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BACKGROUND: Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1) is a Wingless-related integrate site (Wnt) signaling modulator that is upregulated in prostate cancers (PCa) with low androgen receptor expression. DKN-01, an IgG4 that neutralizes DKK1, delays PCa growth in pre-clinical DKK1-expressing models. These data provided the rationale for a clinical trial testing DKN-01 in patients with metastatic castration-resistant PCa (mCRPC). METHODS: This was an investigator-initiated parallel-arm phase 1/2 clinical trial testing DKN-01 alone (monotherapy) or in combination with docetaxel 75 mg/m2 (combination) for men with mCRPC who progressed on ≥1 AR signaling inhibitors. DKK1 status was determined by RNA in-situ expression. The primary endpoint of the phase 1 dose escalation cohorts was the determination of the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). The primary endpoint of the phase 2 expansion cohorts was objective response rate by iRECIST criteria in patients treated with the combination. RESULTS: 18 pts were enrolled into the study-10 patients in the monotherapy cohorts and 8 patients in the combination cohorts. No DLTs were observed and DKN-01 600 mg was determined as the RP2D. A best overall response of stable disease occurred in two out of seven (29%) evaluable patients in the monotherapy cohort. In the combination cohort, five out of seven (71%) evaluable patients had a partial response (PR). A median rPFS of 5.7 months was observed in the combination cohort. In the combination cohort, the median tumoral DKK1 expression H-score was 0.75 and the rPFS observed was similar between patients with DKK1 H-score ≥1 versus H-score = 0. CONCLUSION: DKN-01 600 mg was well tolerated. DKK1 blockade has modest anti-tumor activity as a monotherapy for mCRPC. Anti-tumor activity was observed in the combination cohorts, but the response duration was limited. DKK1 expression in the majority of mCRPC is low and did not clearly correlate with anti-tumor activity of DKN-01 plus docetaxel.
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Prostate cancers adapt to androgen receptor (AR) pathway inhibitors and progress to castration resistance due to ongoing AR expression and function. To counter this, we developed a new approach to modulate the AR and inhibit castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) using multivalent peptoid conjugates (MPC) that contain multiple copies of the AR-targeting ligand ethisterone attached to a peptidomimetic scaffold. Here, we investigated the antitumor effects of compound MPC309, a trivalent display of ethisterone conjugated to a peptoid oligomer backbone that binds to the AR with nanomolar affinity. MPC309 exhibited potent antiproliferative effects on various enzalutamide-resistant prostate cancer models, including those with AR splice variants, ligand-binding mutations, and noncanonical AR gene expression programs, as well as mouse prostate organoids harboring defined genetic alterations that mimic lethal human prostate cancer subtypes. MPC309 is taken up by cells through macropinocytosis, an endocytic process more prevalent in cancer cells than in normal ones, thus providing an opportunity to target tumors selectively. MPC309 triggers a distinct AR transcriptome compared with DHT and enzalutamide, a clinically used antiandrogen. Specifically, MPC309 enhances the expression of differentiation genes while reducing the expression of genes needed for cell division and metabolism. Mechanistically, MPC309 increases AR chromatin occupancy and alters AR interactions with coregulatory proteins in a pattern distinct from DHT. In xenograft studies, MPC309 produced significantly greater tumor suppression than enzalutamide. Altogether, MPC309 represents a promising new AR modulator that can combat resistant disease by promoting an AR antiproliferative gene expression program.
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Peptoides , Neoplasias de la Próstata Resistentes a la Castración , Neoplasias de la Próstata , Masculino , Animales , Ratones , Humanos , Receptores Androgénicos/metabolismo , Peptoides/farmacología , Ligandos , Etisterona/farmacología , Línea Celular Tumoral , Resistencia a Antineoplásicos/genética , Neoplasias de la Próstata/patología , Nitrilos/farmacología , Antagonistas de Receptores Androgénicos/farmacología , Neoplasias de la Próstata Resistentes a la Castración/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias de la Próstata Resistentes a la Castración/genética , Neoplasias de la Próstata Resistentes a la Castración/metabolismoRESUMEN
LKB1/STK11 is a serine/threonine kinase that plays a major role in controlling cell metabolism, resulting in potential therapeutic vulnerabilities in LKB1-mutant cancers. Here, we identify the NAD + degrading ectoenzyme, CD38, as a new target in LKB1-mutant NSCLC. Metabolic profiling of genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) revealed that LKB1 mutant lung cancers have a striking increase in ADP-ribose, a breakdown product of the critical redox co-factor, NAD + . Surprisingly, compared with other genetic subsets, murine and human LKB1-mutant NSCLC show marked overexpression of the NAD+-catabolizing ectoenzyme, CD38 on the surface of tumor cells. Loss of LKB1 or inactivation of Salt-Inducible Kinases (SIKs)-key downstream effectors of LKB1- induces CD38 transcription induction via a CREB binding site in the CD38 promoter. Treatment with the FDA-approved anti-CD38 antibody, daratumumab, inhibited growth of LKB1-mutant NSCLC xenografts. Together, these results reveal CD38 as a promising therapeutic target in patients with LKB1 mutant lung cancer. SIGNIFICANCE: Loss-of-function mutations in the LKB1 tumor suppressor of lung adenocarcinoma patients and are associated with resistance to current treatments. Our study identified CD38 as a potential therapeutic target that is highly overexpressed in this specific subtype of cancer, associated with a shift in NAD homeostasis.
