ULK1 knockout suppresses pancreatic cancer progression by inhibiting autophagy and enhancing antitumor immunity.

ABSTRACT: Autophagy plays a dual role in cancer, acting as a tumor suppressor and promoter depending on tumor stage and context. While Atg5 and Atg7 are well established core autophagy genes, the role of Unc-51-like kinase 1 (ULK1)-a key autophagy initiator-remains poorly understood in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Here we investigated the role of ULK1 using tissue-specific deletion in genetically engineered mouse models. Although ULK1 messenger RNA levels remained unchanged between normal and tumor cells in The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset, multiplex immunohistochemistry revealed elevated ULK1 activity, marked by pATG14, in high-grade human PDAC tissues. Genetic deletion of Ulk1 impaired autophagy and reduced cell proliferation, colony formation and invasiveness of pancreatic cancer cells

SUBMITTER: Jeong H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12800254 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature