SETD2 Loss and ATR Inhibition Synergize to Promote cGAS Signaling and Immunotherapy Response in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Authors

Xian-De Liu
Yan-Ting Zhang
Daniel J McGrail
Xuesong Zhang
Truong Lam
Anh Hoang
Elshad Hasanov
Ganiraju Manyam
Christine B Peterson
Haifeng Zhu
Shwetha V Kumar
Rehan Akbani
Patrick G Pilie
Nizar M Tannir
Guang Peng
Eric Jonasch

Publication Date

10-2-2023

Journal

Clinical Cancer Research

Abstract

PURPOSE: Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) demonstrates durable clinical benefits in a minority of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We aimed to identify the molecular features that determine the response and develop approaches to enhance it.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We investigated the effects of SET domain-containing protein 2 (SETD2) loss on the DNA damage response pathway, the cytosolic DNA-sensing pathway, the tumor immune microenvironment, and the response to ataxia telangiectasia and rad3-related (ATR) and checkpoint inhibition in RCC.

RESULTS: ATR inhibition activated the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3)-dependent cytosolic DNA-sensing pathway, resulting in the concurrent expression of inflammatory cytokines and immune checkpoints. Among the common RCC genotypes, SETD2 loss is associated with preferential ATR activation and sensitizes cells to ATR inhibition. SETD2 knockdown promoted the cytosolic DNA-sensing pathway in response to ATR inhibition. Treatment with the ATR inhibitor VE822 concurrently upregulated immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoint expression in Setd2 knockdown Renca tumors, providing a rationale for ATR inhibition plus ICB combination therapy. Setd2-deficient Renca tumors demonstrated greater vulnerability to ICB monotherapy or combination therapy with VE822 than Setd2-proficient tumors. Moreover, SETD2 mutations were associated with a higher response rate and prolonged overall survival in patients with ICB-treated RCC but not in patients with non-ICB-treated RCC.

CONCLUSIONS: SETD2 loss and ATR inhibition synergize to promote cGAS signaling and enhance immune cell infiltration, providing a mechanistic rationale for the combination of ATR and checkpoint inhibition in patients with RCC with SETD2 mutations.

Keywords

Humans, Carcinoma, Renal Cell, DNA Damage, Cell Line, Tumor, Nucleotidyltransferases, Kidney Neoplasms, Immunotherapy, DNA, Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins, Tumor Microenvironment

Comments

Supplementary Materials

PMID: 37527013