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INTRODUCTION: In KRAS-mutant NSCLC, co-occurring alterations in LKB1 confer a negative prognosis compared with other mutations such as TP53. LKB1 is a tumor suppressor that coordinates several signaling pathways in response to energetic stress. Our recent work on pharmacologic and genetic inhibition of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) revealed the impaired activity of numerous enzymes involved in glycolysis. On the basis of these previous findings, we explored the therapeutic window for HDAC6 inhibition in metabolically-active KRAS-mutant lung tumors. METHODS: Using cell lines derived from mouse autochthonous tumors bearing the KRAS/LKB1 (KL) and KRAS/TP53 mutant genotypes to control for confounding germline and somatic mutations in human models, we characterize the metabolic phenotypes at baseline and in response to HDAC6 inhibition. The impact of HDAC6 inhibition was measured on cancer cell growth in vitro and on tumor growth in vivo. RESULTS: Surprisingly, KL-mutant cells revealed reduced levels of redox-sensitive cofactors at baseline. This is associated with increased sensitivity to pharmacologic HDAC6 inhibition with ACY-1215 and blunted ability to increase compensatory metabolism and buffer oxidative stress. Seeking synergistic metabolic combination treatments, we found enhanced cell killing and antitumor efficacy with glutaminase inhibition in KL lung cancer models in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Exploring the differential metabolism of KL and KRAS/TP53-mutant NSCLC, we identified decreased metabolic reserve in KL-mutant tumors. HDAC6 inhibition exploited a therapeutic window in KL NSCLC on the basis of a diminished ability to compensate for impaired glycolysis, nominating a novel strategy for the treatment of KRAS-mutant NSCLC with co-occurring LKB1 mutations.
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Carcinoma de Pulmón de Células no Pequeñas , Neoplasias Pulmonares , Humanos , Animales , Ratones , Neoplasias Pulmonares/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Pulmonares/genética , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patología , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas p21(ras)/genética , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas p21(ras)/uso terapéutico , Histona Desacetilasa 6/genética , Histona Desacetilasa 6/metabolismo , Histona Desacetilasa 6/uso terapéutico , Línea Celular Tumoral , Carcinoma de Pulmón de Células no Pequeñas/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma de Pulmón de Células no Pequeñas/genética , Carcinoma de Pulmón de Células no Pequeñas/patología , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinasas/genética , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinasas/metabolismo , MutaciónRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Evading immune surveillance is a hallmark for the development of multiple cancer types. Whether immune evasion contributes to the pathogenesis of high-grade prostate cancer (HGPCa) remains an area of active inquiry. METHODS: Through single-cell RNA sequencing and multicolor flow cytometry of freshly isolated prostatectomy specimens and matched peripheral blood, we aimed to characterize the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) of localized prostate cancer (PCa), including HGPCa and low-grade prostate cancer (LGPCa). RESULTS: HGPCa are highly infiltrated by exhausted CD8+ T cells, myeloid cells, and regulatory T cells (TRegs). These HGPCa-infiltrating CD8+ T cells expressed high levels of exhaustion markers including TIM3, TOX, TCF7, PD-1, CTLA4, TIGIT, and CXCL13. By contrast, a high ratio of activated CD8+ effector T cells relative to TRegs and myeloid cells infiltrate the TME of LGPCa. HGPCa CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) expressed more androgen receptor and prostate-specific membran antigen yet less prostate-specific antigen than the LGPCa CD8+ TILs. The PCa TME was infiltrated by macrophages but these did not clearly cluster by M1 and M2 markers. CONCLUSIONS: Our study reveals a suppressive TME with high levels of CD8+ T cell exhaustion in localized PCa, a finding enriched in HGPCa relative to LGPCa. These studies suggest a possible link between the clinical-pathologic risk of PCa and the associated TME. Our results have implications for our understanding of the immunologic mechanisms of PCa pathogenesis and the implementation of immunotherapy for localized PCa.
