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Extracellular matrix rigidity controls breast cancer metastasis via TYK2-mediated mechanotransduction

Hu, Z.; Majeski, H. E.; Mestre-Farrera, A.; Cai, S.; Lalezarzadeh, A.; Zhang, Y.; Arimoto, K.-I.; Zhang, D.-E.; Piwnica-Worms, H.; Fattet, L.; Yang, J.

2025-10-31 cancer biology
10.1101/2025.10.30.681251 bioRxiv
Show abstract

Mechanical cues from the extracellular matrix (ECM) regulate various cellular processes. In breast cancer, increased tumor stiffness is associated with elevated metastasis risk and poor survival. We identify a unique role of the JAK family kinase TYK2 in suppressing breast cancer metastasis under low ECM stiffness. Genetic or pharmacological inhibition of TYK2 in mammary acini and patient-derived organoids leads to invasion at low ECM stiffness by promoting Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, which is independent of cytokine-induced JAK/STAT signaling. TYK2 blockade promotes metastasis in breast tumor cell- and patient-derived xenografts. TYK2 localizes at the plasma membrane via IFNAR1 association under low stiffness, but it becomes cytoplasmic and inactivated at high stiffness. Normal human breast epithelium displays membrane-localized TYK2, whereas invasive breast tumors exhibit cytoplasmic TYK2. These findings uncover a TYK2-dependent mechanism by which ECM rigidity suppresses breast cancer metastasis and underscore the need for vigilant breast cancer screening in patients receiving TYK2 inhibitors.

Published in Nature Communications (predicted rank #1) · training set

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