p73 loss triggers conversion to squamous cell carcinoma reversible upon reconstitution with TAp73α

The expression level of the p53 family member, p73, is frequently deregulated in human epithelial cancers, correlating with tumor invasiveness, therapeutic resistance, and poor patient prognosis. However, the question remains whether p73 contributes directly to the process of malignant conversion or whether aberrant p73 expression represents a later selective event to maintain tumor viability. We explored the role of p73 in malignant conversion in a clonal model of epidermal carcinogenesis. Whether sporadic or small interfering RNA (siRNA) induced, loss of p73 in initiated p53^+/+ keratinocytes leads to loss of cellular responsiveness to DNA damage by ionizing radiation (IR) and conversion to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Reconstitution of TAp73α but not ΔNp73α reduced tumorigenicity in vivo, but did not restore cellular sensitivity to IR, uncoupling p73-mediated DNA damage response from its tumor-suppressive role. These studies provide direct evidence that loss of p73 can contribute to malignant conversion and support a role for TAp73α in tumor suppression of SCC. The results support the activation of TAp73α as a rational mechanism for cancer therapy in solid tumors of the epithelium.