ArticleNature communications2025
VRK2 targeting potentiates anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma through MYC destabilization.
Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Nuciferine Suppresses Inflammatory Hepatocarcinogenesis by Targeting cPLA2-Dependent Arachidonic Acid Metabolism.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026Article
- A single-molecule prodrug synergistically suppresses MYC-amplified osteosarcoma through sequential nitric oxide release and photodynamic therapy.Smart molecules : open access · 2026Article
- FBXO9 promotes anti-tumor immunity via degradation of PD-L1 in pancreatic cancer.Frontiers in immunology · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
14 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Dysregulation of MYC proto-oncogene, bHLH transcription factor (MYC) represents a common yet mechanistically unresolved driver of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While MYC remains an elusive therapeutic target, developing strategies to promote its degradation emerges as a promising alternative approach. Here we show that vaccinia-related kinase 2 (VRK2) functions as a direct MYC-interacting kinase that stabilizes the oncoprotein through phosphorylation at Serine (Ser)281/293. This phosphorylation enables VRK2 to compete with the Skp1-Cullin-F-box protein complex containing FBXO24 (SCF-FBXO24) E3 ligase, thereby blocking MYC polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. The stabilized MYC-VRK2 complex amplifies transcriptional activation of protumorigenic programs, including the immune checkpoint programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and VRK2 itself, establishing a self-reinforcing oncogenic circuit. Therapeutic inhibition of VRK2 in HCC models reduces MYC protein levels, suppresses tumor progression, and synergizes with anti- programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) immunotherapy. Our results reveal VRK2-mediated stabilization of MYC as a critical nexus linking hepatocarcinogenesis to immune evasion, proposing VRK2 kinase inhibition as a mechanism-based therapeutic strategy for MYC-driven HCC.
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Registered trials
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