Hyperactivated YAP1 is essential for sustainable progression of renal clear cell carcinoma

Abstract

The most notable progress in renal clear cell carcinoma (ccRCC) in the past decades is the introduction of drugs targeting the VHL-HIF signaling pathway-associated angiogenesis. However, mechanisms underlying the development of VHL mutation-independent ccRCC are unclear. Here we provide evidence that the disrupted Hippo-YAP signaling contributes to the development of ccRCC independent of VHL alteration. We found that YAP1 and its primary target genes are frequently upregulated in ccRCC and the upregulation of these genes is associated with unfavorable patient outcomes. Research results derived from our in vitro and in vivo experimental models demonstrated that, under normoxic conditions, hyperactivated YAP1 drives the expression of FGFs to stimulate the proliferation of tumor and tumor-associated endothelial cells in an autocrine/paracrine manner. When rapidly growing cancer cells create a hypoxic environment, hyperactivated YAP1 in cancer cells induces the production of VEGF, which promotes the angiogenesis of tumor-associated endothelial cells, leading to improved tumor microenvironment and continuous tumor growth. Our study indicates that hyperactivated YAP1 is essential for maintaining ccRCC progression, and targeting the dual role of hyperactivated YAP1 represents a novel strategy to improve renal carcinoma therapy.