Mouse Models for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

The prognosis and survival rate of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have remained unchanged for years, and the pathogenesis of HNSCC is still not fully understood, necessitating further research. An ideal animal model that accurately replicates the complex microenvironment of HNSCC is urgently needed. Among all the animal models for preclinical cancer research, tumor-bearing mouse models are the best known and widely used due to their high similarity to humans. Currently, mouse models for HNSCC can be broadly categorized into chemical-induced models, genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs), and transplanted mouse models, each with its distinct advantages and limitations. In chemical-induced models, the carcinogen spontaneously initiates tumor formation through a multistep process. The resemblance of this model to human carcinogenesis renders it an ideal preclinical platform for studying HNSCC initiation and progression from precancerous lesions. The major drawback is that these models are time-consuming and, like human cancer, unpredictable in terms of timing, location, and number of lesions. GEMMs involve transgenic and knockout mice with gene modifications, leading to malignant transformation within a tumor microenvironment that recapitulates tumorigenesis in vivo, including their interaction with the immune system. However, most HNSCC GEMMs exhibit low tumor incidence and limited prognostic significance when translated to clinical studies. Transplanted mouse models are the most widely used in cancer research due to their consistency, availability, and efficiency. Based on the donor and recipient species matching, transplanted mouse models can be divided into xenografts and syngeneic models. In the latter, transplanted cells and host are from the same strain, making syngeneic models relevant to study functional immune system. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the characteristics, establishment methods, and potential applications of these different HNSCC mouse models, aiming to assist researchers in choosing suitable animal models for their research.

Oral Cancer: Integration of Studies for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Precision.

Head and neck cancers are among the 10 most common cancers in the world and include cancers of the oral cavity, hypopharynx, larynx, nasopharynx, and oropharynx. At least 90% of head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). This summary discusses the integration of clinical and mechanistic studies in achieving diagnostic and therapeutic precision in the context of oral cancer. Specifically, based on recent mechanistic studies, a subsequent study reevaluated current diagnostic criteria of perineural invasion in patients with oral cavity SCC showing that overall survival could be associated with nerve-tumor distance; validation of the findings of this study from a small group of patients could lead to a personalized approach to treatment selection in patients with oral cavity SCC. Moreover, delineation of key pathways in SCC revealed novel treatment targets that can be exploited to develop personalized treatment strategies to achieve long-term remission.

Transcriptional signature primes human oral mucosa for rapid wound healing.

Oral mucosal wound healing has long been regarded as an ideal system of wound resolution. However, the intrinsic characteristics that mediate optimal healing at mucosal surfaces are poorly understood, particularly in humans. We present a unique comparative analysis between human oral and cutaneous wound healing using paired and sequential biopsies during the repair process. Using molecular profiling, we determined that wound-activated transcriptional networks are present at basal state in the oral mucosa, priming the epithelium for wound repair. We show that oral mucosal wound-related networks control epithelial cell differentiation and regulate inflammatory responses, highlighting fundamental global mechanisms of repair and inflammatory responses in humans. The paired comparative analysis allowed for the identification of differentially expressed SOX2 (sex-determining region Y-box 2) and PITX1 (paired-like homeodomain 1) transcriptional regulators in oral versus skin keratinocytes, conferring a unique identity to oral keratinocytes. We show that SOX2 and PITX1 transcriptional function has the potential to reprogram skin keratinocytes to increase cell migration and improve wound resolution in vivo. Our data provide insights into therapeutic targeting of chronic and nonhealing wounds based on greater understanding of the biology of healing in human mucosal and cutaneous environments.

GENIPAC: A Genomic Information Portal for Head and Neck Cancer Cell Systems.

