Plk1 overexpression induces chromosomal instability and suppresses tumor development

Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) is overexpressed in a wide spectrum of human tumors, being frequently considered as an oncogene and an attractive cancer target. However, its contribution to tumor development is unclear. Using a new inducible knock-in mouse model we report here that Plk1 overexpression results in abnormal chromosome segregation and cytokinesis, generating polyploid cells with reduced proliferative potential. Mechanistically, these cytokinesis defects correlate with defective loading of Cep55 and ESCRT complexes to the abscission bridge, in a Plk1 kinase-dependent manner. In vivo, Plk1 overexpression prevents the development of Kras-induced and Her2-induced mammary gland tumors, in the presence of increased rates of chromosome instability. In patients, Plk1 overexpression correlates with improved survival in specific breast cancer subtypes. Therefore, despite the therapeutic benefits of inhibiting Plk1 due to its essential role in tumor cell cycles, Plk1 overexpression has tumor-suppressive properties by perturbing mitotic progression and cytokinesis.We are indebted to Stephen Taylor for the Sgo1 antibody. We thank Simone Kraut, Jessica Steiner, and the DKFZ light microscopy unit for excellent technical assistance. The results published here are in part based on data generated by TCGA pilot project (https://cancergenome.nih.gov/established by the NCI and the National Human Gen- ome Research Institute. The data were retrieved through dbGaP authorization (accession no. phs000178.v9.p8). S.V.V. was supported by the Marie Curie Network Ploidynet, funded by the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) under Grant Agreement #316964. L.S. is supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from Funda- cion Ramon Areces. Work in the R.S. laboratory was supported by an ERC starting grant (#281614), Marie Curie PCIG09-GA-2011 –293745 and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. G.d.C. is funded by AECC Scientific Foundation (LABAE16017DECA). Work in the M.M. laboratory was supported by grants from the MINECO (SAF2015 –69920-R cofunded by ERDF-EU), Worldwide Cancer Research (WCR no. 150278), and Comunidad de Madrid (iLUNG-CM; B2017/BMD3884). The CNIO is a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence (MINECO award SEV-2015-0510).S