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Linfocitos T CD8-positivos , Neoplasias de la Próstata , Masculino , Humanos , Clasificación del Tumor , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos/patología , Neoplasias de la Próstata/patología , Próstata/patología , Antígeno Prostático Específico , Linfocitos Infiltrantes de Tumor , Inmunosupresores , Análisis de la Célula Individual , Microambiente TumoralRESUMEN
PURPOSE: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a clinically heterogeneous disease, which is highlighted by the unpredictable recurrence in low-stage tumors and highly variable responses observed in patients treated with immunotherapies, which cannot be explained by mutational profiles. DNA methylation-based classification and understanding of microenviromental heterogeneity may allow stratification into clinically relevant molecular subtypes of LUADs. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We characterize the genome-wide DNA methylation landscape of 88 resected LUAD tumors. Exome sequencing focusing on a panel of cancer-related genes was used to genotype these adenocarcinoma samples. Bioinformatic and statistical tools, the immune cell composition, DNA methylation age (DNAm age), and DNA methylation clustering were used to identify clinically relevant subgroups. RESULTS: Deconvolution of DNA methylation data identified immunologically hot and cold subsets of LUADs. In addition, concurrent factors were analyzed that could affect the immune microenvironment, such as smoking history, ethnicity, or presence of KRAS or TP53 mutations. When the DNAm age was calculated, a lower DNAm age was correlated with the presence of a set of oncogenic drivers, poor overall survival, and specific immune cell populations. Unsupervised DNA methylation clustering identified six molecular subgroups of LUAD tumors with distinct clinical and microenvironmental characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that DNA methylation signatures can stratify LUAD into clinically relevant subtypes, and thus such classification of LUAD at the time of resection may lead to better methods in predicting tumor recurrence and therapy responses.
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Adenocarcinoma del Pulmón , Adenocarcinoma , Neoplasias Pulmonares , Adenocarcinoma/patología , Adenocarcinoma del Pulmón/genética , Metilación de ADN , Humanos , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patología , Mutación , Microambiente TumoralRESUMEN
Tuberous sclerosis complex subunit 1 (TSC1) and 2 (TSC2) are frequently mutated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), however, their effects on antitumor immunity remained unexplored. A CRISPR screening in murine KrasG12D/Trp53-/- (KP) model identified Tsc1 and Tsc2 as potent regulators of programmed cell death ligand 1 (Pd-l1) expression in vitro and sensitivity to anti-programmed cell death receptor 1 (PD-1) treatment in vivo. TSC1 or TSC2 knockout (KO) promoted the transcriptional and membrane expression of PD-L1 in cell lines. TSC2-deficient tumors manifested an inflamed microenvironment in patient samples and The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset. In syngeneic murine models, KP-Tsc2-KO tumors showed notable response to anti-PD-1 antibody treatment, but Tsc2-wild-type tumors did not. Patients with TSC1/TSC2-mutant NSCLC receiving immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) had increased durable clinical benefit and survival. Collectively, TSC1/TSC2 loss defines a distinct subtype of NSCLC characterized as inflamed tumor microenvironment and superior sensitivity to ICB.
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Carcinoma de Pulmón de Células no Pequeñas , Neoplasias Pulmonares , Proteína 1 del Complejo de la Esclerosis Tuberosa/metabolismo , Proteína 2 del Complejo de la Esclerosis Tuberosa/metabolismo , Esclerosis Tuberosa , Animales , Antígeno B7-H1 , Carcinoma de Pulmón de Células no Pequeñas/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma de Pulmón de Células no Pequeñas/genética , Carcinoma de Pulmón de Células no Pequeñas/patología , Humanos , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/farmacología , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/uso terapéutico , Neoplasias Pulmonares/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Pulmonares/genética , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patología , Ratones , Esclerosis Tuberosa/tratamiento farmacológico , Esclerosis Tuberosa/genética , Esclerosis Tuberosa/metabolismo , Microambiente Tumoral/genéticaRESUMEN
Resistance to targeted therapies is an important clinical problem in HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer. "Drug-tolerant persisters" (DTP), a subpopulation of cancer cells that survive via reversible, nongenetic mechanisms, are implicated in resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in other malignancies, but DTPs following HER2 TKI exposure have not been well characterized. We found that HER2 TKIs evoke DTPs with a luminal-like or a mesenchymal-like transcriptome. Lentiviral barcoding/single-cell RNA sequencing reveals that HER2+ breast cancer cells cycle stochastically through a "pre-DTP" state, characterized by a G0-like expression signature and enriched for diapause and/or senescence genes. Trajectory analysis/cell sorting shows that pre-DTPs preferentially yield DTPs upon HER2 TKI exposure. Cells with similar transcriptomes are present in HER2+ breast tumors and are associated with poor TKI response. Finally, biochemical experiments indicate that luminal-like DTPs survive via estrogen receptor-dependent induction of SGK3, leading to rewiring of the PI3K/AKT/mTORC1 pathway to enable AKT-independent mTORC1 activation. SIGNIFICANCE: DTPs are implicated in resistance to anticancer therapies, but their ontogeny and vulnerabilities remain unclear. We find that HER2 TKI-DTPs emerge from stochastically arising primed cells ("pre-DTPs") that engage either of two distinct transcriptional programs upon TKI exposure. Our results provide new insights into DTP ontogeny and potential therapeutic vulnerabilities. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 873.
