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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.07.11.664481

Stromal LOX/FAK/beta catenin pathway locks mammary fibroblasts into a tumor-promoting myCAF state

Gandhi, A.·Beri, D.·Pally, D.·Manjunath, S.·Humcha, S.·Rangarajan, A.·Bhat, R.·Tatu, U.·Kumar, R. V.·Kondaiah, P.
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Abstract

BackgroundCancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) sustain tumor progression, yet the soluble cues that maintain their myofibroblast (myCAF) state are poorly defined. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-{beta}) is a canonical CAF activator. This study aims to identify TGF-{beta}-induced secreted mediators that reinforce the myCAF phenotype in breast cancer and map the downstream signaling cascade. Methods and ResultsSecretome profiling of primary patient-derived myCAFs and human mammary fibroblasts (HMF3s) engineered to over-express TGF-{beta}1 revealed 20 extracellular-matrix remodelers shared exclusively by both activated states; lysyl oxidase (LOX) was the top-ranked hit. LOX knockdown abrogated TGF-{beta}-driven -smooth-muscle actin (-SMA) induction, collagen-gel contraction and migration in HMF3s, and reduced constitutive -SMA and {beta}-catenin in myCAFs. Mechanistically, TGF-{beta} upregulated LOX, which activated focal-adhesion kinase (FAK), leading to p38 MAPK- and Akt-mediated Ser9 phosphorylation (inactivation) of GSK3{beta} and consequent {beta}-catenin stabilization. In HCC1806-luciferase orthotopic xenografts, CAFs accelerated tumor growth, whereas LOX-deficient CAFs lost this pro-tumoral effect. ConclusionLOX is a pivotal autocrine effector of TGF-{beta} that locks breast CAFs into a pro-tumoral myCAF state through a LOX/FAK/GSK3{beta}/{beta}-catenin axis. Targeting stromal LOX may disrupt CAF activation and curb breast cancer progression.

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Gandhi, A., Beri, D., Pally, D., Manjunath, S., Humcha, S., Rangarajan, A., Bhat, R., Tatu, U., Kumar, R. V., Kondaiah, P.. 2025-07-17. Stromal LOX/FAK/beta catenin pathway locks mammary fibroblasts into a tumor-promoting myCAF state. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.07.11.664481

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