ASPP2 suppresses squamous cell carcinoma via RelA/p65–mediated repression of p63
Tordella L., Koch S., Salter V., Pagotto A., Doondeea JB., Feller SM., Ratnayaka I., Zhong S., Goldin RD., Lozano G., McKeon FD., Tavassoli M., Fritzsche F., Huber GF., Rössle M., Moch H., Lu X.
Significance Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most common human tumor types with high malignancy. Most SCC mouse models involve multiple genetic mutations. Here we present the ASPP2 Δexon3/+ Balb/c mouse as a haploinsufficient SCC mouse model and identify ASPP2 as a suppressor of SCC and a potent repressor of p63 expression. The finding that ASPP2 represses p63 expression via NF-κB provides a molecular insight into how inflammatory signaling may affect SCC development. All these demonstrate that ASPP2 may serve as a molecular signature of SCC and the characterized ASPP2 Δexon3/+ Balb/c mouse may provide a much-needed experimental model to extend our understanding of SCC as well as enable us to develop better strategies to treat SCC.