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Neoplasias de la Mama , Neoplasias de la Mama/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias de la Mama/genética , Neoplasias de la Mama/patología , Línea Celular Tumoral , Resistencia a Antineoplásicos , Femenino , Humanos , Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinasas/metabolismo , Receptor ErbB-2/genética , Receptor ErbB-2/metabolismo , Transducción de SeñalRESUMEN
No targeted treatments are currently approved for HER2 exon 20 insertion-mutant lung adenocarcinoma patients. Mobocertinib (TAK-788) is a potent irreversible tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) designed to target human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/ERBB2) exon 20 insertion mutations. However, the function of mobocertinib on HER2 exon 20 insertion-mutant lung cancer is still unclear. Here we conducted systematic characterization of preclinical models to understand the activity profile of mobocertinib against HER2 exon 20 insertions. In HER2 exon 20 insertion-mutant cell lines, the IC50 of mobocertinib was higher than poziotinib and comparable with or slightly lower than afatinib, neratinib, and pyrotinib. Mobocertinib had the lowest HER2 exon 20 insertion IC50/wild-type (WT) EGFR IC50 ratio, indicating that mobocertinib displayed the best selectivity profile in these models. Also, mobocertinib showed strong inhibitory activity in HER2 exon 20YVMA allograft and patient-derived xenograft models. In genetically engineered mouse models, HER2 exon 20G776>VC lung tumors exhibited a sustained complete response to mobocertinib, whereas HER2 exon 20YVMA tumors showed only partial and transient response. Combined treatment with a second antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) against HER2, ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1), synergized with mobocertinib in HER2 exon 20YVMA tumors. In addition to the tumor cell autonomous effect, sustained tumor growth control derived from M1 macrophage infiltration and CD4+ T-cell activation. These findings support the ongoing clinical development of mobocertinib (NCT02716116) and provide a rationale for future clinical evaluation of T-DM1 combinational therapy in HER2 exon 20YVMA insertion-mutant lung adenocarcinoma patients. SIGNIFICANCE: This study elucidates the potent inhibitory activity of mobocertinib against HER2 exon 20 insertion-mutant lung cancer and the synergic effect of combined mobocertinib and T-DM1, providing a strong rationale for clinical investigation.
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Adenocarcinoma del Pulmón/tratamiento farmacológico , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/farmacología , Exones , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , Mutación INDEL , Neoplasias Pulmonares/tratamiento farmacológico , Receptor ErbB-2/genética , Adenocarcinoma del Pulmón/genética , Adenocarcinoma del Pulmón/patología , Ado-Trastuzumab Emtansina/administración & dosificación , Animales , Anticuerpos Biespecíficos/administración & dosificación , Apoptosis , Proliferación Celular , Femenino , Humanos , Neoplasias Pulmonares/genética , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patología , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos NOD , Ratones SCID , Células Tumorales Cultivadas , Ensayos Antitumor por Modelo de XenoinjertoRESUMEN
Substantial progress has been made in understanding how tumors escape immune surveillance. However, few measures to counteract tumor immune evasion have been developed. Suppression of tumor antigen expression is a common adaptive mechanism that cancers use to evade detection and destruction by the immune system. Epigenetic modifications play a critical role in various aspects of immune invasion, including the regulation of tumor antigen expression. To identify epigenetic regulators of tumor antigen expression, we established a transplantable syngeneic tumor model of immune escape with silenced antigen expression and used this system as a platform for a CRISPR-Cas9 suppressor screen for genes encoding epigenetic modifiers. We found that disruption of the genes encoding either of the chromatin modifiers activating transcription factor 7-interacting protein (Atf7ip) or its interacting partner SET domain bifurcated histone lysine methyltransferase 1 (Setdb1) in tumor cells restored tumor antigen expression. This resulted in augmented tumor immunogenicity concomitant with elevated endogenous retroviral (ERV) antigens and mRNA intron retention. ERV disinhibition was associated with a robust type I interferon response and increased T-cell infiltration, leading to rejection of cells lacking intact Atf7ip or Setdb1. ATF7IP or SETDB1 expression inversely correlated with antigen processing and presentation pathways, interferon signaling, and T-cell infiltration and cytotoxicity in human cancers. Our results provide a rationale for targeting Atf7ip or Setdb1 in cancer immunotherapy.
