Genetic Inactivation of Notch1 Synergizes with Loss of Trp53 to Induce Tumor Formation in the Adult Mouse Forebrain

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Notch signaling plays a context-dependent role in multiple cancer types by either promoting or suppressing tumor development. The role of the Notch receptors in the formation of brain tumors remains controversial. By exploiting conditional genetics and lineage tracing approaches to study unperturbed solid tumor growth in vivo, we uncover a tumor suppressor function for the Notch1 receptor in the forebrain and show that p53 and Notch1 cooperate to inhibit tumor formation. ABSTRACT: Simultaneous genetic inactivation of the key Notch signaling mediator RBP-Jk and p53 leads to the formation of forebrain tumors in mice, suggesting a tumor suppressor role of the Notch pathway in this context. However, the contribution of individual Notch receptors to the tumor-suppressive activity of Notch signaling in the brain remains elusive. Here, we show that simultaneous Notch1 and Notch2 deletion, similar to complete ablation of canonical Notch signaling by Rbpj inactivation, cooperates with Trp53 deletion to promote tumor growth in the adult forebrain. We also demonstrate that inactivation of Notch1 and Trp53 in cells with active Notch signaling is sufficient to induce brain tumor or hyperplasia formation. Analysis of tumor location suggests a multifocal origin and shows that ventral forebrain regions and olfactory bulbs are the most affected sites. Hence, Notch1 cooperates with p53 to repress malignant transformation in the adult mouse forebrain.