Head and neck cancer (HNC)-derived cell lines represent fundamental models for studying the biological mechanisms underlying cancer development and precision therapies. However, mining the genomic information of HNC cells from available databases requires knowledge on bioinformatics and computational skill sets. Here, we developed a user-friendly web resource for exploring, visualizing, and analyzing genomics information of commonly used HNC cell lines. We populated the current version of GENIPAC with 44 HNC cell lines from 3 studies: ORL Series, OPC-22, and H Series. Specifically, the mRNA expressions for all the 3 studies were derived with RNA-seq. The copy number alterations analysis of ORL Series was performed on the Genome Wide Human Cytoscan HD array, while copy number alterations for OPC-22 were derived from whole exome sequencing. Mutations from ORL Series and H Series were derived from RNA-seq information, while OPC-22 was based on whole exome sequencing. All genomic information was preprocessed with customized scripts and underwent data validation and correction through data set validator tools provided by cBioPortal. The clinical and genomic information of 44 HNC cell lines are easily assessable in GENIPAC. The functional utility of GENIPAC was demonstrated with some of the genomic alterations that are commonly reported in HNC, such as TP53, EGFR, CCND1, and PIK3CA. We showed that these genomic alterations as reported in The Cancer Genome Atlas database were recapitulated in the HNC cell lines in GENIPAC. Importantly, genomic alterations within pathways could be simultaneously visualized. We developed GENIPAC to create access to genomic information on HNC cell lines. This cancer omics initiative will help the research community to accelerate better understanding of HNC and the development of new precision therapeutic options for HNC treatment. GENIPAC is freely available at http://genipac.cancerresearch.my/ .

Inactivating mutations in GNA13 and RHOA in Burkitt's lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a tumor suppressor function for the Gα13/RhoA axis in B cells.

G proteins and their cognate G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) function as critical signal transduction molecules that regulate cell survival, proliferation, motility and differentiation. The aberrant expression and/or function of these molecules have been linked to the growth, progression and metastasis of various cancers. As such, the analysis of mutations in the genes encoding GPCRs, G proteins and their downstream targets provides important clues regarding how these signaling cascades contribute to malignancy. Recent genome-wide sequencing efforts have unveiled the presence of frequent mutations in GNA13, the gene encoding the G protein Gα13, in Burkitt's lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We found that mutations in the downstream target of Gα13, RhoA, are also present in Burkitt's lymphoma and DLBCL. By multiple complementary approaches, we now show that that these cancer-specific GNA13 and RHOA mutations are inhibitory in nature, and that the expression of wild-type Gα13 in B-cell lymphoma cells with mutant GNA13 has limited impact in vitro but results in a remarkable growth inhibition in vivo. Thus, although Gα13 and RhoA activity has previously been linked to cellular transformation and metastatic potential of epithelial cancers, our findings support a tumor suppressive role for Gα13 and RhoA in Burkitt's lymphoma and DLBCL.

Cross talk between the bombesin neuropeptide receptor and Sonic hedgehog pathways in small cell lung carcinoma.

Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) often features the upregulation of the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway leading to activation of Gli transcription factors. SCLC cells secrete bombesin (BBS)-like neuropeptides that act as autocrine growth factors. Here, we show that SCLC tumor samples feature co-expression of Shh and BBS-cognate receptor (gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR)). We also demonstrate that BBS activates Gli in SCLC cells, which is crucial for BBS-mediated SCLC proliferation, because cyclopamine, an inhibitor of the Shh pathway, hampered the BBS-mediated effects. BBS binding to GRPR stimulated Gli through its downstream Gαq and Gα12/13 GTPases, and consistently, other Gαq and Gα13 coupled receptors (such as muscarinic receptor, m1, and thrombin receptor, PAR-1) and constitutively active GαqQL and Gα12/13QL mutants stimulated Gli. By using cells null for Gαq and Gα12/13, we demonstrate that these G proteins are strictly necessary for Gli activation by BBS. Moreover, by using constitutively active Rho small G-protein (Rho QL) as well as its inhibitor, C3 toxin, we show that Rho mediates G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-, Gαq- and Gα12/13-dependent Gli stimulation. At the molecular level, BBS caused a significant increase in Shh gene transcription and protein secretion that was dependent on BBS-induced GPCR/Gαq-12/13/Rho mediated activation of nuclear factor κB (NFκB), which can stimulate a NF-κB response element in the Shh gene promoter. Our data identify a novel molecular network acting in SCLC linking autocrine BBS and Shh circuitries and suggest Shh inhibitors as novel therapeutic strategies against this aggressive cancer type.

Non-hematopoietic PAR-2 is essential for matriptase-driven pre-malignant progression and potentiation of ras-mediated squamous cell carcinogenesis.