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Antígenos de Neoplasias/metabolismo , N-Metiltransferasa de Histona-Lisina/metabolismo , Neoplasias/genética , Proteínas Represoras/metabolismo , Animales , Técnicas de Cultivo de Célula , Línea Celular , Proliferación Celular , Humanos , Ratones , Ratones DesnudosAsunto(s)
Carcinoma de Pulmón de Células no Pequeñas , Neoplasias Pulmonares , Presentación de Antígeno , Homólogo de la Proteína 1 Relacionada con la Autofagia/genética , Carcinoma de Pulmón de Células no Pequeñas/tratamiento farmacológico , Humanos , Péptidos y Proteínas de Señalización Intracelular , Neoplasias Pulmonares/tratamiento farmacológicoRESUMEN
KRASG12C inhibitors, including MRTX849, are promising treatment options for KRAS-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PD-1 inhibitors are approved in NSCLC; however, strategies to enhance checkpoint inhibitor therapy (CIT) are needed. KRASG12C mutations are smoking-associated transversion mutations associated with high tumor mutation burden, PD-L1 positivity, and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. To evaluate the potential of MRTX849 to augment CIT, its impact on immune signaling and response to CIT was evaluated. In human tumor xenograft models, MRTX849 increased MHC class I protein expression and decreased RNA and/or plasma protein levels of immunosuppressive factors. In a KrasG12C -mutant CT26 syngeneic mouse model, MRTX849 decreased intratumoral myeloid-derived suppressor cells and increased M1-polarized macrophages, dendritic cells, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells. Similar results were observed in lung KrasG12C -mutant syngeneic and a genetically engineered mouse (GEM) model. In the CT26 KrasG12C model, MRTX849 demonstrated marked tumor regression when tumors were established in immune-competent BALB/c mice; however, the effect was diminished when tumors were grown in T-cell-deficient nu/nu mice. Tumors progressed following anti-PD-1 or MRTX849 single-agent treatment in immune-competent mice; however, combination treatment demonstrated durable, complete responses (CRs). Tumors did not reestablish in the same mice that exhibited durable CRs when rechallenged with tumor cell inoculum, demonstrating these mice developed adaptive antitumor immunity. In a GEM model, treatment with MRTX849 plus anti-PD-1 led to increased progression-free survival compared with either single agent alone. These data demonstrate KRAS inhibition reverses an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and sensitizes tumors to CIT through multiple mechanisms.
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Acetonitrilos/antagonistas & inhibidores , Antineoplásicos/uso terapéutico , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/uso terapéutico , Piperazinas/antagonistas & inhibidores , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas p21(ras)/antagonistas & inhibidores , Pirimidinas/antagonistas & inhibidores , Animales , Antineoplásicos/farmacología , Línea Celular Tumoral , Proliferación Celular , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Humanos , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/farmacología , Ratones , Microambiente Tumoral/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
PURPOSE: Immunotherapy has recently been shown to improve outcomes for advanced PD-L1-positive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in the Impassion130 trial, leading to FDA approval of the first immune checkpoint inhibitor in combination with taxane chemotherapy. To further develop predictive biomarkers and improve therapeutic efficacy of the combination, interrogation of the tumor immune microenvironment before therapy as well as during each component of treatment is crucial. Here we use single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on tumor biopsies to assess immune cell changes from two patients with advanced TNBC treated in a prospective trial at predefined serial time points, before treatment, on taxane chemotherapy and on chemo-immunotherapy. METHODS: Both patients (one responder and one progressor) received the trial therapy, in cycle 1 nab-paclitaxel given as single agent, in cycle 2 nab-paclitaxel in combination with pembrolizumab. Tumor core biopsies were obtained at baseline, 3 weeks (after cycle 1, chemotherapy alone) and 6 weeks (after cycle 2, chemo-immunotherapy). Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of both cancer cells and infiltrating immune cells isolated were performed from fresh tumor core biopsy specimens by 10 × chromium sequencing. RESULTS: ScRNA-seq analysis showed significant baseline heterogeneity of tumor-infiltrating immune cell populations between the two patients as well as modulation of the tumor microenvironment by chemotherapy and immunotherapy. In the responding patient there was a population of PD-1high-expressing T cells which significantly decreased after nab-paclitaxel plus pembrolizumab treatment as well as a presence of tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM). In contrast, tumors from the patient with rapid disease progression showed a prevalent and persistent myeloid compartment. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides a deep cellular analysis of on-treatment changes during chemo-immunotherapy for advanced TNBC, demonstrating not only feasibility of single-cell analyses on serial tumor biopsies but also the heterogeneity of TNBC and differences in on-treatment changes in responder versus progressor.
