Dual function of a kinase renders therapeutic resistance to tumors

Dual function of a kinase renders therapeutic resistance to tumors
 

Although oncology therapy regimens commonly include radiation and genotoxic drugs, tumor cells typically develop resistance to these interventions.

Authors in the journal Nature Communications report that treatment of tumors with ionizing radiation or genotoxic drugs drives p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1)-mediated phosphorylation of CRAF on Serine 338 (pS338) triggering a kinase-independent mechanism of DNA repair and therapeutic resistance.

CRAF pS338 recruits CHK2, a cell cycle checkpoint kinase involved in DNA repair, and promotes CHK2 phosphorylation/activation to enhance the tumour cell DNA damage response.

Accordingly, a phospho-mimetic mutant of CRAF (S338D) is sufficient to induce the CRAF/CHK2 association enhancing tumour radioresistance, while an allosteric CRAF inhibitor sensitizes tumour cells to ionizing radiation or genotoxic drugs.

These findings establish a role for CRAF in the DNA damage response that is independent from its canonical function as a kinase.

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