FB2026_03 , released September 17, 2026
Human Disease Model Report: cancer, epithelial, RAS-STK11-related
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General Information
Name
cancer, epithelial, RAS-STK11-related
FlyBase ID
FBhh0001317
Disease Ontology Term
Parent Disease
OMIM
Overview

Epithelial cancer has been modeled in flies using the Drosophila Lkb1 gene in combination with an activated mutation of the Drosophila Ras85D gene (Ras85DV12). Dmel\Lkb1 is orthologous to the human STK11 gene, which encodes a serine/threonine-protein kinase known to function as a tumor suppressor. High levels of oncogenic RAS expression and loss of STK11 has been observed in aggressive human lung adenocarcinomas. See the human disease model report 'cancer, multiple, RAS-related' (FBhh0000474) for more information on RAS genes in human.

Constructs representing different isoforms of the human Hsap\STK11 gene have been introduced into flies, but have not been characterized in the context of this disease model. Of the human RAS genes (KRAS, HRAS, NRAS), Hsap\HRAS has been introduced into flies, but has not been characterized.

Using an assay in Drosophila in which clones are induced in the developing eye, it has been shown that relative levels of activated Ras85D determine clonal growth dynamics in Lkb1 loss-of-function mutant tissue. Clones expressing low levels of activated Ras85D result in reduced-eye phenotypes; clones expressing Lkb1 loss-of-function mutants result in a rough-eye phenotype; the combination results in significant overgrowth of eye tissue, producing a folded eye phenotype. High levels of activated Ras85D combined with Lkb1 loss-of-function mutants promotes malignant progression and organismal lethality; these animals usually die in the larval stage. The role of the AMPK pathway has been investigated in this system.

[updated Feb. 2021 by FlyBase; FBrf0222196]

Disease Summary Information
Disease Summary: cancer, epithelial, RAS-STK11-related
OMIM report
Human gene(s) implicated
Symptoms and phenotype

LKB1 activity is lost in a wide spectrum of human cancers; the gene that encodes LKB1 (STK11) is the third most frequently mutated tumor suppressor in human lung adenocarcinoma. KRAS is the most commonly mutated oncogene in human cancer, and is frequently mutated in cancer types associated with high mortality such as non-small cell lung cancer. Large-scale sequencing of lung adenocarcinoma has uncovered heterogeneity in mutant KRAS tumors due to concomitantly mutated tumor suppressor genes such as STK11 (FBrf0247944 and references cited therein).

Genetics
Cellular phenotype and pathology
Molecular information

STK11 encodes serine/threonine-protein kinase that controls the activity of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) family members, thereby playing a role in various processes such as cell metabolism, cell polarity, apoptosis and DNA damage response; functions as a tumor suppressor. [from Gene Cards, STK11; 2021.02.17]

External links
Disease synonyms
cancer, epithelial, RAS-LKB1-related
Ortholog Information
Human gene(s) in FlyBase
Human gene (HGNC)
D. melanogaster ortholog (based on DIOPT)
Comments on ortholog(s)

One to one: 1 human gene to 1 Drosophila gene.

Other mammalian ortholog(s) used
    D. melanogaster Gene Information (2)
    Gene Snapshot
    Ras oncogene at 85D (Ras85D) encodes a protein that acts downstream of several cell signals, most notably from Receptor Tyrosine Kinases, to regulate tissue growth and development. When abnormally activated it can direct developmental defects and tissue hyperplasia, mimicking aspects of human disease including Rasopathies and cancer, respectively. [Date last reviewed: 2019-03-14]
    Cellular component (GO)
    Gene Groups / Pathways
    Comments on ortholog(s)

    High-scoring ortholog of human genes KRAS, HRAS, and NRAS (many to many; multiple paralogs and orthologs in both species). Dmel\Ras85D shares 78-86% identity and 86-92% similarity with KRAS, HRAS, and NRAS; for these three human genes, Ras85D is the highest-scoring ortholog in Drosophila.

