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The AHR pathway represses TGFβ-SMAD3 signalling and has a potent tumour suppressive role in SHH medulloblastoma.

Scientific reports | 2020

Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) medulloblastomas are brain tumours that arise in the posterior fossa. Cancer-propagating cells (CPCs) provide a reservoir of cells capable of tumour regeneration and relapse post-treatment. Understanding and targeting the mechanisms by which CPCs are maintained and expanded in SHH medulloblastoma could present novel therapeutic opportunities. We identified the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) pathway as a potent tumour suppressor in a SHH medulloblastoma mouse model. Ahr-deficient tumours and CPCs grown in vitro, showed elevated activation of the TGFβ mediator, SMAD3. Pharmacological inhibition of the TGFβ/SMAD3 signalling axis was sufficient to inhibit the proliferation and promote the differentiation of Ahr-deficient CPCs. Human SHH medulloblastomas with high expression of the AHR repressor (AHRR) exhibited a significantly worse prognosis compared to AHRRlow tumours in two independent patient cohorts. Together, these findings suggest that reduced AHR pathway activity promotes SHH medulloblastoma progression, consistent with a tumour suppressive role for AHR. We propose that TGFβ/SMAD3 inhibition may represent an actionable therapeutic approach for a subset of aggressive SHH medulloblastomas characterised by reduced AHR pathway activity.

Pubmed ID: 31924815 RIS Download

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Associated grants

  • Agency: NCI NIH HHS, United States
    Id: R01 CA148699
  • Agency: Wellcome Trust (Wellcome), International
    Id: 091475
  • Agency: NCI NIH HHS, United States
    Id: R01 CA159859
  • Agency: Cancer Research UK, United Kingdom
    Id: 13457
  • Agency: Medical Research Council, United Kingdom
    Id: MR/N026063/1
  • Agency: RCUK | Medical Research Council (MRC), International
    Id: MR/N000528/1
  • Agency: Cancer Research UK (CRUK), International
    Id: C8464/A13457 and C8464/A23391

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