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Neoplasias de la Mama Triple Negativas , Albúminas , Anticuerpos Monoclonales Humanizados , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapéutico , Humanos , Paclitaxel , Estudios Prospectivos , Análisis de la Célula Individual , Neoplasias de la Mama Triple Negativas/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias de la Mama Triple Negativas/genética , Microambiente TumoralRESUMEN
KRAS is the most frequently mutated human oncogene, and KRAS inhibition has been a longtime goal. Recently, inhibitors were developed that bind KRASG12C-GDP and react with Cys-12 (G12C-Is). Using new affinity reagents to monitor KRASG12C activation and inhibitor engagement, we found that an SHP2 inhibitor (SHP2-I) increases KRAS-GDP occupancy, enhancing G12C-I efficacy. The SHP2-I abrogated RTK feedback signaling and adaptive resistance to G12C-Is in vitro, in xenografts, and in syngeneic KRASG12C-mutant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). SHP2-I/G12C-I combination evoked favorable but tumor site-specific changes in the immune microenvironment, decreasing myeloid suppressor cells, increasing CD8+ T cells, and sensitizing tumors to PD-1 blockade. Experiments using cells expressing inhibitor-resistant SHP2 showed that SHP2 inhibition in PDAC cells is required for PDAC regression and remodeling of the immune microenvironment but revealed direct inhibitory effects on tumor angiogenesis and vascularity. Our results demonstrate that SHP2-I/G12C-I combinations confer a substantial survival benefit in PDAC and NSCLC and identify additional potential combination strategies.
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Carcinoma de Pulmón de Células no Pequeñas/inmunología , Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático/inmunología , Inhibidores Enzimáticos/farmacología , Neoplasias Pulmonares/inmunología , Mutación Missense , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/inmunología , Proteína Tirosina Fosfatasa no Receptora Tipo 11/antagonistas & inhibidores , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas p21(ras)/inmunología , Microambiente Tumoral/efectos de los fármacos , Sustitución de Aminoácidos , Animales , Carcinoma de Pulmón de Células no Pequeñas/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma de Pulmón de Células no Pequeñas/genética , Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma Ductal Pancreático/genética , Neoplasias Pulmonares/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Pulmonares/genética , Ratones , Ratones Noqueados , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/genética , Proteína Tirosina Fosfatasa no Receptora Tipo 11/genética , Proteína Tirosina Fosfatasa no Receptora Tipo 11/inmunología , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas p21(ras)/genética , Microambiente Tumoral/genética , Microambiente Tumoral/inmunologíaRESUMEN
Despite advancements in treatment options, the overall cure and survival rates for non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) remain low. While small-molecule inhibitors of epigenetic regulators have recently emerged as promising cancer therapeutics, their application in patients with NSCLC is limited. To exploit epigenetic regulators as novel therapeutic targets in NSCLC, we performed pooled epigenome-wide CRISPR knockout screens in vitro and in vivo and identified the histone chaperone nucleophosmin 1 (Npm1) as a potential therapeutic target. Genetic ablation of Npm1 significantly attenuated tumor progression in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, KRAS-mutant cancer cells were more addicted to NPM1 expression. Genetic ablation of Npm1 rewired the balance of metabolism in cancer cells from predominant aerobic glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation and reduced the population of tumor-propagating cells. Overall, our results support NPM1 as a therapeutic vulnerability in NSCLC. SIGNIFICANCE: Epigenome-wide CRISPR knockout screens identify NPM1 as a novel metabolic vulnerability and demonstrate that targeting NPM1 is a new therapeutic opportunity for patients with NSCLC.
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Carcinoma de Pulmón de Células no Pequeñas , Técnicas Genéticas , Neoplasias Pulmonares , Proteínas Nucleares/metabolismo , Animales , Carcinoma de Pulmón de Células no Pequeñas/genética , Carcinoma de Pulmón de Células no Pequeñas/metabolismo , Carcinoma de Pulmón de Células no Pequeñas/patología , Línea Celular Tumoral , Repeticiones Palindrómicas Cortas Agrupadas y Regularmente Espaciadas , Epigénesis Genética , Xenoinjertos , Humanos , Neoplasias Pulmonares/genética , Neoplasias Pulmonares/metabolismo , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patología , Ratones , Proteínas Nucleares/genética , NucleofosminaRESUMEN
PURPOSE: Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a deadly disease for which only a subset of patients responds to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. Therefore, preclinical mouse models that recapitulate the complex genetic profile found in patients are urgently needed. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We used CRISPR genome editing to delete multiple tumor suppressors in lung organoids derived from Cre-dependent SOX2 knock-in mice. We investigated both the therapeutic efficacy and immunologic effects accompanying combination PD-1 blockade and WEE1 inhibition in both mouse models and LSCC patient-derived cell lines. RESULTS: We show that multiplex gene editing of mouse lung organoids using the CRISPR-Cas9 system allows for efficient and rapid means to generate LSCCs that closely mimic the human disease at the genomic and phenotypic level. Using this genetically defined mouse model and three-dimensional tumoroid culture system, we show that WEE1 inhibition induces DNA damage that primes the endogenous type I IFN and antigen presentation system in primary LSCC tumor cells. These events promote cytotoxic T-cell-mediated clearance of tumor cells and reduce the accumulation of tumor-infiltrating neutrophils. Beneficial immunologic features of WEE1 inhibition are further enhanced by the addition of anti-PD-1 therapy. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a mouse model system to investigate a novel combinatory approach that illuminates a clinical path hypothesis for combining ICB with DNA damage-inducing therapies in the treatment of LSCC.
