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ResearchIn-Press PreviewCell biologyOncology Open Access | 10.1172/JCI195814

HDAC5 deficiency induces intrinsic resistance to KRAS inhibition by disrupting c-Myc acetylation-ubiquitination homeostasis

Taoyu Chen,1 Haixin Yu,2 Keshan Wang,3 Gengdu Qin,1 Yuhan Zhao,1 Xueyi Liang,1 Yuxuan Li,1 Tianhao Zou,1 Jiaying Liu,1 Jingyuan Zhao,1 Zhiqiang Liu,1 Ruozheng Wei,1 Bo Wang,1 Shanmiao Gou,1 Tao Yin,1 Heshui Wu,1 Xin Jin,2 and Yingke Zhou1

1Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

2Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

3Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

Find articles by Chen, T. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

1Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

2Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

3Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

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1Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

2Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

3Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

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1Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

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3Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

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1Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

2Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

3Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

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1Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

2Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

3Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

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1Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

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3Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

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1Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

2Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

3Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

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1Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

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3Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

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1Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

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3Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

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1Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

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3Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

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1Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

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3Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

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3Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

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3Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

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1Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

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3Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

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1Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

2Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

3Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

Find articles by Jin, X. in: PubMed | Google Scholar |

1Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

2Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

3Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

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Published December 11, 2025 - More info

J Clin Invest. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI195814.
Copyright © 2025, Chen et al. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Published December 11, 2025 - Version history
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Abstract

KRAS mutations serve as key oncogenic drivers in the initiation and progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Despite the advancement of KRAS inhibitors like MRTX1133 for PDAC treatment, intrinsic and acquired resistance remain major barriers to their clinical efficacy. This study underscored the role of histone deacetylase 5 (HDAC5) loss in mediating intrinsic resistance to KRASG12D inhibitors. Mechanistically, HDAC5 promoted c-Myc degradation by deacetylating K148, thereby facilitating NEDD4-mediated ubiquitination at this site. The loss of HDAC5 resulted in hyperacetylation of c-Myc at K148, impeding the ubiquitination and subsequent degradation process of c-Myc following deacetylation. Consequently, c-Myc stability and transcriptional activity were sustained even under KRAS-MEK-ERK pathway inhibition, reinforcing MAPK signaling and promoting cell survival despite KRAS suppression. Our data further demonstrated that pharmacological or genetic inhibition of c-Myc effectively reversed the resistance phenotype mediated by HDAC5 loss, suggesting a therapeutic strategy centered on "KRAS-MYC dual-node blockade." Furthermore, the expression levels of HDAC5 and the acetylation status of c-Myc may serve as potential biomarkers for predicting the therapeutic response to MRTX1133. These findings provide insights into overcoming resistance to KRASG12D inhibitors and offer potential biomarkers and combinatorial therapeutic strategies for precision treatment of PDAC.

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