MiR-181a targets STING to drive PARP inhibitor resistance in BRCA- mutated triple-negative breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

Authors

Matias A Bustos, Department of Translational Molecular Medicine, John Wayne Cancer Institute (JWCI) at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa MonicaFollow
Takamichi Yokoe, Department of Translational Molecular Medicine, Saint John's Cancer Institute, Providence, Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, California, USA.Follow
Yoshiaki Shoji, Division of Molecular Oncology, Department of Translational Molecular Medicine, Saint John's Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center, 2200 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA, 90404, USAFollow
Yuta Kobayashi, Department of Translational Molecular Medicine, Saint John's Cancer Institute (SJCI), Providence Saint John's Health Center (SJHC), Santa Monica, CA 90404, USA.Follow
Shodai Mizuno, Department of Translational Molecular Medicine, Saint John's Cancer Institute (SJCI) at Providence Saint John's Health Center (SJHC), 2200 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA, 90404, USA.Follow
Tomoko Yamazaki, Earle A. Chiles Research Institute, Robert W. Franz Cancer Center, Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland, OR, 97213, USAFollow
Xiaoqing Zhang, Department of Translational Molecular Medicine, John Wayne Cancer Institute (JWCI) at Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa MonicaFollow
Sreeja C Sekhar
SooMin Kim, Department of Genome Sequencing, SJCI at Providence SJHC, Santa Monica, CA, 90404, USA.
Suyeon Ryu, Department of Genome Sequencing, SJCI at Providence SJHC, Santa Monica, CA, 90404, USA.Follow
Matthew Knarr
Steven A Vasilev, Department of Gynecologic Oncology Research, SJCI at SJHC, Santa Monica, CA, 90404, USA.Follow
Analisa DiFeo
Ronny Drapkin
Dave Hoon, Department of Translational Molecular Medicine, Saint John's Cancer Institute (SJCI) at Providence Saint John's Health Center (SJHC), 2200 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA, 90404, USAFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-6-2023

Publication Title

Cell Biosci

Keywords

california; sjci; santa monica

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) are approved for the treatment of BRCA-mutated breast cancer (BC), including triple-negative BC (TNBC) and ovarian cancer (OvCa). A key challenge is to identify the factors associated with PARPi resistance; although, previous studies suggest that platinum-based agents and PARPi share similar resistance mechanisms.

METHODS: Olaparib-resistant (OlaR) cell lines were analyzed using HTG EdgeSeq miRNA Whole Transcriptomic Analysis (WTA). Functional assays were performed in three BRCA-mutated TNBC cell lines. In-silico analysis were performed using multiple databases including The Cancer Genome Atlas, the Genotype-Tissue Expression, The Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia, Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer, and Gene Omnibus Expression.

RESULTS: High miR-181a levels were identified in OlaR TNBC cell lines (p = 0.001) as well as in tumor tissues from TNBC patients (p = 0.001). We hypothesized that miR-181a downregulates the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) and the downstream proinflammatory cytokines to mediate PARPi resistance. BRCA1 mutated TNBC cell lines with miR-181a-overexpression were more resistant to olaparib and showed downregulation in STING and the downstream genes controlled by STING. Extracellular vesicles derived from PARPi-resistant TNBC cell lines horizontally transferred miR-181a to parental cells which conferred PARPi-resistance and targeted STING. In clinical settings, STING levels were positively correlated with interferon gamma (IFNG) response scores (p = 0.01). In addition, low IFNG response scores were associated with worse response to neoadjuvant treatment including PARPi for high-risk HER2 negative BC patients (p = 0.001). OlaR TNBC cell lines showed resistance to platinum-based drugs. OvCa cell lines resistant to platinum showed resistance to olaparib. Knockout of miR-181a significantly improved olaparib sensitivity in OvCa cell lines (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION: miR-181a is a key factor controlling the STING pathway and driving PARPi and platinum-based drug resistance in TNBC and OvCa. The miR-181a-STING axis can be used as a potential marker for predicting PARPi responses in TNBC and OvCa tumors.

Clinical Institute

Cancer

Clinical Institute

Women & Children

Department

Obstetrics & Gynecology

Department

Oncology

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