    Orthologs and Alignments from DRSC
    DIOPT - DRSC Integrative Ortholog Prediction Tool - Click the link below to search for orthologs in Humans
    Gene Snapshot
    Lkb1 kinase (Lkb1) encodes a serine/threonine kinase that plays a master role for activating the AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK) family kinases. It is a well-characterized tumor suppressor and regulates processes like cell polarity, metabolism, apoptosis, and cell growth. [Date last reviewed: 2019-03-14]
    Gene Groups / Pathways
    Comments on ortholog(s)

    High-scoring ortholog of human STK11 (1 Drosophila to 1 human). Dmel\Lkb1 shares 53% identity and 69% similarity with the human gene.

    Orthologs and Alignments from DRSC
    DIOPT - DRSC Integrative Ortholog Prediction Tool - Click the link below to search for orthologs in Humans
    Other Genes Used: Viral, Bacterial, Synthetic (0)
      Summary of Physical Interactions (99 groups)
      protein-protein
      Interacting group
      Assay
      References
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      pull down, anti tag western blot
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      two hybrid, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, autoradiography
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      gtpase assay, autoradiography
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      two hybrid, pull down, western blot
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      two hybrid, anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot, pull down
      pull down, anti tag western blot
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, peptide massfingerprinting
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry, pull down, covalent binding, western blot
      protein-protein
      Interacting group
      Assay
      References
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, western blot
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry, anti tag western blot, western blot
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, anti tag western blot, enzymatic study, autoradiography
      anti bait coimmunoprecipitation, western blot
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, western blot, anti tag western blot
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      anti tag coimmunoprecipitation, Identification by mass spectrometry
      pull down, autoradiography
      Alleles Reported to Model Human Disease (Disease Ontology) (33 alleles)
      Models Based on Experimental Evidence ( 17 )
      Allele
      Disease
      Evidence
      References
      model of  cancer
      Modifiers Based on Experimental Evidence ( 19 )
      Allele
      Disease
      Interaction
      References
      model of  cancer
      is exacerbated by ITPUAS.F
      model of  cancer
      is ameliorated by InRGL00139
      is ameliorated by InRJF01183
      is ameliorated by InRJF01482
      is ameliorated by NetBΔ
      is ameliorated by NetBKK103672
      is ameliorated by unc-5MI04273
      is ameliorated by JraNIG.2275R
      is ameliorated by bskDN.UAS
      is ameliorated by bskHMS00777
      is exacerbated by hepAct.UAS
      is exacerbated by imdUAS.cGa
      is ameliorated by TimpUAS.cPa
      ameliorates  cancer
      model of  kidney cancer
      is ameliorated by Pka-C1B3
      is ameliorated by mTorΔP
      model of  cancer
      is exacerbated by Ptp61FΔ
      is exacerbated by exe1
      is exacerbated by M6W186stop
      is ameliorated by Ptip3804
      is exacerbated by p53UAS.cUa
      is ameliorated by Ilp8MI00727
      is exacerbated by Clbn1Q
      exacerbates  carcinoma
      model of  carcinoma
      is exacerbated by NkapGD11807
      Models Based on Experimental Evidence ( 5 )
      Modifiers Based on Experimental Evidence ( 3 )
      Alleles Representing Disease-Implicated Variants
      Genetic Tools, Stocks and Reagents
      Sources of Stocks
      Contact lab of origin for a reagent not available from a public stock center.
      Bloomington Stock Center Disease Page
      Related mammalian, viral, bacterial, or synthetic transgenes
      Allele
      Transgene
      Publicly Available Stocks
      Selected Drosophila transgenes
      Allele
      Transgene
      Publicly Available Stocks
      RNAi constructs available
      Allele
      Transgene
      Publicly Available Stocks
      Selected Drosophila classical alleles
      Allele
      Allele class
      Mutagen
      Publicly Available Stocks
      loss of function allele
      loss of function allele
      P-element activity
      amorphic allele - genetic evidence
      amorphic allele - molecular evidence
      CRISPR/Cas9
      ethyl methanesulfonate
      loss of function allele
      P-element activity
      amorphic allele - genetic evidence
      ethyl methanesulfonate
      References (4)