Expression changes in pre MAPKi treatment and post MAPKi resistance Melanomas
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ABSTRACT: Melanoma resistance to MAPK- or T cell checkpoint-targeted therapies represents a major clinical challenge, and treatment failures of MAPK-targeted therapies due to acquired resistance often require salvage immunotherapies. We show that genomic analysis of acquired resistance to MAPK inhibitors revealed key driver genes but failedto adequately account for clinical resistance. From a large-scale comparative analysis of temporal transcriptomes from patient-matched tumor biopsies, we discovered highly recurrent differential expression and signature outputs of c-MET, LEF1 and YAP1 as drivers of acquired MAPK inhibitor resistance. Moreover, integration of gene- and signature-based transcriptomic analysis revealed profound CD8 T cell deficiency detected in half of resistant melanomas in association with downregulation of dendritic cells and antigen presentation. We also propose a major methylomic basis to transcriptomic evolution under MAPK inhibitor selection. Thus, this database provides a rich informational resource, and the current landscape represents a benchmark to understanding melanoma therapeutic resistance. Melanoma biopsies pre and post MAPKi treatment were sent for transcriptomic analysis using Affymetrix HuGene 2.1 microarray
Project description:Melanoma resistance to MAPK- or T cell checkpoint-targeted therapies represents a major clinical challenge, and treatment failures of MAPK-targeted therapies due to acquired resistance often require salvage immunotherapies. We show that genomic analysis of acquired resistance to MAPK inhibitors revealed key driver genes but failedto adequately account for clinical resistance. From a large-scale comparative analysis of temporal transcriptomes from patient-matched tumor biopsies, we discovered highly recurrent differential expression and signature outputs of c-MET, LEF1 and YAP1 as drivers of acquired MAPK inhibitor resistance. Moreover, integration of gene- and signature-based transcriptomic analysis revealed profound CD8 T cell deficiency detected in half of resistant melanomas in association with downregulation of dendritic cells and antigen presentation. We also propose a major methylomic basis to transcriptomic evolution under MAPK inhibitor selection. Thus, this database provides a rich informational resource, and the current landscape represents a benchmark to understanding melanoma therapeutic resistance. Melanoma biopsies pre and post MAPKi treatment were sent for DNA methylation analysis using Illumina Human Methylation 450K bead chips
Project description:Melanoma resistance to MAPK- or T cell checkpoint-targeted therapies represents a major clinical challenge, and treatment failures of MAPK-targeted therapies due to acquired resistance often require salvage immunotherapies. We show that genomic analysis of acquired resistance to MAPK inhibitors revealed key driver genes but failedto adequately account for clinical resistance. From a large-scale comparative analysis of temporal transcriptomes from patient-matched tumor biopsies, we discovered highly recurrent differential expression and signature outputs of c-MET, LEF1 and YAP1 as drivers of acquired MAPK inhibitor resistance. Moreover, integration of gene- and signature-based transcriptomic analysis revealed profound CD8 T cell deficiency detected in half of resistant melanomas in association with downregulation of dendritic cells and antigen presentation. We also propose a major methylomic basis to transcriptomic evolution under MAPK inhibitor selection. Thus, this database provides a rich informational resource, and the current landscape represents a benchmark to understanding melanoma therapeutic resistance. Melanoma biopsies pre and post MAPKi treatment were sent for RNAseq analysis
Project description:Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. MAPK-targeted therapies (MAPKi) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have shown clinical benefit but are limited by resistance mechanisms that remain poorly defined. MNK1/2 inhibitors (MNKi) have shown promising effects in pre-clinical tumor models, particularly in melanoma. Herein, we find that bromodomain and extra-terminal domain protein inhibitors (BETi) in combination with MNKi reduce the proliferation of melanoma cells, including cells with acquired MAPKi resistance. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses reveal that tissue transglutaminase TGM2 and inhibition of FAK activation are downstream effectors of this combination. We further demonstrate that TGM2 is overexpressed in MAPKi-resistant melanoma cells and that silencing TGM2 inhibits the proliferation of therapy-resistant melanoma cells. Our results introduce TGM2 as a new vulnerability in therapy-resistant melanoma development and suggest that a combination of MNKi and BETi may address the clinical need for novel therapies targeting unresponsive and drug-resistant melanoma.
