Cited by 140Genomics, phytochemicals, and oxidative stressCancer Genomics and DiagnosticsChromatin Remodeling and Cancer

A catalogue of somatic NRF2 gain-of-function mutations in cancer

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Kerins, Michael John, Ooi, Aikseng·2018·Scientific Reports

Abstract

Identification and characterization of somatic mutations in cancer have important prognostication and treatment implications. Genes encoding the Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF2) transcription factor and its negative regulator, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1), are frequently mutated in cancer. These mutations drive constitutive NRF2 activation and correlate with poor prognosis. Despite its apparent significance, a comprehensive catalogue of somatic NRF2 mutations across different tumor types is still lacking. Here, we catalogue NRF2 mutations in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. 226 unique NRF2-mutant tumors were identified from 10,364 cases. NRF2 mutations were found in 21 out of the 33 tumor types. A total of 11 hotspots were identified. Of these, mutation to the R34 position was most frequent. Notably, R34 and D29 mutations were overrepresented in bladder, lung, and uterine cancers. Analyses of corresponding RNA sequencing data using a de novo derived gene expression classifier showed that the R34 mutations drive constitutive NRF2 activation with a selection pressure biased against the formation of R34L. Of all R34 mutants, R34L conferred the least degree of protein stabilization, suggesting a pro-tumor NRF2 half-life threshold. Our findings offer a comprehensive catalogue of NRF2 mutations in cancer that can help prognostication and NRF2 research.

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  • Some somatic mutations give rise to hyperactive Nrf2, which causes enhanced antioxidant capacity and confers protection of cancer cells from ROS and cancer therapy, leading to cancer cell growth and proliferation, cancer progression, and cancer therapy resistance.

    “Some somatic mutations give rise to hyperactive Nrf2, which causes enhanced antioxidant capacity and confers protection of cancer cells from ROS and cancer therapy, thereby leading to cancer cell growth and proliferation, cancer progression, and cancer therapy resistance (e.g., chemoresistance) (Figure 8) [161,162,163,164,165,166,167,168,169,170,171].”

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Authors
Kerins, M. J., & Ooi, A.
Affiliations
University of Arizona (US)
Corresponding author
Ooi, Aikseng
Venue
Scientific Reports
Published
2018-08-27
Volume
8
Issue
1
Pages
12846-12846
ISSN
2045-2322 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2888569026
Cited by
140
References
67
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 10
FWCI
5.16
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Scientific Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UA Campus Repository (The University of Arizona) (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation (DGE-1143953)
  • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (R21ES027920)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Genomics, phytochemicals, and oxidative stress
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Chromatin Remodeling and Cancer
Keywords
Nrf2, somatic mutations, gain-of-function mutations, Keap1, mutational hotspots, protein stabilization, gene expression classifier, bladder cancer, lung cancer, uterine cancer, cancer genomics, TCGA
MeSH terms
Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1, Gain of Function Mutation, Humans, Neoplasms, Signal Transduction, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Computational Biology, Amino Acid Substitution, Databases, Genetic, Cell Line, Tumor, NF-E2-Related Factor 2, Protein Stability

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