Tumor‐propagating cells and Yap/Taz activity contribute to lung tumor progression and metastasis. (21st February 2014) - Lau, Allison N
Synopsis The molecular characterization of tumor‐propagating cells in mouse models of lung cancer reveals CD24+/Sca1+ and increased Yap/Taz activity as predictive for tumor metastasis. Murine lung TPCs with the markers Sca1 and CD24 are enriched for metastatic potential in orthotopic transplantation assays. In lung cancer patient data sets, metastatic spread and patient survival could be stratified with a murine lung TPC gene signature. Knockdown of the Hippo mediators Yap1 or Taz decreased migration and metastatic potential of lung cancer cells. Yap activation was sufficient for driving tumor progression in the Kras mouse model of lung cancer.