The membrane-anchored serine protease, matriptase, is consistently dysregulated in a range of human carcinomas, and high matriptase activity correlates with poor prognosis. Furthermore, matriptase is unique among tumor-associated proteases in that epithelial stem cell expression of the protease suffices to induce malignant transformation. Here, we use genetic epistasis analysis to identify proteinase-activated receptor (PAR)-2-dependent inflammatory signaling as an essential component of matriptase-mediated oncogenesis. In cell-based assays, matriptase was a potent activator of PAR-2, and PAR-2 activation by matriptase caused robust induction of nuclear factor (NF)κB through Gαi. Importantly, genetic elimination of PAR-2 from mice completely prevented matriptase-induced pre-malignant progression, including inflammatory cytokine production, inflammatory cell recruitment, epidermal hyperplasia and dermal fibrosis. Selective ablation of PAR-2 from bone marrow-derived cells did not prevent matriptase-driven pre-malignant progression, indicating that matriptase activates keratinocyte stem cell PAR-2 to elicit its pro-inflammatory and pro-tumorigenic effects. When combined with previous studies, our data suggest that dual induction of PAR-2-NFκB inflammatory signaling and PI3K-Akt-mTor survival/proliferative signaling underlies the transforming potential of matriptase and may contribute to pro-tumorigenic signaling in human epithelial carcinogenesis.

Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus promotes tumorigenesis by modulating the Hippo pathway.

Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is an oncogenic virus and the culprit behind the human disease Kaposi sarcoma (KS), an AIDS-defining malignancy. KSHV encodes a viral G-protein-coupled receptor (vGPCR) critical for the initiation and progression of KS. In this study, we identified that YAP/TAZ, two homologous oncoproteins inhibited by the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway, are activated in KSHV-infected cells in vitro, KS-like mouse tumors and clinical human KS specimens. The KSHV-encoded vGPCR acts through Gq/11 and G12/13 to inhibit the Hippo pathway kinases Lats1/2, promoting the activation of YAP/TAZ. Furthermore, depletion of YAP/TAZ blocks vGPCR-induced cell proliferation and tumorigenesis in a xenograft mouse model. The vGPCR-transformed cells are sensitive to pharmacologic inhibition of YAP. Our study establishes a pivotal role of the Hippo pathway in mediating the oncogenic activity of KSHV and development of KS, and also suggests a potential of using YAP inhibitors for KS intervention.

Accumulation of dephosphorylated 4EBP after mTOR inhibition with rapamycin is sufficient to disrupt paracrine transformation by the KSHV vGPCR oncogene.

Dysregulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway is one of the most frequent events in human cancer. However, the clinical benefits of PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitors have not yet achieved their predicted potential in many of the most prevalent human cancers. Of interest, treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) patients with rapamycin provided the first evidence of the antineoplastic activity of mTOR inhibitors in humans, becoming the standard of care for KS arising in renal transplant patients. Thus, the study of KS may provide a unique opportunity to dissect the contribution of specific mTOR downstream targets to cancer development. The KS-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the etiological agent for KS, and the KSHV-encoded oncogene viral-G protein-coupled receptor (vGPCR) promotes the potent activation of the PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway by both direct and paracrine mechanisms. We focused on a direct target of mTOR, EIF4EBP1/2/3 (4EBP), which inhibits the translation of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eiF4E)-bound mRNAs. 4EBP phosphorylation by mTOR relieves its inhibitory activity, hence resulting in increased eiF4E-dependent mRNA translation. We developed a paracrine transformation model, recapitulating the cellular composition of KS lesions, in which vGPCR-expressing cells promote the rapid proliferation of endothelial cells, thus expressing KSHV-latent genes by the release of growth factors. Using this model, we show here that the accumulation of dephosphorylated 4EBP in response to rapamycin or by the expression of an mTOR-insensitive mutant of 4EBP1 is sufficient to disrupt the eiF4E function downstream of mTOR to a similar extent than the mTOR catalytic inhibitor Torin2 and to halt KS development. We also provide evidence that eiF4E contributes to paracrine neoplastic, signaling through the release of pro-angiogenic factors that are acting on endothelial cells, expressing KSHV-latent genes. These findings may provide a preclinical platform and the rationale for the development of novel mTOR, inhibiting agents that may selectively disrupt the mTOR-4EBP interaction for the treatment of KS and other tumor lesions, exhibiting hyperactive mTOR pathway function.

