Loss of p53 and SMAD4 induces adenosquamous subtype pancreatic cancer in the absence of an oncogenic KRAS mutation

Pancreatic cancer is associated with an oncogenic KRAS mutation in approximately 90% of cases. However, a non-negligible proportion of pancreatic cancer cases harbor wild-type KRAS (KRAS-WT). This study establishes genetically engineered mouse models that develop spontaneous pancreatic cancer in the context of KRAS-WT. The Trp53^loxP/loxP;Smad4^loxP/loxP;Pdx1-Cre (PPSSC) mouse model harbors KRAS-WT and loss of Trp53/Smad4. The Trp53^loxP/loxP;Tgfbr2^loxP/loxP;Pdx1-Cre (PPTTC) mouse model harbors KRAS-WT and loss of Trp53/Tgfbr2. We identify that either Trp53/Smad4 loss or Trp53/Tgfbr2 loss can induce spontaneous pancreatic tumor formation in the absence of an oncogenic KRAS mutation. The Trp53/Smad4 loss and Trp53/Tgfbr2 loss mouse models exhibit distinct pancreatic tumor histological features, as compared to oncogenic KRAS-driven mouse models. Furthermore, KRAS-WT pancreatic tumors with Trp53/Smad4 loss reveal unique histological features of pancreatic adenosquamous carcinoma (PASC). Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis reveals the distinct tumor immune microenvironment landscape of KRAS-WT (PPSSC) pancreatic tumors as compared with that of oncogenic KRAS-driven pancreatic tumors.