Targeting of SUMOylation leads to cBAF complex stabilization and disruption of the SS18::SSX transcriptome in Synovial Sarcoma.

ABSTRACT

Synovial Sarcoma (SS) is driven by the SS18SSX fusion oncoprotein and is ultimately refractory to therapeutic approaches. SS18SSX alters ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling BAF (mammalian SWI/SNF) complexes, leading to the degradation of canonical (cBAF) complex and amplified presence of an SS18SSX-containing non-canonical BAF (ncBAF or GBAF) that drives an SS-specific transcription program and tumorigenesis. We demonstrate that SS18SSX activates the SUMOylation program and SSs are sensitive to the small molecule SAE1/2 inhibitor, TAK-981. Mechanistically, TAK-981 de-SUMOylates the cBAF subunit SMARCE1, stabilizing and restoring cBAF on chromatin, shifting away from SS18SSX-ncBAF-driven transcription, associated with DNA damage and cell death and resulting in tumor inhibition across both human and mouse SS tumor models. TAK-981 synergized with cytotoxic chemotherapy through increased DNA damage, leading to tumor regression. Targeting the SUMOylation pathway in SS restores cBAF complexes and blocks the SS18SSX-ncBAF transcriptome, identifying a therapeutic vulnerability in SS, positioning the in-clinic TAK-981 to treat SS.