| First Author | Kong B | Year | 2015 |
| Journal | Mol Cancer | Volume | 14 |
| Pages | 212 | PubMed ID | 26683340 |
| Mgi Jnum | J:316512 | Mgi Id | MGI:6837793 |
| Doi | 10.1186/s12943-015-0483-1 | Citation | Kong B, et al. (2015) Pancreas-specific activation of mTOR and loss of p53 induce tumors reminiscent of acinar cell carcinoma. Mol Cancer 14:212 |
| abstractText | BACKGROUND: Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (ACC) is a rare tumor entity with an unfavorable prognosis. Recent whole-exome sequencing identified p53 mutations in a subset of human ACC. Activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is associated with various pancreatic neoplasms. We thus aimed at analyzing whether activation of mTOR with a concomitant loss of p53 may initiate ACC. METHODS: We generated transgenic mouse models in which mTOR was hyperactivated through pancreas-specific, homozygous tuberous sclerosis 1 (Tsc1) deficiency, with or without deletion of p53 (Tsc1 (-/-) and Tsc1 (-/-) ; p53 (-/-) ). Activity of mTOR signaling was investigated using mouse tissues and isolated murine cell lines. Human ACC specimens were used to corroborate the findings from the transgenic mouse models. RESULTS: Hyperactive mTOR signaling in Tsc1 (-/-) mice was not oncogenic but rather induced a near-complete loss of the pancreatic acinar compartment. Acinar cells were lost as a result of apoptosis which was associated with p53 activation. Concomitantly, ductal cells were enriched. Ablation of p53 in Tsc1-deficient mice prevented acinar cell death but promoted formation of acinar cells with severe nuclear abnormalities. One out of seven Tsc1 (-/-) ; p53 (-/-) animals developed pancreatic tumors showing a distinctive tumor morphology, reminiscent of human ACC. Hyperactive mTOR signaling was also detected in a subset of human ACC. CONCLUSION: Hyperactive mTOR signaling combined with loss of p53 in mice induces tumors similar to human ACC. |
