The retinoblastoma gene Rb and its family member p130 suppress lung adenocarcinoma induced by oncogenic K-Ras

VM Ho, BE Schaffer, AN Karnezis, KS Park, J Sage - Oncogene, 2009 - nature.com
VM Ho, BE Schaffer, AN Karnezis, KS Park, J Sage
Oncogene, 2009nature.com
Mutations of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene RB are frequently observed in
human cancers, but rarely in non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs). Emerging evidence
also suggests that the RB-related gene p130 is inactivated in a subset of human NSCLCs.
To directly test the specific tumor suppressor roles of RB and p130 in NSCLC, we crossed
Rb and p130 conditional mutant mice to mice carrying a conditional oncogenic K-Ras allele.
In this model, controlled oncogenic K-Ras activation leads to the development of …
Abstract
Mutations of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene RB are frequently observed in human cancers, but rarely in non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs). Emerging evidence also suggests that the RB-related gene p130 is inactivated in a subset of human NSCLCs. To directly test the specific tumor suppressor roles of RB and p130 in NSCLC, we crossed Rb and p130 conditional mutant mice to mice carrying a conditional oncogenic K-Ras allele. In this model, controlled oncogenic K-Ras activation leads to the development of adenocarcinoma, a major subtype of NSCLC. We found that loss of p130 accelerated the death of mice, providing direct evidence in vivo that p130 is a tumor suppressor gene, albeit a weak one in this context. Loss of Rb increased the efficiency of lung cancer initiation and resulted in the development of high-grade adenocarcinomas and rapid death. Thus, despite the low frequency of RB mutations in human NSCLCs and reports that K-Ras activation and loss of RB function are rarely found in the same human tumors, loss of Rb clearly cooperates with activation of oncogenic K-Ras in lung adenocarcinoma development in mice.
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