Abstract

Understanding the molecular mechanisms that contribute to the appearance of chemotherapy resistant cell populations is necessary to improve cancer treatment. We have now investigated the role of {beta}-catenin/CTNNB1 in the evolution of T-Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (T-ALL) patients and its involvement in therapy resistance. We have identified a specific gene signature that is directly regulated by {beta}-catenin, TCF/LEF factors and ZBTB33/Kaiso in T-ALL cell lines, which is highly and significantly represented in 5 out of 6 refractory patients from a cohort of 40 children with T-ALL. By subsequent refinement of this gene signature, we found that a subset of {beta}-catenin target genes involved with RNA-processing function are sufficient to segregate T-ALL refractory patients in three independent cohorts. We demonstrate the implication of {beta}-catenin in RNA and protein synthesis in T-ALL and provide experimental evidence that {beta}-catenin is crucial for the cellular response to chemotherapy, mainly in the cellular recovery phase after treatment. We propose that combination treatments involving chemotherapy plus {beta}-catenin inhibitors will enhance chemotherapy response and prevent disease relapse in T-ALL patients.