Wen-Hao Hsu, Kyle A LaBella, Yiyun Lin, Ping Xu, Rumi Lee, Cheng-En Hsieh, Lei Yang, Ashley Zhou, Jonathan M Blecher, Chang-Jiun Wu, Kangyu Lin, Xiaoying Shang, Shan Jiang, Denise J Spring, Yan Xia, Peiwen Chen, John Paul Shen, Scott Kopetz, Ronald A DePinho
Oncogenic KRAS (KRAS*) contributes to many cancer hallmarks. In colorectal cancer (CRC), KRAS* suppresses anti-tumor immunity to promote tumor invasion and metastasis. Here, we uncovered that KRAS* transforms the phenotype of carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) into lipid-laden CAFs, promoting angiogenesis and tumor progression. Mechanistically, KRAS* activates the transcription factor CP2 (TFCP2) which upregulates the expression of the pro-adipogenic factors BMP4 and WNT5B, triggering the transformation of CAFs into lipid-rich CAFs...
September 28, 2023: Cancer Discovery