A human model to deconvolve genotype-phenotype causations in lung squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract Tractable, patient-relevant models are needed to investigate cancer progression and heterogeneity. Here, we report an alternative in vitro model of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) using primary human bronchial epithelial cells (hBECs) from three healthy donors. The co-operation of ubiqu...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Julia Ogden, Robert Sellers, Sudhakar Sahoo, Anthony Oojageer, Anshuman Chaturvedi, Caroline Dive, Carlos Lopez-Garcia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58343-y
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850217037826097152
author Julia Ogden
Robert Sellers
Sudhakar Sahoo
Anthony Oojageer
Anshuman Chaturvedi
Caroline Dive
Carlos Lopez-Garcia
author_facet Julia Ogden
Robert Sellers
Sudhakar Sahoo
Anthony Oojageer
Anshuman Chaturvedi
Caroline Dive
Carlos Lopez-Garcia
author_sort Julia Ogden
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Tractable, patient-relevant models are needed to investigate cancer progression and heterogeneity. Here, we report an alternative in vitro model of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) using primary human bronchial epithelial cells (hBECs) from three healthy donors. The co-operation of ubiquitous alterations (TP53 and CDKN2A loss) and components of commonly deregulated pathways including squamous differentiation (SOX2), PI3K signalling (PTEN) and the oxidative stress response (KEAP1) is investigated by generating hBECs harbouring cumulative alterations. Our analyses confirms that SOX2-overexpression initiates early preinvasive LUSC stages, and co-operation with the oxidative stress response and PI3K pathways to drive more aggressive phenotypes, with expansion of cells expressing LUSC biomarkers and invasive properties. This cooperation is consistent with the classical LUSC subtype. Importantly, we connect pathway dysregulation with gene expression changes associated with cell-intrinsic processes and immunomodulation. Our approach constitutes a powerful system to model LUSC and unravel genotype-phenotype causations of clinical relevance.
format Article
id doaj-art-324750c9b05d4fda8a7667c610e87fe9
institution OA Journals
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-324750c9b05d4fda8a7667c610e87fe92025-08-20T02:08:09ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-04-0116111710.1038/s41467-025-58343-yA human model to deconvolve genotype-phenotype causations in lung squamous cell carcinomaJulia Ogden0Robert Sellers1Sudhakar Sahoo2Anthony Oojageer3Anshuman Chaturvedi4Caroline Dive5Carlos Lopez-Garcia6Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, Wilmslow RoadCancer Research UK Manchester Institute, Wilmslow RoadCancer Research UK Manchester Institute, Wilmslow RoadCancer Research UK Manchester Institute, Wilmslow RoadDepartment of Histopathology, The Christie Hospital, Wilmslow RoadCancer Research UK Manchester Institute, Wilmslow RoadCancer Research UK Manchester Institute, Wilmslow RoadAbstract Tractable, patient-relevant models are needed to investigate cancer progression and heterogeneity. Here, we report an alternative in vitro model of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) using primary human bronchial epithelial cells (hBECs) from three healthy donors. The co-operation of ubiquitous alterations (TP53 and CDKN2A loss) and components of commonly deregulated pathways including squamous differentiation (SOX2), PI3K signalling (PTEN) and the oxidative stress response (KEAP1) is investigated by generating hBECs harbouring cumulative alterations. Our analyses confirms that SOX2-overexpression initiates early preinvasive LUSC stages, and co-operation with the oxidative stress response and PI3K pathways to drive more aggressive phenotypes, with expansion of cells expressing LUSC biomarkers and invasive properties. This cooperation is consistent with the classical LUSC subtype. Importantly, we connect pathway dysregulation with gene expression changes associated with cell-intrinsic processes and immunomodulation. Our approach constitutes a powerful system to model LUSC and unravel genotype-phenotype causations of clinical relevance.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58343-y
spellingShingle Julia Ogden
Robert Sellers
Sudhakar Sahoo
Anthony Oojageer
Anshuman Chaturvedi
Caroline Dive
Carlos Lopez-Garcia
A human model to deconvolve genotype-phenotype causations in lung squamous cell carcinoma
Nature Communications
title A human model to deconvolve genotype-phenotype causations in lung squamous cell carcinoma
title_full A human model to deconvolve genotype-phenotype causations in lung squamous cell carcinoma
title_fullStr A human model to deconvolve genotype-phenotype causations in lung squamous cell carcinoma
title_full_unstemmed A human model to deconvolve genotype-phenotype causations in lung squamous cell carcinoma
title_short A human model to deconvolve genotype-phenotype causations in lung squamous cell carcinoma
title_sort human model to deconvolve genotype phenotype causations in lung squamous cell carcinoma
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58343-y
work_keys_str_mv AT juliaogden ahumanmodeltodeconvolvegenotypephenotypecausationsinlungsquamouscellcarcinoma
AT robertsellers ahumanmodeltodeconvolvegenotypephenotypecausationsinlungsquamouscellcarcinoma
AT sudhakarsahoo ahumanmodeltodeconvolvegenotypephenotypecausationsinlungsquamouscellcarcinoma
AT anthonyoojageer ahumanmodeltodeconvolvegenotypephenotypecausationsinlungsquamouscellcarcinoma
AT anshumanchaturvedi ahumanmodeltodeconvolvegenotypephenotypecausationsinlungsquamouscellcarcinoma
AT carolinedive ahumanmodeltodeconvolvegenotypephenotypecausationsinlungsquamouscellcarcinoma
AT carloslopezgarcia ahumanmodeltodeconvolvegenotypephenotypecausationsinlungsquamouscellcarcinoma
AT juliaogden humanmodeltodeconvolvegenotypephenotypecausationsinlungsquamouscellcarcinoma
AT robertsellers humanmodeltodeconvolvegenotypephenotypecausationsinlungsquamouscellcarcinoma
AT sudhakarsahoo humanmodeltodeconvolvegenotypephenotypecausationsinlungsquamouscellcarcinoma
AT anthonyoojageer humanmodeltodeconvolvegenotypephenotypecausationsinlungsquamouscellcarcinoma
AT anshumanchaturvedi humanmodeltodeconvolvegenotypephenotypecausationsinlungsquamouscellcarcinoma
AT carolinedive humanmodeltodeconvolvegenotypephenotypecausationsinlungsquamouscellcarcinoma
AT carloslopezgarcia humanmodeltodeconvolvegenotypephenotypecausationsinlungsquamouscellcarcinoma