Negative Selection and Chromosome Instability Induced by Mad2 Overexpression Delay Breast Cancer but Facilitate Oncogene-Independent Outgrowth

Chromosome instability (CIN) is associated with poor survival and therapeutic outcome in a number of malignancies. Despite this correlation, CIN can also lead to growth disadvantages. Here, we show that simultaneous overexpression of the mitotic checkpoint protein Mad2 with KrasG12D or Her2 in mammary glands of adult mice results in mitotic checkpoint overactivation and a delay in tumor onset. Time-lapse imaging of organotypic cultures and pathologic analysis prior to tumor establishment reveals error-prone mitosis, mitotic arrest, and cell death. Nonetheless, Mad2 expression persists and increases karyotype complexity in Kras tumors. Faced with the selective pressure of oncogene withdrawal, Mad2-positive tumors have a higher frequency of developing persistent subclones that avoid remission and continue to grow. [Display omitted] •Mad2 overexpression leads to mitotic arrest, cell delamination, and cell death•High Mad2 levels delay oncogene-induced mammary tumorigenesis•Mad2 overexpression increases chromosome instability prior to and during tumor growth•Elevated Mad2 levels facilitate the development of oncogene-independent subclones Rowald et al. report that Mad2 overexpression in the mammary gland results in mitotic arrest, chromosome missegregation, and cell depletion, causing a delay in KrasG12D-driven mammary tumorigenesis. After oncogene silencing, however, Mad2-positive tumors show a frequent occurrence of persistent tumor subclones that do not regress.