Cooperation between MYC and β-catenin in liver tumorigenesis requires Yap/Taz

Abstract

Background & AimsActivation of MYC and CTNNB1 (encoding {beta}-catenin) can co-occur in liver cancer, but how these oncogenes cooperate in tumorigenesis remains unclear.\n\nApproach & ResultsWe generated a mouse model allowing conditional activation of MYC and WNT/{beta}-catenin signaling (through either {beta}-catenin activation or Apc loss) upon expression of CRE recombinase in the liver, and monitored their effects on hepatocyte proliferation, apoptosis, gene expression profiles and tumorigenesis. Conditional activation of WNT/{beta}-catenin signaling strongly accelerated MYC-driven carcinogenesis in the mouse liver. Both pathways also cooperated in promoting cellular transformation in vitro, demonstrating their cell-autonomous action. Short-term induction of MYC and {beta}-catenin in hepatocytes followed by RNA-seq profiling allowed the identification of a \"Myc/{beta}-catenin signature\", composed of a discrete set of Myc-activated genes whose expression increased in presence of active {beta}-catenin. Notably this signature enriched for targets of Yap and Taz, two transcriptional co-activators known to be activated by WNT/{beta}-catenin signaling, and to cooperate with MYC in mitogenic activation and liver transformation. Consistent with these regulatory connections, Yap/Taz accumulated upon Myc/{beta}-catenin activation and were required not only for the ensuing proliferative response, but also for tumor cell growth and survival. Finally, the Myc/{beta}-catenin signature was enriched in a subset of human hepatocellular carcinomas characterized by comparatively poor prognosis.\n\nConclusionsYap and Taz mediate the cooperative action of Myc and {beta}-catenin in liver tumorigenesis. This warrants efforts toward therapeutic targeting of Yap/Taz in aggressive liver tumors marked by elevated Myc/{beta}-catenin activity.