WNT-driven immune evasion promotes malignant transformation of BRAF-mutant colorectal cancer.
BACKGROUND & AIMS BRAF-mutant colorectal cancer (CRC) is a clinically aggressive subtype arising from the serrated pathway and is associated with poor prognosis and therapy resistance. The mechanisms driving malignant transformation in microsatellite-stable (MSS) BRAF-mutant CRC remain incompletely understood. We aimed to define the role of WNT pathway activation in serrated CRC progression and tumor-immune interactions. METHODS We generated multiple genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) of BRAF-mutant MSS CRC and complementary organoid-based transplantation models. Genetic alterations in WNT pathway components were functionally interrogated. Tumor development and immune microenvironment remodeling were analyzed using bulk RNA sequencing, single-cell RNA sequencing, CITE-seq, and functional in vivo assays. RESULTS WNT pathway activation via APC or CTNNB1 mutations, but not RNF43 loss, was required for tumor initiation in BRAF-mutant CRC models. WNT activation induced a molecular subtype shift and suppressed immune response pathways. Mechanistically, WNT signaling suppressed CCL20 expression and remodeled the tumor microenvironment (TME) by promoting immunosuppressive myeloid populations and altering T-cell states. Functional assays demonstrated that WNT activation enhances tumor progression in immunocompetent settings, indicating immune evasion as a key driver of malignant progression. CONCLUSIONS WNT pathway activation is a critical determinant of malignant transformation in BRAF-mutant MSS CRC by enabling immune escape. These findings identify WNT signaling as a central regulator of tumor-immune interactions and a potential therapeutic target in this aggressive CRC subtype.