RHOJ controls EMT-associated resistance to chemotherapy

Abstract The resistance of cancer cells to therapy is responsible for the death of most patients with cancer 1 . Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been associated with resistance to therapy in different cancer cells 2,3 . However, the mechanisms by which EMT mediates resistance to therapy remain poorly understood. Here, using a mouse model of skin squamous cell carcinoma undergoing spontaneous EMT during tumorigenesis, we found that EMT tumour cells are highly resistant to a wide range of anti-cancer therapies both in vivo and in vitro. Using gain and loss of function studies in vitro and in vivo, we found that RHOJ—a small GTPase that is preferentially expressed in EMT cancer cells—controls…

• WG
  Waalse Gewest
• FD
  Fonds De La Recherche Scientifique - FNRS
• FW
  Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
• MD
  Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación

  Awards: PID2019, PID2019-106707-RB
• WE
  Walloon excellence in life sciences and biotechnology
• ER
  European Regional Development Fund
• DO
  Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation