Searching across hundreds of databases

Our searching services are busy right now. Your search will reload in five seconds.

X
Forgot Password

If you have forgotten your password you can enter your email here and get a temporary password sent to your email.

X
Forgot Password

If you have forgotten your password you can enter your email here and get a temporary password sent to your email.

The deubiquitinase USP9X suppresses pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Nature | 2012

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) remains a lethal malignancy despite much progress concerning its molecular characterization. PDA tumours harbour four signature somatic mutations in addition to numerous lower frequency genetic events of uncertain significance. Here we use Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon-mediated insertional mutagenesis in a mouse model of pancreatic ductal preneoplasia to identify genes that cooperate with oncogenic Kras(G12D) to accelerate tumorigenesis and promote progression. Our screen revealed new candidate genes for PDA and confirmed the importance of many genes and pathways previously implicated in human PDA. The most commonly mutated gene was the X-linked deubiquitinase Usp9x, which was inactivated in over 50% of the tumours. Although previous work had attributed a pro-survival role to USP9X in human neoplasia, we found instead that loss of Usp9x enhances transformation and protects pancreatic cancer cells from anoikis. Clinically, low USP9X protein and messenger RNA expression in PDA correlates with poor survival after surgery, and USP9X levels are inversely associated with metastatic burden in advanced disease. Furthermore, chromatin modulation with trichostatin A or 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine elevates USP9X expression in human PDA cell lines, indicating a clinical approach for certain patients. The conditional deletion of Usp9x cooperated with Kras(G12D) to accelerate pancreatic tumorigenesis in mice, validating their genetic interaction. We propose that USP9X is a major tumour suppressor gene with prognostic and therapeutic relevance in PDA.

Pubmed ID: 22699621 RIS Download

Research resources used in this publication

None found

Additional research tools detected in this publication

Antibodies used in this publication

None found

Associated grants

  • Agency: NCI NIH HHS, United States
    Id: R01 CA128920
  • Agency: NCI NIH HHS, United States
    Id: P50CA62924
  • Agency: Wellcome Trust, United Kingdom
  • Agency: NCI NIH HHS, United States
    Id: P50 CA062924
  • Agency: NCI NIH HHS, United States
    Id: CA62924
  • Agency: NCI NIH HHS, United States
    Id: CA106610
  • Agency: NCI NIH HHS, United States
    Id: K08 CA106610
  • Agency: Cancer Research UK, United Kingdom
    Id: 13031
  • Agency: NCI NIH HHS, United States
    Id: CA128920
  • Agency: NCI NIH HHS, United States
    Id: K01 CA122183
  • Agency: NCI NIH HHS, United States
    Id: CA122183
  • Agency: NCI NIH HHS, United States
    Id: P50 CA101955
  • Agency: NCI NIH HHS, United States
    Id: K01 CA122183-05
  • Agency: NCI NIH HHS, United States
    Id: 2P50CA101955

Publication data is provided by the National Library of Medicine ® and PubMed ®. Data is retrieved from PubMed ® on a weekly schedule. For terms and conditions see the National Library of Medicine Terms and Conditions.

This is a list of tools and resources that we have found mentioned in this publication.


Novus Biologicals (tool)

RRID:SCR_004286

Commercial antibody vendor which supplies antibodies and other products to life science researchers.

View all literature mentions