This large animal model facilitates the evaluation of novel surgical and intravesical therapies in BC.

bladder cancer↗

PubMed2025

In-depth assessment of BRAF, NRAS, KRAS, EGFR, and PIK3CA mutations on cell-free DNA in the blood of melanoma patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibition.

INTRODUCTION: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) holds promise for guiding immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy and stratifying responders from non-responders. While tumor-informed ctDNA detection approaches are sensitive and mutation-inclusive, they require tumor tissue, which limits applicability in real-world settings. Conversely, tumor-agnostic methods often have limited genomic coverage. In this study, we evaluated a tumor-agnostic, broad-panel ctDNA assay in patients with advanced melanoma treated with ICI. METHODS: We conducted a prospective analysis of 241 longitudinal samples from 39 patients with unresectable stage III/IV melanoma using a SYSMEX targeted NGS panel covering 1,114 COSMIC mutations. Plasma samples were collected at baseline and during ICI therapy. The assay's sensitivity reached seven mutant molecules, corresponding to a 0.07% mutation allele frequency (MAF). ctDNA profiles were compared with matched tumor tissue and correlated with clinical features and survival. RESULTS: At baseline, ctDNA was detected in 64.5% of patients. Common mutations included BRAFV600E (43.8%) and NRASG12D (36.4%), followed by KRAS, EGFR, and PIK3CA variants. Overall tissue-plasma concordance was 51.6%, with more extended biopsy-plasma intervals associated with discordance (p = 0.0105). Notably, 12.2% of cases exhibited partial concordance, characterized by shared mutations and additional plasma-only alterations, underscoring the complementary value of blood-based profiling. Persistent or re-emerging ctDNA positivity post-therapy correlated with shorter progression-free survival (PFS, p = 0.003), while ctDNA-negative patients showed significantly improved outcomes. Patients that remained ctDNA-negative had significantly longer progression-free survival (median not reached) compared to those with persistent ctDNA positivity (median 3 months) or those converting to positive (median 7.5 months; p = 0.0073). Early NRAS and KRAS ctDNA levels strongly predicted poor response (p = 0.0069 and p = 0.028). The prognostic impact extended beyond canonical drivers, as non-hotspot variants also correlated with the outcome. Notably, even low-level ctDNA persistence (5-10 MM/mL) carried adverse prognostic implications (p = 0.0054). Concerning a shorter PFS, ctDNA positivity was also associated with elevated S100 levels (p = 0.047). Organ-specific mutation enrichment (e.g., KRASG12D in brain, EGFRG719A in lymph nodes) suggested possible metastatic tropism. CONCLUSION: Broad tumor-agnostic ctDNA analysis effectively identified clinically relevant mutations and predicted outcomes in ICI-treated melanoma patients. This approach enables tissue-independent and real-time ctDNA monitoring and may inform patient selection and therapeutic strategies in future interventional trials.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Targeting USP22 reprograms the tumor microenvironment and sensitizes KRAS/p53-driven lung cancer to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.

RATIONALE: Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 22 (USP22), a deubiquitinase and component of the "Death-from-Cancer" 11-gene signature, is overexpressed in multiple malignancies and linked to recurrence, therapy resistance, and poor prognosis. Its role in KRAS/p53-driven lung cancer and the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) remains poorly defined. Here, we investigated USP22 as a potential therapeutic target in KRAS/p53-driven lung cancer. METHODS: A conditional Usp22 knockout (Usp22-KO) was generated in the KRASG12D; p53-/- (KP) mouse model. Cancer progression was monitored by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF), RNA sequencing, and spatial transcriptomics profiled cancer and tumor microenvironment (TME) changes. Responses to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapies were compared between KP and Usp22-KO KP (KPU-) lung cancers. RESULTS: USP22 was highly expressed in early-stage KRAS/p53-driven mouse lung cancers and strongly correlated with proliferation marker Ki67. Usp22 deletion suppressed cancer growth, prolonged survival, and promoted cancer differentiation. Spatial transcriptomics and mIF revealed reduced CD206+ M2 macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), TGF-β1, and angiogenesis, along with increased functional CD8+ T cells. Mechanistically, USP22 regulated gene expression and protein stability, reducing c-Myc, PD-L1, TGF-β1, and SPARC upon Usp22 loss. Compared with KP cancer, KPU- and SPARC-knockdown KP cancers showed reduced macrophage chemotaxis and impaired basal- and TGF-β1-induced M2 polarization of RAW264.7 cells, suggesting that TGF-β1 and SPARC downregulation partially contributes to decreased M2 macrophage infiltration in KPU- cancers. Notably, Usp22 loss enhanced the efficacy of anti-PD-L1 and anti-PD-1 therapies in orthotopic and subcutaneous KP lung cancer models, respectively. USP22 and SPARC expression were also strongly correlated in human lung cancers. CONCLUSIONS: USP22 promotes progression and immune evasion in KRAS/p53-driven lung cancer. Targeting USP22 reprograms the TME, suppresses oncogenic signaling, and sensitizes tumors to ICI, establishing USP22 as a promising therapeutic target.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

Propionyl-CoA carboxylase subunit B regulates anti-tumor T cells in a pancreatic cancer mouse model.

Most human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are not infiltrated with cytotoxic T cells and are highly resistant to immunotherapy. Over 90% of PDAC have oncogenic KRAS mutations, and phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) are direct effectors of KRAS. Our previous study demonstrated that ablation of Pik3ca in KPC (KrasG12D; Trp53R172H; Pdx1-Cre) pancreatic cancer cells induced host T cells to infiltrate and completely eliminate the tumors in a syngeneic orthotopic implantation mouse model. Now, we show that implantation of Pik3ca-/- KPC (named αKO) cancer cells induces clonal enrichment of cytotoxic T cells infiltrating the pancreatic tumors. To identify potential molecules that can regulate the activity of these anti-tumor T cells, we conducted an in vivo genome-wide gene-deletion screen using αKO cells implanted in the mouse pancreas. The result shows that deletion of propionyl-CoA carboxylase subunit B gene (Pccb) in αKO cells (named p-αKO) leads to immune evasion, tumor progression, and death of host mice. Surprisingly, p-αKO tumors are still infiltrated with clonally enriched CD8+ T cells but they are inactive against tumor cells. However, blockade of PD-L1/PD1 interaction reactivated these clonally enriched T cells infiltrating p-αKO tumors, leading to slower tumor progression and improve survival of host mice. These results indicate that Pccb can modulate the activity of cytotoxic T cells infiltrating some pancreatic cancers and this understanding may lead to improvement in immunotherapy for this difficult-to-treat cancer.

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