Exploiting PI3K/mTOR signaling to accelerate epithelial wound healing.

The molecular circuitries controlling the process of skin wound healing have gained new significant insights in recent years. This knowledge is built on landmark studies on skin embryogenesis, maturation, and differentiation. Furthermore, the identification, characterization, and elucidation of the biological roles of adult skin epithelial stem cells and their influence in tissue homeostasis have provided the foundation for the overall understanding of the process of skin wound healing and tissue repair. Among numerous signaling pathways associated with epithelial functions, the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling route has gained substantial attention with the generation of animal models capable of dissecting individual components of the pathway, thereby providing a novel insight into the molecular framework underlying skin homeostasis and tissue regeneration. In this review, we focus on recent findings regarding the mechanisms involved in wound healing associated with the upregulation of the activity of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR circuitry. This review highlights critical findings on the molecular mechanisms controlling the activation of mTOR, a downstream component of the PI3K-PTEN pathway, which is directly involved in epithelial migration and proliferation. We discuss how this emerging information can be exploited for the development of novel pharmacological intervention strategies to accelerate the healing of critical size wounds.

Role of GRB2-associated binder 1 in epidermal growth factor receptor-induced signaling in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Despite the high expression of EGFR in HNSCC, EGFR inhibitors have only limited success as monotherapy. The Grb2-associated binder (GAB) family of adaptor proteins acts as docking/scaffolding molecules downstream of tyrosine kinase receptors. We hypothesized that GAB1 may amplify EGFR-induced signaling in HNSCCs and therefore could play a role in the reduced sensitivity of HNSCC to EGFR inhibitors. We used representative human HNSCC cell lines overexpressing wild type EGFR, and expressing GAB1 but not GAB2. We demonstrated that baseline Akt and MAPK signaling were reduced in HNSCC cells in which GAB1 expression was reduced. Furthermore, the maximal EGF-induced activation of the Akt and MAPK pathway was reduced and delayed, and the duration of the EGF-induced activation of these pathways was reduced in cells with GAB1 knock-down. In agreement with this, HNSCC cells in which GAB1 levels were reduced showed an increased sensitivity to the EGFR inhibitor gefitinib. Our work demonstrates that GAB1 plays an important role as part of the mechanism of by which EGFR induces induced activation of the MAPK and AKT pathway. Our results identify GAB1 as an amplifier of the EGFR-initiated signaling, which may also interfere with EGFR degradation. These findings support the emerging notion that reducing GAB1 function may sensitize HNSCC to EGFR inhibitors, hence representing a new therapeutic target HNSCC treatment in combination with EGFR targeting agents.

Loss of TGF-ß signaling and PTEN promotes head and neck squamous cell carcinoma through cellular senescence evasion and cancer-related inflammation.

The molecular mechanisms that contribute to the initiation and progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have not been completely delineated. Our observations indicate that defects in the transforming growth factor-ß and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways are common in human HNSCCs. Conditional activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway due to Pten deletion in the mouse head and neck epithelia gives rise to hyperproliferation, but only a few lesions progress to HNSCC. However, Pten-deficient mice developed full-penetrance HNSCC in combination with type I TGF-ß receptor (Tgfbr1) deletion. Molecular analysis revealed enhanced cell proliferation, decreased apoptosis, and increased expression of CCND1 in the basal layer of the head and neck epithelia, as well as in the tumors of Tgfbr1/Pten double conditional knockout (2cKO) mice. Furthermore, neoplastic transformation involves senescence evasion, and is associated with an increased number of putative cancer stem cells. In addition, the nuclear factor-κB pathway activation, myeloid-derived suppressor cell infiltration, angiogenesis and immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment, all of which are characteristics of human HNSCCs, contribute significantly to head and neck carcinogenesis in 2cKO mice. These tumors display pathology and multiple molecular alterations resembling human HNSCCs. This suggests that the Tgfbr1/Pten 2cKO mouse model is suitable for preclinical intervention, and that it has significant implications in the development of diagnostic cancer biomarkers and effective strategies for prevention and treatment of HNSCCs.

c-Met-induced epithelial carcinogenesis is initiated by the serine protease matriptase.

