Nuclear PTK7 Interacts with DNA-PK Drives DNA Repair and Immune Evasion in Triple-negative Breast Cancer
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ABSTRACT: Membrane proteins with nuclear localization often exert context-dependent functions, yet the mechanistic understanding of this phenomenon remains limited. PTK7, an evolutionarily conserved pseudokinase and a clinically relevant diagnostic and therapeutic target, has been detected in both membrane and nuclear compartments, but its nuclear function has not been elucidated. Here, we identify a critical role of nuclear PTK7 in coordinating DNA damage repair and regulating tumor immunogenicity in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Mechanistically, PTK7 interacts with DNA-PKcs to promote its activation and facilitate non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ). Loss of PTK7 impairs DNA repair and activates type I interferon signaling via cytosolic DNA accumulation, enhancing tumor immunogenicity. These effects are consistent across cellular and mouse tumors, and further validated in patient samples. Clinically, PTK7 expression inversely correlates with tumor-intrinsic immune activation across multiple TNBC cohorts. Collectively, our findings uncover a previously unrecognized nuclear function of PTK7 in modulating DNA repair and immune evasion, and nominate PTK7 as a potential therapeutic target for precision immuno-oncology in TNBC.
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE302992 | GEO | 2026/07/01
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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