A synthetic lethal interaction between K-Ras oncogenes and Cdk4 unveils a therapeutic strategy for non-small cell lung carcinoma.
We have unveiled a synthetic lethal interaction between K-Ras oncogenes and Cdk4 in a mouse tumor model that closely recapitulates human non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Ablation of Cdk4, but not Cdk2 or Cdk6, induces an immediate senescence response only in lung cells that express an endogenous K-Ras oncogene. No such response occurs in lungs expressing a single Cdk4 allele or in other K-Ras-expressing tissues. More importantly, targeting Cdk4 alleles in advanced tumors detectable by computed tomography scanning also induces senescence and prevents tumor progression. These observations suggest that robust and selective pharmacological inhibition of Cdk4 may provide therapeutic benefit for NSCLC patients carrying K-RAS oncogenes.
Puyol
Marta
M
Molecular Oncology Programme, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas, E-28029 Madrid, Spain.
Martín
Alberto
A
Dubus
Pierre
P
Mulero
Francisca
F
Pizcueta
Pilar
P
Khan
Gulfaraz
G
Guerra
Carmen
C
Santamaría
David
D
Barbacid
Mariano
M
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051357:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2 / Q000502:physiology; D051358:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051361:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 6 / Q000502:physiology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D019426:Integrases / Q000378:metabolism; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / Q000378:metabolism*
D051357:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2; D051358:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4; D051361:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 6; C045073:Cre recombinase; D019426:Integrases; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)