Project description:Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. MAPK-targeted therapies (MAPKi) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have shown clinical benefit but are limited by resistance mechanisms that remain poorly defined. MNK1/2 inhibitors (MNKi) have shown promising effects in pre-clinical tumor models, particularly in melanoma. Herein, we find that bromodomain and extra-terminal domain protein inhibitors (BETi) in combination with MNKi reduce the proliferation of melanoma cells, including cells with acquired MAPKi resistance. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses reveal that tissue transglutaminase TGM2 and inhibition of FAK activation are downstream effectors of this combination. We further demonstrate that TGM2 is overexpressed in MAPKi-resistant melanoma cells and that silencing TGM2 inhibits the proliferation of therapy-resistant melanoma cells. Our results introduce TGM2 as a new vulnerability in therapy-resistant melanoma development and suggest that a combination of MNKi and BETi may address the clinical need for novel therapies targeting unresponsive and drug-resistant melanoma.
Project description:Metastatic melanoma is either intrinsically resistant or rapidly acquires resistance to targeted drugs such as MAPK inhibitors (MAPKi). Here, using a drug screen targeting chromatin regulators in patient-derived 3D melanoma cell cultures, we discovered that PARP inhibitors are capable of restoring MAPKi sensitivity. This synergy was found to be independent of DNA damage repair pathways and was effective both in vitro and in vivo in patients-derived xenografts. Strikingly, through integrated transcriptomic, proteomic and epigenomic analysis, we discovered that PARPi induces lysosomal autophagy which was accompanied by enhanced mitochondrial lipid metabolism that, ultimately, increased antigen presentation and sensitivity to T-cell cytotoxicity. Moreover, we also found that PARP inhibitors regulated EMT-like phenotype switching by dampening the mesenchymal phenotype via transcriptomic and epigenetic rearrangements. This, in turn, redirected melanoma cells towards a proliferative and, thus, MAPKi-sensitive state. Our study provides a scientific rational for treating patients with PARPi in combination with MAPKi to annihilate acquired therapy resistance.
Project description:MAPK inhibitor (MAPKi) therapy in melanoma leads to accumulation of tumor-surface PD-L1/2, which may evade antitumor immunity and accelerate acquired resistance. Here, we discover that the E3 ligase ITCH binds, ubiquitinates, and down-regulates tumor-surface PD-L1/L2 in MAPKi-treated human melanoma cells, thereby modulating activation of co-cultured T cells. During MAPKi therapy in vivo, tumor cell-intrinsic ITCH knockdown in murine melanoma induced tumor-surface PD-L1, reduced intratumoral cytolytic CD8+ T cells, and accelerated acquired resistance only in immune-proficient mice. Conversely, tumor cell-intrinsic ITCH over-expression reduced MAPKi-elicited PD-L1 accumulation, augmented cytolytic CD8+ T-cell infiltration, and suppressed acquired resistance in BrafMUT, NrasMUT, and Nf1MUT murine melanoma and KrasMUT pancreatic cancer models. CD8+ T-cell depletion and tumor cell-intrinsic PD-L1 over-expression nullified the ability of ITCH over-expression to suppress MAPKi-resistance, supporting in vivo the ITCH–PD-L1–T-cell regulatory axis demonstrated in human cancer cell lines. Moreover, we identified a small-molecular ITCH activator which suppressed acquired MAPKi-resistance in vivo. Thus, MAPKi-elicited tumor-surface PD-L1 accelerates acquired-resistance, and degrading PD-L1 by activating ITCH may be a combinatorial approach to promote antitumor T-cell immunity and durable responses.
