Journal Article

An Agrin–YAP/TAZ Rigidity Sensing Module Drives EGFR‐Addicted Lung Tumorigenesis

Foster, Barbara A., Bosykh, Dmitriy A., Ling, Xiang, Yu, Han, Chakraborty, Sayan, Goodrich, David W., Li, Fengzhi, Ohler, Zoë Weaver, Hong, Wanjin, Sampath, Divyaleka, Sivakumar, Aravind, Boopathy, Gandhi T.K., Brainson, Christine F., Yu Lin, Melissa Ong, Karasik, Ellen, Kumar, Ramesh, Wu, Wenjie, Eversole, Paige, Sheng, Joe Yeong Poh, Wang, Cheng‐Chun, Mokhtari, Reza Bayat

2025

Overview

Despite epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a pivotal oncogene for several cancers, including lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), how it senses extracellular matrix (ECM) rigidity remain elusive in the context of the increasing role of tissue rigidity on various hallmarks of cancer development. Here it is shown that EGFR dictates tumorigenic agrin expression in lung cancer cell lines, genetically engineered EGFR‐driven mouse models, and human specimens. Agrin expression confers substrate stiffness‐dependent oncogenic attributes to EGFR‐reliant cancer cells. Mechanistically, agrin mechanoactivates EGFR through epidermal growth factor (EGF)‐dependent and independent modes, thereby sensitizing its activity toward localized cancer cell‐ECM adherence and bulk rigidity by fostering interactions with integrin β1. Notably, a feed‐forward loop linking agrin–EGFR rigidity response to YAP–TEAD mechanosensing is essential for tumorigenesis. Together, the combined inhibition of EGFR–YAP/TEAD may offer a strategy to reduce lung tumorigenesis by disrupting agrin‐EGFR mechanotransduction, uncovering a therapeutic vulnerability for EGFR‐addicted lung cancers. The study identifies agrin‐EGFR mechanotransduction as a critical driver of lung adenocarcinoma which enhances EGFR signaling through an integrin‐FAK‐actomyosin dependent positive feedback on YAP/TAZ ‐TEAD in response to matrix stiffness. Targeting this oncogenic loop through combinatorial treatments inhibits lung cancer due to agrin impairment. Thus, agrin may serve as a biomarker for predicting response to these therapies.

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc,John Wiley and Sons Inc,Wiley
• Subject: Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing - genetics / Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing - metabolism / Adenocarcinoma of Lung - genetics / Adenocarcinoma of Lung - metabolism / Adenocarcinoma of Lung - pathology / agrin / Agrin - genetics / Agrin - metabolism / Animals / Carcinogenesis - genetics / Carcinogenesis - metabolism / Cell Line, Tumor / EGFR, extracellular matrix / ErbB Receptors - genetics / ErbB Receptors - metabolism / Extracellular Matrix - metabolism / Genes / hippo pathway / Humans / Kinases / Liver / Lung cancer / Lung Neoplasms - genetics / Lung Neoplasms - metabolism / Lung Neoplasms - pathology / Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Medical prognosis / Mice / Mutation / Proteins / Transcription Factors - genetics / Transcription Factors - metabolism / Tumorigenesis / Tumors / YAP-Signaling Proteins / YAP/TAZ