FUCA2 Sustains AKT Signaling and Suppresses Senescence by Antagonizing FUT3‐Mediated ErbB3 Fucosylation in Lung Adenocarcinoma

While targeted therapies have improved outcomes in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), many patients still lack targetable mutations. Here, we identified alpha-L-fucosidase 2 (FUCA2) as a crucial driver of LUAD by preventing cellular senescence. Mechanistically, through the restriction of fucosyltransferase 3 (FUT3)-mediated α-1,3-fucosylation of ErbB3 at Asn437, FUCA2 safeguarded ErbB3-ErbB2 heterodimerization to promote ErbB3 activation and sustain persistent AKT signaling. Active AKT prevented p53 protein stabilization in TP53-wild-type LUAD cells and inhibited p27 protein accumulation in TP53-mutant LUAD cells, thereby counteracting senescence and supporting malignant growth. Notably, low-dose Capivasertib, an AKT inhibitor targeting tumors with PIK3CA/AKT1/PTEN mutation(s), induced senescence selectively in FUCA2-high LUAD irrespective of PIK3CA/AKT1/PTEN/TP53 mutational status, and its combination with the nutraceutical senolytic procyanidin C1 achieved potent and low-toxicity suppression of LUAD across multiple preclinical models. Together, our results uncover the FUCA2-ErbB3 fucosylation-AKT pathway as a central regulator of senescence and propose a FUCA2-guided drug repurposing strategy for LUAD.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Science
Published
2026-06-16
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202523667
Primary Topic
Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

FUCA2 Sustains AKT Signaling and Suppresses Senescence by Antagonizing FUT3‐Mediated ErbB3 Fucosylation in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Chunyi Gao, Jihuan Hou, Yan-yan Zhan, Yali Zheng et al.
Advanced Science
Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research
article

FUCA2 Sustains AKT Signaling and Suppresses Senescence by Antagonizing FUT3‐Mediated ErbB3 Fucosylation in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Chunyi Gao, Jihuan Hou, Yan-yan Zhan, Yali Zheng, Runyang Li, L X Chen, Wei Zhang, Qiang Yu, Yaolin Zheng, Xiaoting Hong, Jintao Guo, Qiyuan Li, Tianhui Hu, Daxuan Wang, Zhaozhang Huang, Bowen Zheng, Xuemei Chen, Fei Li, Mingjie Gao
article en

Abstract

While targeted therapies have improved outcomes in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), many patients still lack targetable mutations. Here, we identified alpha-L-fucosidase 2 (FUCA2) as a crucial driver of LUAD by preventing cellular senescence. Mechanistically, through the restriction of fucosyltransferase 3 (FUT3)-mediated α-1,3-fucosylation of ErbB3 at Asn437, FUCA2 safeguarded ErbB3-ErbB2 heterodimerization to promote ErbB3 activation and sustain persistent AKT signaling. Active AKT prevented p53 protein stabilization in TP53-wild-type LUAD cells and inhibited p27 protein accumulation in TP53-mutant LUAD cells, thereby counteracting senescence and supporting malignant growth. Notably, low-dose Capivasertib, an AKT inhibitor targeting tumors with PIK3CA/AKT1/PTEN mutation(s), induced senescence selectively in FUCA2-high LUAD irrespective of PIK3CA/AKT1/PTEN/TP53 mutational status, and its combination with the nutraceutical senolytic procyanidin C1 achieved potent and low-toxicity suppression of LUAD across multiple preclinical models. Together, our results uncover the FUCA2-ErbB3 fucosylation-AKT pathway as a central regulator of senescence and propose a FUCA2-guided drug repurposing strategy for LUAD.

Advanced Science
Jiangnan University (CN), Weifang Medical University (CN), Xiamen University (CN), First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University (CN), Shandong Provincial Hospital (CN), Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University (CN), Fujian Provincial Hospital (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Life in Land
Openalex Percentile: Top 12%
Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research
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