Prohaptoglobin Promotes Pancreatic Cancer Progression by sustaining YAP Activity

Background & Aims

Prohaptoglobin (proHp), a precursor of haptoglobin (Hp), has recently emerged as a cancer-associated biomarker, but its functional role in pancreatic cancer remains unclear. We investigated whether proHp promotes malignant phenotypes of pancreatic cancer and explored signaling pathways involved.

Methods

Serum proHp was examined in patients with pancreatic cancer and healthy controls. HP expression in pancreatic tumors and cell lines was analyzed using transcriptomic datasets. ProHp function was evaluated using PSN1 HP knockout (HPKO) cells, exogenous proHp supplementation, xenograft models, and RNA sequencing of PSN1 wild-type and HPKO cells. YAP activity was assessed by target gene expression, subcellular localization, YAP overexpression, and inhibition of YAP–TEAD interaction.

Results

Serum proHp was significantly elevated in patients with pancreatic cancer, and a subset of tumors and pancreatic cancer cell lines showed HP expression comparable to liver, indicating a tumor-derived source of proHp. In PSN1 cells, HPKO reduced motility, whereas exogenous proHp partially rescued this defect and enhanced motility in additional pancreatic cancer cell lines. Wild-type PSN1 cells continued to proliferate beyond confluence and formed rapidly growing xenograft tumors, which were abolished in HPKO cells. At high density, wild-type cells maintained YAP-related gene expression and nuclear YAP despite Hippo activation, whereas HPKO exhibited reduced nuclear YAP, indicating noncanonical YAP regulation by proHp. YAP restoration in HPKO cells rescued high-density proliferation and cell motility, while a YAP–TEAD inhibitor selectively reduced high-density proliferation of wild-type but not HPKO cells.

Conclusion

ProHp promotes pancreatic cancer progression in a context-dependent manner by sustaining YAP activity and enabling cells to partially overcome contact-dependent growth inhibition.

Synopsis

Prohaptoglobin, a precursor of haptoglobin, is elevated in pancreatic cancer and produced by tumor cells. It promotes cell motility, supports tumor growth under high-density conditions, and maintains YAP–dependent transcription that overrides contact-dependent growth inhibition.

What You Need to Know

Background

Prohaptoglobin, a precursor of haptoglobin, is elevated in pancreatic cancer, but its tumor-derived origin and functional role are unknown. We examined whether prohaptoglobin drives progression by sustaining YAP signaling.

Impact

We show that tumor-derived prohaptoglobin sustains nuclear YAP activity, allowing pancreatic cancer cells to bypass contact inhibition and proliferate, revealing prohaptoglobin as a context-dependent driver rather than a passive biomarker.

Future Directions

Defining how prohaptoglobin engages upstream Hippo–YAP regulators and whether prohaptoglobin–YAP signaling is targetable in vivo may uncover new biomarkers and therapeutic vulnerabilities for pancreatic cancer.