Project description:Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy faces notable limitations in treatment of solid tumors. The suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), characterized by complex interactions among immune and stromal cells, is gaining recognition in conferring resistance to CAR T cell therapy. Despite the abundance and diversity of macrophages in the TME, their intricate involvement in modulating responses to CAR T cell therapies remains poorly understood. Here, we conducted single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on tumors from 41 glioma patients undergoing IL13Rα2-targeted CAR T cell therapy, identifying elevated suppressive SPP-1 signatures predominantly in macrophages from patients who were resistant to treatment. Further integrative scRNA-seq analysis of high-grade gliomas (HGG)s and an interferon-signaling deficient syngeneic mouse model—both resistant to CAR T therapy—demonstrated the role of congruent suppressive pathways in mediating resistance to CAR T cells and a dominant role for SPP1+ macrophages. SPP1 blockade with an anti-SPP1 antibody prior to CAR T cell therapy abrogates the suppressive effects and substantially prolongs survival in IFN signaling-deficient as well as GBM syngeneic resistance models to CAR T cell therapy. These findings illuminate the role of SPP1+ macrophages in fueling a suppressive TME and driving solid tumor resistance to CAR cell therapies. Targeting SPP1 may serve as a universal strategy to reprogram immune dynamics in solid tumors mitigating resistance to CAR T therapies.
Project description:Aberrant activation of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway plays important roles in both oncogenesis and targeted therapy of many cancers. The clinical application of FDA-approved Hh-targeted Smoothened inhibitor (SMOi) drugs is hindered due to the emergence of various primary or acquired drug resistance, indicating the need of novel anti-Hh therapies. Our previous studies demonstrate that epigenetic/transcriptional targeted therapies represent a promising direction for anti-Hh drug development. In this study, we identified CDK9 and CDK12, two transcription elongation regulators, as novel therapeutic targets for antagonizing the aberrant Hh pathway and overcoming SMOi resistance. CDK9 inhibition and CDK12 inhibition exhibited similarly potent anti-Hh activities when treating various SMOi responsive or resistant Hh-driven tumor models as previously reported BET inhibition or CDK7 inhibition. We also utilized SHH-subtype medulloblastoma (SHH-MB) as the representative Hh-driven cancer model to perform Super-enhancer (SE) analysis and elucidate the crucial roles of SE in Hh-driven oncogenesis and above-mentioned anti-Hh epigenetic/transcriptional targeted therapies. Furthermore, we identified IRS1, encoding a critical component and cytoplasmic adaptor protein of the IGF pathway, as an oncogenic Hh-driven SE target gene and effective therapeutic target of multiple Hh-driven tumor models, including the SMOi-resistant ones. Collectively, our study demonstrates that the SE-driven transcriptional dependencies represent promising therapeutic vulnerabilities for suppressing the aberrant Hh pathway and overcoming the SMOi resistance. As CDK9 inhibitor and IRS inhibitor drugs have already entered human clinical trials for cancer treatment, our study provides comprehensive preclinical support for expanding their trials to Hh-driven cancers in near future.
Project description:Aberrant activation of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway plays important roles in both oncogenesis and targeted therapy of many cancers. The clinical application of FDA-approved Hh-targeted Smoothened inhibitor (SMOi) drugs is hindered due to the emergence of various primary or acquired drug resistance, indicating the need of novel anti-Hh therapies. Our previous studies demonstrate that epigenetic/transcriptional targeted therapies represent a promising direction for anti-Hh drug development. In this study, we identified CDK9 and CDK12, two transcription elongation regulators, as novel therapeutic targets for antagonizing the aberrant Hh pathway and overcoming SMOi resistance. CDK9 inhibition and CDK12 inhibition exhibited similarly potent anti-Hh activities when treating various SMOi responsive or resistant Hh-driven tumor models as previously reported BET inhibition or CDK7 inhibition. We also utilized SHH-subtype medulloblastoma (SHH-MB) as the representative Hh-driven cancer model to perform Super-enhancer (SE) analysis and elucidate the crucial roles of SE in Hh-driven oncogenesis and above-mentioned anti-Hh epigenetic/transcriptional targeted therapies. Furthermore, we identified IRS1, encoding a critical component and cytoplasmic adaptor protein of the IGF pathway, as an oncogenic Hh-driven SE target gene and effective therapeutic target of multiple Hh-driven tumor models, including the SMOi-resistant ones. Collectively, our study demonstrates that the SE-driven transcriptional dependencies represent promising therapeutic vulnerabilities for suppressing the aberrant Hh pathway and overcoming the SMOi resistance. As CDK9 inhibitor and IRS inhibitor drugs have already entered human clinical trials for cancer treatment, our study provides comprehensive preclinical support for expanding their trials to Hh-driven cancers in near future.