The progression and negative outcome of a variety of human carcinomas are intimately associated with aberrant activity of the c-Met oncogene. The underlying cause of this dysregulation, however, remains a subject of discussion, as the majority of cancer patients do not present with activating mutations in c-Met receptor itself. In this study, we show that the oncogenic protease matriptase is ubiquitously co-expressed with the c-Met in human squamous cell carcinomas and amplifies migratory and proliferative responses of primary epithelial cells to the cognate ligand for c-Met, pro-hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (proHGF/SF), through c-Met and Gab1 signaling. Furthermore, the selective genetic ablation of c-Met from matriptase-expressing keratinocytes completely negates the oncogenic potential of matriptase. In addition, matriptase-dependent carcinoma formation could be blocked by the pharmacological inhibition of the Akt-mammalian target of Rapamycin (mTor) pathway. Our data identify matriptase as an initiator of c-Met-Akt-mTor-dependent signaling axis in tumors and reveal mTor activation as an essential component of matriptase/c-Met-induced carcinogenesis. The study provides a specific example of how epithelial transformation can be promoted by epigenetic acquisition of the capacity to convert a widely available paracrine growth factor precursor to its signaling competent state.

Remodeling of VE-cadherin junctions by the human herpes virus 8 G-protein coupled receptor.

Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) are opportunistic tumors, associated with human herpes virus 8 (HHV8) infection. KS development is highly favored by immune-depression and remains the second most frequent tumor in acquired immune deficiency syndrome patients. Although it has been shown that experimental expression of the HHV8 G-protein-coupled receptor (vGPCR) in the endothelial compartment is alone sufficient to recapitulate the formation and progression of KS-like lesions, its functional effects on endothelial homeostasis are not fully understood. Here we show that vGPCR expression in endothelial cells induces an increase in paracellular permeability both in vivo and in vitro. By using pharmacological inhibitors and small interference RNA-based knockdown, we demonstrate an essential role for the PI(3)Kinase-γ/Rac nexus in vGPCR-mediated permeability. This was further accompanied by dramatic remodeling of VE-cadherin-dependent cell-cell junctions. Importantly, this in vitro vGPCR-initiated signaling signature was observed in a large panel of human KS. Altogether, our results support the hypothesis that endothelial vGPCR signaling is co-opted in KS, and unveil new key cellular targets for therapeutic intervention.

Parasympathetic innervation maintains epithelial progenitor cells during salivary organogenesis.

The maintenance of a progenitor cell population as a reservoir of undifferentiated cells is required for organ development and regeneration. However, the mechanisms by which epithelial progenitor cells are maintained during organogenesis are poorly understood. We report that removal of the parasympathetic ganglion in mouse explant organ culture decreased the number and morphogenesis of keratin 5-positive epithelial progenitor cells. These effects were rescued with an acetylcholine analog. We demonstrate that acetylcholine signaling, via the muscarinic M1 receptor and epidermal growth factor receptor, increased epithelial morphogenesis and proliferation of the keratin 5-positive progenitor cells. Parasympathetic innervation maintained the epithelial progenitor cell population in an undifferentiated state, which was required for organogenesis. This mechanism for epithelial progenitor cell maintenance may be targeted for organ repair or regeneration.

Gene expression in human oral squamous cell carcinoma is influenced by risk factor exposure.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a world health problem and is associated with exposure to different risk factors. In the west, smoking and alcohol consumption are considered to be the main risk factors whilst in India and southeast Asia, betel quid (BQ) chewing is predominant. In this study, we compared the gene expression patterns of oral cancers associated with BQ chewing to those caused by smoking using Affymetrix microarrays. We found that 281 genes were differentially expressed between OSCC and normal oral mucosa regardless of aetiological factors including MMP1, PLAU, MAGE-D4, GNA12, IFITM3 and NMU. Further, we identified 168 genes that were differentially expressed between the BQ and smoking groups including CXCL-9, TMPRSS2, CA12 and RNF24. The expression of these genes was validated using qPCR using independent tissue samples. The results demonstrate that whilst common genes/pathways contribute to the development of oral cancer, there are also other gene expression changes that are specific to certain risk factors. The findings suggest that different carcinogens activate or inhibit specific pathways during cancer development and progression. These unique gene expression profiles should be taken into consideration when developing biomarkers for future use in prognostic or therapeutic applications.

