The origins and consequences of UPF1 variants in pancreatic adenosquamous carcinoma Journal Article


Authors: Polaski, J. T.; Udy, D. B.; Escobar-Hoyos, L. F.; Askan, G.; Leach, S. D.; Ventura, A.; Kannan, R.; Bradley, R. K.
Article Title: The origins and consequences of UPF1 variants in pancreatic adenosquamous carcinoma
Abstract: Pancreatic adenosquamous carcinoma (PASC) is an aggressive cancer whose mutational origins are poorly understood. An early study reported high-frequency somatic mutations affecting UPF1, a nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) factor, in PASC, but subsequent studies did not observe these lesions. The corresponding controversy about whether UPF1 mutations are important contributors to PASC has been exacerbated by a paucity of functional studies. Here, we modeled two UPF1 mutations in human and mouse cells to find no significant effects on pancreatic cancer growth, acquisition of adenosquamous features, UPF1 splicing, UPF1 protein, or NMD efficiency. We subsequently discovered that 45% of UPF1 mutations reportedly present in PASCs are identical to standing genetic variants in the human population, suggesting that they may be non-pathogenic inherited variants rather than pathogenic mutations. Our data suggest that UPF1 is not a common functional driver of PASC and motivate further attempts to understand the genetic origins of these malignancies. © Polaski et al.
Journal Title: eLife
Volume: 10
ISSN: 2050-084X
Publisher: eLife Sciences Publications Ltd.  
Date Published: 2021-01-06
Start Page: e62209
Language: English
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.62209
PUBMED: 33404013
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC7846273
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 1 March 2021 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Andrea Ventura
    56 Ventura
  2. Steven Leach
    37 Leach
  3. Gokce Askan
    77 Askan
  4. Ram   Kannan
    7 Kannan