Context-dependent effects of CDKN2A and other 9p21 gene losses during the evolution of esophageal cancer

Piyali Ganguli, Celia C. Basanta, Amelia Acha-Sagredo, Hrvoje Misetic, Maria Armero, Akram Mendez, Aeman Zahra, Ginny Devonshire, Gavin Kelly, Adam Freeman, Mary Green, Emma Nye, Anita Bichisecchi, Paola Bonfanti, OCCAMS Consortium, Manuel Rodriguez-Justo, Jo Spencer, Rebecca C. Fitzgerald, Francesca D. Ciccarelli (Lead / Corresponding author)

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

CDKN2A is a tumor suppressor located in chromosome 9p21 and frequently lost in Barrett’s esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). How CDKN2A and other 9p21 gene co-deletions affect EAC evolution remains understudied. We explored the effects of 9p21 loss in EACs and cancer progressor and non-progressor BEs with matched genomic, transcriptomic and clinical data. Despite its cancer driver role, CDKN2A loss in BE prevents EAC initiation by counterselecting subsequent TP53 alterations. 9p21 gene co-deletions predict poor patient survival in EAC but not BE through context-dependent effects on cell cycle, oxidative phosphorylation and interferon response. Immune quantifications using bulk transcriptome, RNAscope and high-dimensional tissue imaging showed that IFNE loss reduces immune infiltration in BE, but not EAC. Mechanistically, CDKN2A loss suppresses the maintenance of squamous epithelium, contributing to a more aggressive phenotype. Our study demonstrates context-dependent roles of cancer genes during disease evolution, with consequences for cancer detection and patient management.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)158-174
Number of pages17
JournalNature Cancer
Volume6
Issue number1
Early online date3 Jan 2025
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2025

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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