TMPRSS2-ERG fusion, a common genomic alteration in prostate cancer activates C-MYC and abrogates prostate epithelial differentiation.

The high prevalence of TMPRSS2-ERG rearrangements ( approximately 60%) in prostate cancer (CaP) leads to androgenic induction of the ETS-related gene (ERG) expression. However, the biological functions of ERG overexpression in CaP remain to be understood. ERG knockdown in TMPRSS2-ERG expressing CaP cells induced striking morphological changes and inhibited cell growth both in cell culture and SCID mice. Evaluation of the transcriptome and specific gene promoters in ERG siRNA-treated cells and investigation of gene expression signatures of human prostate tumors revealed ERG-mediated activation of C-MYC oncogene and the repression of prostate epithelial differentiation genes (PSA and SLC45A3/Prostein). Taken together, these data combining cell culture and animal models and human prostate tumors reveal that ERG overexpression in prostate tumor cells may contribute to the neoplastic process by activating C-MYC and by abrogating prostate epithelial differentiation as indicated by prostate epithelial specific markers.

Reciprocal negative regulation between S100A7/psoriasin and beta-catenin signaling plays an important role in tumor progression of squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity.

Overexpression of S100A7 (psoriasin), a small calcium-binding protein, has been associated with the development of psoriasis and carcinomas in different types of epithelia, but its precise functions are still unknown. Using human tissue specimens, cultured cell lines, and a mouse model, we found that S100A7 is highly expressed in preinvasive, well-differentiated and early staged human squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (SCCOC), but little or no expression was found in poorly differentiated, later-staged invasive tumors. Interestingly, our results showed that S100A7 inhibits both SCCOC cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth/invasion in vivo. Furthermore, we demonstrated that S100A7 is associated with the beta-catenin complex, and inhibits beta-catenin signaling by targeting beta-catenin degradation via a noncanonical mechanism that is independent of GSK3beta-mediated phosphorylation. More importantly, our results also indicated that beta-catenin signaling negatively regulates S100A7 expression. Thus, this reciprocal negative regulation between S100A7 and beta-catenin signaling implies their important roles in tumor development and progression. Despite its high levels of expression in early stage SCCOC tumorigenesis, S100A7 actually inhibits SCCOC tumor growth/invasion as well as tumor progression. Downregulation of S100A7 in later stages of tumorigenesis increases beta-catenin signaling, leading to promotion of tumor growth and tumor progression.

An NF-kappaB gene expression signature contributes to Kaposi's sarcoma virus vGPCR-induced direct and paracrine neoplasia.

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is the most frequent AIDS-associated malignancy, etiologically linked to the infection with the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8/KSHV). This member of the gamma-herpesviridae family encodes 81 open reading frames, several bearing oncogenic potential. A constitutively active virally encoded G protein-coupled receptor (vGPCR) readily induces KS-like lesions when expressed in endothelial cells in vivo, and unmasks the oncogenic potential of other HHV-8 genes in a paracrine fashion. How vGPCR causes endothelial cell transformation is still not fully understood. Using full-genome microarray analysis we show here that the expression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB)-regulated genes is a prominent feature triggered by vGPCR in cells expressing this viral oncogene and in cells exposed to vGPCR-induced secretions, thus mimicking its paracrine effect. Indeed, vGPCR activates the NF-kappaB pathway potently, and NF-kappaB activation is a hallmark of both human and experimental KS. Of interest, whereas constitutive NF-kappaB signaling is not sufficient to promote endothelial cells transformation, NF-kappaB function is strictly required for vGPCR-induced direct and paracrine neoplasia. Taken together, these results strongly support the role of NF-kappaB regulated genes in KS pathogenesis, thus providing the rationale for the development of novel mechanism-based therapies for this angioproliferative disease.