YAP1 acts as a negative regulator of pro-tumor TAZ expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: Although YAP1 and TAZ are believed to be equivalent downstream effectors of the Hippo pathway, differential expression of YAP1 or TAZ suggests distinct functions during cancer progression. The exact role of YAP1 and TAZ in esophageal cancer, the 6th leading cancer-related mortality in the world, remains elusive.

Methods: Following single or double manipulation of YAP1 or TAZ expression, we subjected these manipulated cells to proliferation, migration, invasion, and xenograft tumorigenesis assays.