Abstract 1035: VCP/p97 promotes pancreatic cancer growth by enhancing mutant p53 activity

Abstract

Abstract Pancreatic cancer is the most lethal malignant neoplasms across the world with the lowest overall five-year survival rate (9%). TP53 is mutated in ~70% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs). Hotspot p53 mutants promote cancer cell proliferation, metastasis and metabolism through their gain-of-function (GOF). Among the p53 “hotspot” mutations, R273 is the most frequent mutation position (~12%) with R273H as the most commonly mutated codon (~8%) in PDACs. However, the mechanisms underlying regulation of mutant p53s’ GOF in PDACs remain incompletely understood. In our attempt to address this question, we recently identified the ATPase valosin-containing protein (VCP)/p97 as a novel mutant p53-binding protein by performing immunoprecipitation (IP)-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis. VCP bound to p53-R273H via the DNA-binding domain. VCP inhibition either by genetic depletion or pharmacological inhibition by CB-5083 resulted in the increase of MDM2-mediated ubiquitination and degradation of p53-R273H. VCP did so by binding to MDM2 and disturbing its interaction with mutant p53. As a result, VCP protected mutant p53 from degradation and enhanced its GOF in cancer development. Ablation of VCP retarded PDAC cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Our further studies also unveiled the negative regulation of wt p53 by VCP in cancer cells. Together, these results demonstrate that VCP can strengthen mutant p53’s oncogenic function by stabilizing it and negating wt p53 function, suggesting VCP as a resistant factor for chemotherapy against PDACs and thus a potential therapeutic target of the mutant p53-harboring pancreatic cancers as well as of the wt p53-containing cancer cells. Citation Format: Jieqiong Wang. VCP/p97 promotes pancreatic cancer growth by enhancing mutant p53 activity [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 1035.