Project description:Abstract: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play an important role in the induction of chemo-resistance. The objectives of this study were to clarify the mechanism underlying CAF-mediated sorafenib/lenvatinib resistance and identify a novel therapeutic target to overcome resistance to sorafenib/lenvatinib in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Whole transcriptome sequencing (WTS) data of nine pairs of CAFs and para-cancer-associated fibroblasts (PAFs) were analyzed to identify key molecules that induce resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). In vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to validate selected targets and related mechanisms. Plasma secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) expression levels prior to sorafenib/lenvatinib treatment as well as progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of an advanced HCC cohort (n=42) were evaluated using Kaplan–Meier analysis. Results: Co-culturing CAFs and HCC cells significantly reduced the responsiveness of HCC cells to sorafenib/lenvatinib, in vitro and in vivo. Systematic integrative analysis of the WTS data of CAFs/PAFs and publicly available gene expression data indicated that CAF-derived SPP1 (CAF-SPP1) was suitable for use as a candidate molecule to induce sorafenib/lenvatinib resistance. An evaluation of the mechanisms involved indicated that CAF-SPP1 increased phosphorylation of PKCɑ, which then activated rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (RAF)-extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and phosophoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT-mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase (mTOR) in HCC cells. SPP1 inhibitors reversed CAF-induced sorafenib/lenvatinib resistance in vitro and in vivo. Patients showing high plasma SPP1 prior to sorafenib/lenvatinib treatment exhibited significantly poor PFS (P=0.005) and OS (P=0.041). Conclusions: CAF-SPP1 enhances sorafenib/lenvatinib resistance in HCC by alternatively activating oncogenic pathways via PKCɑ phosphorylation. Inhibition of CAF-SPP1 may be utilized as a therapeutic strategy against TKI resistance in HCC. Plasma SPP1 level prior to TKI treatment shows potential as a promising biomarker for predicting sorafenib/lenvatinib response in advanced HCC patients.
Project description:Background: Although most patients with newly diagnosed high-risk neuroblastoma (NB) achieve remission after initial therapy, more than 50% experience late relapses caused by minimal residual disease (MRD) and succumb to their cancer. Therapy strategies to target MRD may benefit these children. We developed a new chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeting glypican (GPC)2 and conducted iterative preclinical engineering of the CAR structure to maximize its anti-tumor efficacy before clinical translation. Methods: We evaluated different GPC2-CAR constructs by measuring the CAR activity against several NB cell lines in vitro. NOD-SCID mice engrafted with human NB cell lines or orthotopic patient-derived xenograft (PDX) and treated with human CAR T cells served as in vivo models. Mechanistic studies were performed using single-cell RNA-sequencing. Results: Applying stringent in vitro assays and orthotopic in vivo NB models, we demonstrated that our single-chain variable fragment, CT3, integrated into a CAR backbone with a CD28 hinge, CD28 transmembrane, and 4-1BB co-stimulatory domain elicits the best preclinical anti-NB activity compared to other tested CAR constructs. This enhanced activity was associated with an enrichment of CD8+ effector T cells in the tumor-microenvironment and upregulation of several effector molecules such as GNLY, GZMB, ZNF683, and HMGN2. Finally, we also showed that the CT3.28H.BBζ CAR was more potent than a recently clinically tested GD2-targeted CAR to control NB in vivo. Conclusion: Given the robust preclinical activity of CT3.28H.BBζ, these promising results warrant further clinical testing in children with NB.
