MAPK pathway mutations in head and neck cancer affect immune microenvironments and ErbB3 signaling.

ABSTRACT: MAPK pathway mutations affect one-fifth of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Unexpectedly, MAPK pathway aberrations are associated with remarkably long patient survival, even among patients with TP53 mutations (median ∼14 yr). We explored underlying outcome-favoring mechanisms with omics followed by preclinical models. Strikingly, multiple hotspot and non-hotspot MAPK mutations (A/BRAF, HRAS, MAPK1, and MAP2K1/2) all abrogated ErbB3 activation, a well-established HNSCC progression signal. Inhibitor studies functionally defined ERK activity negatively regulating phospho-ErbB3 in MAPK-mutants. Furthermore, pan-pathway immunoprofiling investigations identified MAPK-mutant tumors as the only "CD8+ T-cell-inflamed" tumors inherently bearing high-immunoreactive, constitutive cytolyt

SUBMITTER: Ngan HL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7219112 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature