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p73 Loss Triggers Conversion to Squamous Cell Carcinoma Reversible upon Reconstitution with TAp73

Departments of ¹ Dermatology, ² Molecular and Medical Genetics, and ³ Cell and Developmental Biology, OHSU Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon

Requests for reprints: Molly Kulesz-Martin, Department of Dermatology, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239. Phone: 503-418-4274; Fax: 503-418-4266; E-mail: kuleszma{at}ohsu.edu.

The expression level of the p53 family member, p73, is frequently deregulated in human epithelial cancers, correlating with tumor invasiveness, therapeutic resistance, and poor patient prognosis. However, the question remains whether p73 contributes directly to the process of malignant conversion or whether aberrant p73 expression represents a later selective event to maintain tumor viability. We explored the role of p73 in malignant conversion in a clonal model of epidermal carcinogenesis. Whether sporadic or small interfering RNA (siRNA) induced, loss of p73 in initiated p53^+/+ keratinocytes leads to loss of cellular responsiveness to DNA damage by ionizing radiation (IR) and conversion to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Reconstitution of TAp73 but not Np73 reduced tumorigenicity in vivo, but did not restore cellular sensitivity to IR, uncoupling p73-mediated DNA damage response from its tumor-suppressive role. These studies provide direct evidence that loss of p73 can contribute to malignant conversion and support a role for TAp73 in tumor suppression of SCC. The results support the activation of TAp73 as a rational mechanism for cancer therapy in solid tumors of the epithelium. [Cancer Res 2007;67(16):7723–30]

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