Project description:Cancer-associated Fibroblast-derived SPP1 is a Potential Target for Overcoming Sorafenib and Lenvatinib Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Project description:<p>Anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy for relapsed or refractory (r/r) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) results in durable response in only a subset of patients. MYC overexpression in LBCL tumors is associated with poor response to treatment. We tested whether a MYC-driven polyamine signature, as a liquid biopsy, is predictive of response to anti-CD19 CAR-T therapy in patients with r/r LBCL. Elevated plasma acetylated polyamines were associated with non-durable response. Concordantly, increased expression of spermidine synthase, a key enzyme which regulates levels of acetylated spermidine, was prognostic for survival in r/r LBCL. A broad metabolite screen identified additional markers which resulted in a 6-marker panel (6MetP) consisting of acetylspermidine, diacetylspermidine and lysophospholipids which was validated in an independent set from another institution as predictive of non-durable response to CAR T therapy. A polyamine centric metabolomics liquid biopsy panel has predictive value for response to CAR-T therapy in r/r LBCL. </p>
Project description:Histone H3K4 methylation is a feature of meiotic recombination hotspots shared by many organisms including plants and mammals. Meiotic recombination is initiated by programmed double strand break (DSB) formation that in budding yeast is directed in gene promoters by histone H3K4 di/trimethylation. This histone modification is indeed recognized by Spp1, a PHD-finger containing protein that belongs to the conserved histone H3K4 methyltransferase Set1 complex. During meiosis, Spp1 binds H3K4me and recruits a DSB protein, Mer2, to promote DSB formation close to gene promoters. How Set1C and Mer2 related functions of Spp1 are connected is not clear.
Project description:Constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) agonists, such as TCPOBOP, are known to cause robust hepatocyte proliferation and hepatomegaly in mice along with induction of drug metabolism genes, without any associated liver injury. Yes-associated protein (YAP) is a key transcription regulator that tightly controls organ size including that of liver. Ours and other previous studies suggested increased nuclear localization and activation of YAP after TCPOBOP treatment in mice and potential role of YAP in CAR-driven proliferative response. Here, we investigated a direct role of YAP in CAR-driven hepatomegaly and hepatocyte proliferation using hepatocyte-specific YAP-KO mice. AAV8-TBG-CRE vector was injected to YAP-floxed mice for achieving hepatocyte-specific YAP deletion followed by TCPOBOP treatment. YAP deletion did not alter protein expression of CAR or CAR-driven induction of drug metabolism genes (including Cyp2b10, Cyp2c55 and UGT1a1). However, YAP deletion substantially reduced TCPOBOP-induced hepatocyte proliferation. TCPOBOP-driven cell cycle activation was disrupted in YAP-KO mice due to delayed (and decreased) induction of cyclin D1 and higher expression of p21, resulting in decreased phosphorylation of retinoblastoma (Rb) protein. Further, induction of other cyclins, which are sequentially involved in progression through cell cycle (including cyclin E1, A2 and B1) and important mitotic regulators (such as aurora B kinase and polo-like kinase 1) was remarkably reduced in YAP-KO mice. Microarray analysis revealed that 26% of TCPOBOP‐responsive genes mainly related to proliferation, but not to drug metabolism, were altered by YAP deletion. YAP regulated these proliferation genes via alerting expression of cMyc and FOXM1, two critical transcriptional regulators of CAR-mediated hepatocyte proliferation. Conclusion: Our study revealed an important role of YAP signaling in CAR-driven hepatocyte proliferation; however, CAR-driven induction of drug metabolism genes was independent of YAP. We used microarrays to detail the global programme of gene expression in livers of hepatocyte-specific YAP KO mice following TCPOBOP treatment