P38γ Promotes Tumorigenesis Through Activating Immune Evasion

Stress MAPKp38γ (MAPK12) has established roles in promoting tumorigenesis; however, the mechanisms involved remain largely unclear. This paper will review recently published and unpublished studies of p38γ in programming immune evasion in breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colon cancer to promote tumorigenesis. First, we show that p38γ is an oncogene that transforms breast epithelial cells into triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), is required for breast tumorigenesis in mice, and activates tumor-suppressive environments via a positive feedback signaling loop. Moreover, we show that epithelial p38γ is required for KRAS-oncogene-induced pancreatic cancer in two genetic murine models (KPC and KTC) by activating glycolytic pathways to provide metabolic support for cancer cells and by increasing chemokine CXCL5-dependent fibrosis and immune cell infiltrations. Lastly, we will delineate how p38γ is activated by the main risk factors for colon cancer and serves as a key integrator of oncogenic and inflammatory signaling to promote tumorigenesis by increasing Wnt proliferative signaling and programming immune evasion. These results indicate that p38γ MAPK can integrate common risk factors for colon cancer and amplify oncogenic signaling by phosphorylating its substrate, β-catenin, increasing transcription of Wnt and the chemokine CXCL13, and promoting PD-L1 expression. In each of these tumor models, we will present evidence supporting our hypothesis, followed by additional experiments for verification. Our studies suggest that targeting p38γ may be an innovative approach in cancer therapeutic intervention.