title: Yes-associated protein (YAP) modulates oncogenic features and radiation sensitivity in endometrial cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Yes-associated protein (YAP) is a transcriptional co-activator and regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis. We investigated the clinical and biological significance of YAP in endometrial cancer (EMCA).
  
  
  METHODS
  YAP expression in 150 primary tumor tissues from patients with EMCA was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and its association with clinicopathological data was assessed. The biological functions of YAP were determined in EMCA cell lines through knockdown/overexpression of YAP. The role of YAP in modulating radiation sensitivity was also investigated in EMCA cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increased nuclear YAP expression was significantly associated with higher grade, stage, lympho-vascular space invasion, postoperative recurrence/metastasis and overall survival in estrogen mediated EMCA, called type 1 cancer (p = 0.019,  = 0.028,  = 0.0008,  = 0.046 and  = 0.015, respectively). In multivariate analysis, nuclear YAP expression was confirmed as an independent prognostic factor for overall survival in type 1 EMCA. YAP knockdown by siRNA resulted in a significant decrease in cell proliferation (p<0.05), anchorage-dependent growth (p = 0.015) and migration/invasion (p<0.05), and a significant increase in the number of cells in G0/G1 phase (p = 0.002). Conversely, YAP overexpression promoted cell proliferation. Clonogenic assay demonstrated enhanced radiosensitivity by approximately 36% in YAP inhibited cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since YAP functions as a transcriptional co-activator, its differential localization in the nucleus of cancer cells and subsequent impact on cell proliferation could have important consequences with respect to its role as an oncogene in EMCA. Nuclear YAP expression could be useful as a prognostic indicator or therapeutic target and predict radiation sensitivity in patients with EMCA.
authors: Weis Center for Research, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors: Masahiro
authors: M
authors: Tsujiura
authors: Weis Center for Research, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors: Virginia
authors: V
authors: Mazack
authors: Weis Center for Research, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pennsylvania, United States of America; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America.
authors: Marius
authors: M
authors: Sudol
authors: Geisinger Medical Laboratories, Geisinger Wyoming Valley, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors: Hanna G
authors: HG
authors: Kaspar
authors: Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Nash
authors: Weis Center for Research, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Carey
authors: Weis Center for Research, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pennsylvania, United States of America; Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors: Radhika
authors: R
authors: Gogoi
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002296:Carcinosarcoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011836:Radiation Tolerance / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000091102:YAP-Signaling Proteins
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000091102:YAP-Signaling Proteins; C088374:YAP1 protein, human