The KRAS oncogene is expressed as major KRAS4B and minor KRAS4A splice isoforms, the distinct functions of which in cancer are unknown. We demonstrate here that KRAS4A is enriched in cancer stem-like cells, and is activated by hypoxia, whereas KRAS4B is more widely expressed and responds to ER stress. Mice completely lacking either isoform are viable but resistant to lung cancer development, as are Kras4A/B double heterozygous mice expressing both isoforms, but in which splice regulation has been uncoupled. Splicing of KRAS4A, but not KRAS4B, in human tumor cells can be inhibited by treatment with the splice inhibitor indisulam, or by CRISPR/Cas inhibition of the RBM39 splicing complex. Our data suggest that control of KRAS4A/B splicing is a targetable vulnerability in KRAS mutant tumors.

Regulation of KRAS4A/B splicing in cancer stem cells by the RBM39 splicing complex.