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Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/patología , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patología , Pulmón/efectos de los fármacos , Pulmón/patología , Ratones Transgénicos , Organoides/efectos de los fármacos , Animales , Biomarcadores , Biomarcadores de Tumor , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas/metabolismo , Línea Celular Tumoral , Terapia Combinada , Edición Génica , Expresión Génica , Ingeniería Genética , Humanos , Inmunohistoquímica , Inmunoterapia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Pulmonares/metabolismo , Linfocitos Infiltrantes de Tumor/inmunología , Linfocitos Infiltrantes de Tumor/metabolismo , Linfocitos Infiltrantes de Tumor/patología , Ratones , Ensayos Antitumor por Modelo de XenoinjertoRESUMEN
Cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) is a central regulator of the cell cycle and gene transcription. However, little is known about its impact on genomic instability and cancer immunity. Using a selective CDK7 inhibitor, YKL-5-124, we demonstrated that CDK7 inhibition predominately disrupts cell-cycle progression and induces DNA replication stress and genome instability in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) while simultaneously triggering immune-response signaling. These tumor-intrinsic events provoke a robust immune surveillance program elicited by T cells, which is further enhanced by the addition of immune-checkpoint blockade. Combining YKL-5-124 with anti-PD-1 offers significant survival benefit in multiple highly aggressive murine models of SCLC, providing a rationale for new combination regimens consisting of CDK7 inhibitors and immunotherapies.
Asunto(s)
Quinasas Ciclina-Dependientes/antagonistas & inhibidores , Quinasas Ciclina-Dependientes/genética , Inestabilidad Genómica , Neoplasias Pulmonares/genética , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células Pequeñas/genética , Animales , Antineoplásicos/farmacología , Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos/citología , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos/citología , Quimiocina CXCL9/metabolismo , Daño del ADN , Femenino , Humanos , Sistema Inmunológico , Inflamación , Interferón gamma/metabolismo , Neoplasias Pulmonares/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Pulmonares/inmunología , Masculino , Ratones , Pruebas de Micronúcleos , Receptor de Muerte Celular Programada 1/antagonistas & inhibidores , Pirazoles/farmacología , Pirroles/farmacología , Transducción de Señal , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células Pequeñas/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células Pequeñas/inmunología , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfa/metabolismo , Quinasa Activadora de Quinasas Ciclina-DependientesRESUMEN
Despite substantial progress in lung cancer immunotherapy, the overall response rate in patients with KRAS-mutant lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains low. Combining standard immunotherapy with adjuvant approaches that enhance adaptive immune responses-such as epigenetic modulation of antitumor immunity-is therefore an attractive strategy. To identify epigenetic regulators of tumor immunity, we constructed an epigenetic-focused single guide RNA library and performed an in vivo CRISPR screen in a Kras G12D/Trp53 -/- LUAD model. Our data showed that loss of the histone chaperone Asf1a in tumor cells sensitizes tumors to anti-PD-1 treatment. Mechanistic studies revealed that tumor cell-intrinsic Asf1a deficiency induced immunogenic macrophage differentiation in the tumor microenvironment by upregulating GM-CSF expression and potentiated T-cell activation in combination with anti-PD-1. Our results provide a rationale for a novel combination therapy consisting of ASF1A inhibition and anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. SIGNIFICANCE: Using an in vivo epigenetic CRISPR screen, we identified Asf1a as a critical regulator of LUAD sensitivity to anti-PD-1 therapy. Asf1a deficiency synergized with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy by promoting M1-like macrophage polarization and T-cell activation. Thus, we provide a new immunotherapeutic strategy for this subtype of patients with LUAD.See related commentary by Menzel and Black, p. 179.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 161.