Project description:Indications of PD-1/L1- and MAPK-targeted therapies cross cancer histologies. Rationally sequencing and/or combining them may overcome innate and acquired resistance. We observed increased clinical benefit of BRAF andV600MUT/MEK inhibitors in patients with advanced BRAFV600MUT melanoma who were previously treated with immune checkpoint therapy (ICT). To test whether ICT primes MAPK inhibitor (MAPKi) efficacy, we compared sequential/combinatorial regimens in subcutaneous mouse tumors driven by BrafV600, Nras, Nf1 or Kras mutations. The most efficacious regimen consisted of anti-PD-L1 lead-in preceding MAPKi combination and specifically promoted intratumoral pro-inflammatory macrophages and clonal expansion of IFNhi, CD8+ cytotoxic T-cells (relative to CD4+ regulatory T-cells) that highly expressed activation and cytolytic genes. Since melanoma brain metastasis (MBM) and its propensity for therapeutic resistance limit patient survival, we developed an experimental metastasis model of BrafV600MUT MBM. Sequencing anti-PD-L1 before MAPKi combination resulted in superior MBM control and survival as well as robust intratumoral T-cell clonal expansion both intracranially and extracranially. We propose that brief anti-PD-1/L1 dosing prior to MAPKi co-treatment suppresses resistance.
Project description:Indications of PD-1/L1- and MAPK-targeted therapies cross cancer histologies. Rationally sequencing and/or combining them may overcome innate and acquired resistance. We observed increased clinical benefit of BRAF andV600MUT/MEK inhibitors in patients with advanced BRAFV600MUT melanoma who were previously treated with immune checkpoint therapy (ICT). To test whether ICT primes MAPK inhibitor (MAPKi) efficacy, we compared sequential/combinatorial regimens in subcutaneous mouse tumors driven by BrafV600, Nras, Nf1 or Kras mutations. The most efficacious regimen consisted of anti-PD-L1 lead-in preceding MAPKi combination and specifically promoted intratumoral pro-inflammatory macrophages and clonal expansion of IFNhi, CD8+ cytotoxic T-cells (relative to CD4+ regulatory T-cells) that highly expressed activation and cytolytic genes. Since melanoma brain metastasis (MBM) and its propensity for therapeutic resistance limit patient survival, we developed an experimental metastasis model of BrafV600MUT MBM. Sequencing anti-PD-L1 before MAPKi combination resulted in superior MBM control and survival as well as robust intratumoral T-cell clonal expansion both intracranially and extracranially. We propose that brief anti-PD-1/L1 dosing prior to MAPKi co-treatment suppresses resistance.
Project description:Melanoma resistance to MAPK- or T cell checkpoint-targeted therapies represents a major clinical challenge, and treatment failures of MAPK-targeted therapies due to acquired resistance often require salvage immunotherapies. We show that genomic analysis of acquired resistance to MAPK inhibitors revealed key driver genes but failedto adequately account for clinical resistance. From a large-scale comparative analysis of temporal transcriptomes from patient-matched tumor biopsies, we discovered highly recurrent differential expression and signature outputs of c-MET, LEF1 and YAP1 as drivers of acquired MAPK inhibitor resistance. Moreover, integration of gene- and signature-based transcriptomic analysis revealed profound CD8 T cell deficiency detected in half of resistant melanomas in association with downregulation of dendritic cells and antigen presentation. We also propose a major methylomic basis to transcriptomic evolution under MAPK inhibitor selection. Thus, this database provides a rich informational resource, and the current landscape represents a benchmark to understanding melanoma therapeutic resistance.
Project description:Melanoma resistance to MAPK- or T cell checkpoint-targeted therapies represents a major clinical challenge, and treatment failures of MAPK-targeted therapies due to acquired resistance often require salvage immunotherapies. We show that genomic analysis of acquired resistance to MAPK inhibitors revealed key driver genes but failedto adequately account for clinical resistance. From a large-scale comparative analysis of temporal transcriptomes from patient-matched tumor biopsies, we discovered highly recurrent differential expression and signature outputs of c-MET, LEF1 and YAP1 as drivers of acquired MAPK inhibitor resistance. Moreover, integration of gene- and signature-based transcriptomic analysis revealed profound CD8 T cell deficiency detected in half of resistant melanomas in association with downregulation of dendritic cells and antigen presentation. We also propose a major methylomic basis to transcriptomic evolution under MAPK inhibitor selection. Thus, this database provides a rich informational resource, and the current landscape represents a benchmark to understanding melanoma therapeutic resistance.