To discover new tumor suppressor genes (TSGs), we developed a functional genomics approach in which immortalized but non-tumorigenic cells were stably transduced with large-scale short hairpin RNA (shRNA) pools and tested for tumor formation in mice. Identification of shRNAs in resulting tumors revealed candidate TSGs, which were validated experimentally and by analyzing expression in human tumor samples. Using this approach, we identified 24 TSGs that were significantly down-regulated in human lung squamous cell carcinomas (hLSCCs). Amplification of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1), which aberrantly increases FGFR signaling, is a common genetic alteration in hLSCCs. Remarkably, we found that 17 of the TSGs encode repressors of FGFR signaling. Knockdown of 14 of these TSGs transformed immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells and, in most cases, rendered them sensitive to FGFR inhibitors. Our results indicate that increased FGFR signaling promotes tumorigenesis in many hLSCCs that lack FGFR1 amplification or activating mutations.

Hematologic malignancies are typically associated with leukemogenic fusion proteins, which are required to maintain the oncogenic state. Previous studies have shown that certain oncogenes that promote solid tumors, such as RAS and BRAF, can induce senescence in primary cells, which is thought to provide a barrier to tumorigenesis. In these cases, the activated oncogene elicits a DNA damage response (DDR), which is essential for the senescence program. Here we show that 3 leukemogenic fusion proteins, BCR-ABL, CBFB-MYH11, and RUNX1-ETO, can induce senescence in primary fibroblasts and hematopoietic progenitors. Unexpectedly, we find that senescence induction by BCR-ABL and CBFB-MYH11 occurs through a DDR-independent pathway, whereas RUNX1-ETO induces senescence in a DDR-dependent manner. All 3 fusion proteins activate the p38 MAPK pathway, which is required for senescence induction. Our results reveal diverse pathways for oncogene-induced senescence and further suggest that leukemias harbor genetic or epigenetic alterations that inactivate senescence induction genes.