Asunto(s)
Adenocarcinoma del Pulmón/tratamiento farmacológico , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/metabolismo , Resistencia a Antineoplásicos/genética , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/farmacología , Neoplasias Pulmonares/tratamiento farmacológico , Chaperonas Moleculares/metabolismo , Adenocarcinoma del Pulmón/genética , Adenocarcinoma del Pulmón/inmunología , Adenocarcinoma del Pulmón/patología , Animales , Sistemas CRISPR-Cas/genética , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/genética , Diferenciación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Diferenciación Celular/genética , Línea Celular Tumoral , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Epigénesis Genética/inmunología , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica/inmunología , Técnicas de Inactivación de Genes , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Inhibidores de Puntos de Control Inmunológico/uso terapéutico , Pulmón/patología , Neoplasias Pulmonares/genética , Neoplasias Pulmonares/inmunología , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patología , Macrófagos/efectos de los fármacos , Macrófagos/inmunología , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Masculino , Ratones , Chaperonas Moleculares/genética , Receptor de Muerte Celular Programada 1/antagonistas & inhibidores , Receptor de Muerte Celular Programada 1/inmunología , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas p21(ras)/genética , ARN Guía de Kinetoplastida/genética , ARN Interferente Pequeño/metabolismo , RNA-Seq , Microambiente Tumoral/efectos de los fármacos , Microambiente Tumoral/inmunología , Proteína p53 Supresora de Tumor/genéticaRESUMEN
KRAS is one of the driver oncogenes in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) but remains refractory to current modalities of targeted pathway inhibition, which include inhibiting downstream kinase MEK to circumvent KRAS activation. Here, we show that pulsatile, rather than continuous, treatment with MEK inhibitors (MEKis) maintains T cell activation and enables their proliferation. Two MEKis, selumetinib and trametinib, induce T cell activation with increased CTLA-4 expression and, to a lesser extent, PD-1 expression on T cells in vivo after cyclical pulsatile MEKi treatment. In addition, the pulsatile dosing schedule alone shows superior anti-tumor effects and delays the emergence of drug resistance. Furthermore, pulsatile MEKi treatment combined with CTLA-4 blockade prolongs survival in mice bearing tumors with mutant Kras. Our results set the foundation and show the importance of a combinatorial therapeutic strategy using pulsatile targeted therapy together with immunotherapy to optimally enhance tumor delay and promote long-term anti-tumor immunity.
Asunto(s)
Carcinoma de Pulmón de Células no Pequeñas/patología , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patología , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas p21(ras)/genética , Linfocitos T/metabolismo , Animales , Bencimidazoles/farmacología , Bencimidazoles/uso terapéutico , Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos/citología , Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos/efectos de los fármacos , Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos/metabolismo , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos/citología , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos/efectos de los fármacos , Linfocitos T CD8-positivos/metabolismo , Antígeno CTLA-4/metabolismo , Carcinoma de Pulmón de Células no Pequeñas/tratamiento farmacológico , Carcinoma de Pulmón de Células no Pequeñas/mortalidad , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Femenino , Humanos , Neoplasias Pulmonares/tratamiento farmacológico , Neoplasias Pulmonares/mortalidad , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Ratones Transgénicos , Receptor de Muerte Celular Programada 1/metabolismo , Inhibidores de Proteínas Quinasas/farmacología , Inhibidores de Proteínas Quinasas/uso terapéutico , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas p21(ras)/metabolismo , Piridonas/farmacología , Piridonas/uso terapéutico , Pirimidinonas/farmacología , Pirimidinonas/uso terapéutico , Tasa de Supervivencia , Linfocitos T/citología , Linfocitos T/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
Purpose: Despite the challenge to directly target mutant KRAS due to its high GTP affinity, some agents are under development against downstream signaling pathways, such as MEK inhibitors. However, it remains controversial whether MEK inhibitors can boost current chemotherapy in KRAS-mutant lung tumors in clinic. Considering the genomic heterogeneity among patients with lung cancer, it is valuable to test potential therapeutics in KRAS mutation-driven mouse models.Experimental Design: We first compared the pERK1/2 level in lung cancer samples with different KRAS substitutions and generated a new genetically engineered mouse model whose tumor was driven by KRAS G12C, the most common KRAS mutation in lung cancer. Next, we evaluated the efficacy of selumetinib or its combination with chemotherapy, in KRASG12C tumors compared with KRASG12D tumors. Moreover, we generated KRASG12C/p53R270H model to explore the role of a dominant negative p53 mutation detected in patients in responsiveness to MEK inhibition.Results: We determined higher pERK1/2 in KRASG12C lung tumors compared with KRASG12D Using mouse models, we further identified that KRASG12C tumors are significantly more sensitive to selumetinib compared with KrasG12D tumors. MEK inhibition significantly increased chemotherapeutic efficacy and progression-free survival of KRASG12C mice. Interestingly, p53 co-mutation rendered KRASG12C lung tumors less sensitive to combination treatment with selumetinib and chemotherapy.Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that unique KRAS mutations and concurrent mutations in tumor-suppressor genes are important factors for lung tumor responses to MEK inhibitor. Our preclinical study supports further clinical evaluation of combined MEK inhibition and chemotherapy for lung cancer patients harboring KRAS G12C and wild-type p53 status. Clin Cancer Res; 24(19); 4854-64. ©2018 AACR.