Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41513618›Full record

ArticleCell death discovery2026

MSLN-mediated activation of EGFR-ERK1/2 signaling drives liver metastasis in breast cancer.

Jing Chen, Zexiu Lu, Guowu Zhang, Die Meng, Chao Chang, Jian Chen, Boxuan Wang, Yanran Tong, Yuhang Hai, Ming Lei and 6 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Cell death discovery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Jing Chen *Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Zexiu Lu *Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Guowu Zhang *Department of Breast Surgery, The Affiliated Yongchuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Die MengKey Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Chao ChangKey Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Jian ChenDepartment of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Boxuan WangKey Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Yanran TongKey Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Yuhang HaiKey Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Ming LeiDepartment of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Xingyu YangKey Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Yubi GanKey Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Chaoqun DengKey Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Peijin DaiKey Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Manran LiuDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China. manranliu@cqmu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3898-6878
Xi TangDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China. tangxi@hospital.cqmu.edu.cn.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) NSFC 82173155National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) NSFC 82372823
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent malignant disease affecting female patients globally, with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) being the subtype linked to the poorest clinical outcome. The liver is a frequent metastatic site of breast cancer. Therefore, elucidating the mechanism underlying liver metastasis in TNBC is crucial for identifying effective diagnostic and therapeutic targets, which holds significant potential for guiding clinical treatment. This study aimed to identify key genes driving breast cancer liver metastasis and to explore their functional mechanisms. Using RNA sequencing of metastatic 4T1-HM3 and primary 4T1-Pri tumor cells, mesothelin (MSLN) was identified as significantly upregulated in metastatic TNBC cells and tissues, as confirmed by qRT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. Further investigations revealed that MSLN overexpression is strongly correlated with liver metastasis compared to metastases at other sites. Mechanistically, MSLN binds to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and activates the EGFR-ERK1/2 signaling axis, thereby promoting TNBC cell survival and proliferation during metastasis. Importantly, targeting MSLN with a paclitaxel/carboplatin combination effectively inhibited liver metastasis of hepatotropic TNBC in a mouse model. Therefore, our study elucidates the role of the MSLN-mediated EGFR-ERK1/2 signaling pathway in TNBC liver metastasis and highlights potential targeted therapies for treating TNBC liver metastasis.

Identifiers

PMID41513618
PMCPMC12789440

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