CRISPR Publication Summary
In vivo epigenetic CRISPR screen identifies Asf1a as an immunotherapeutic target in Kras-mutant lung adenocarcinoma.
Li F, Huang Q, Luster TA, Hu H, Zhang H, Ng WL, Khodadadi-Jamayran A, Wang W, Chen T, Deng J, Ranieri M, Fang Z, Pyon V, Dowling CM, Bagdatlioglu E, Almonte C, Labbe K, Silver H, Rabin AR, Jani K, Tsirigos A, Papagiannakopoulos T, Hammerman PS, Velcheti V, Freeman GJ, Qi J, Miller G, Wong KK
Despite substantial progress in lung cancer immunotherapy, the overall response rate in KRAS-mutant lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) patients remains low. Combining standard immunotherapy with adjuvant approaches that enhance adaptive immune responses-such as epigenetic modulation of anti-tumor immunity-is therefore an attractive strategy. To identify epigenetic regulators of tumor immunity, we constructed an epigenetic-focused sgRNA library, and performed an in vivo CRISPR screen in a KrasG12D/P53-/- (KP) lung ADC 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 rationale for a novel combination therapy consisting of ASF1A inhibition and anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.
Cancer discovery | 2019-11-19 | PUBMED: 31744829
Supplementary Files:
225096_2_supp_5888175_q0mty9.xlsx