Causative role of PDLIM2 epigenetic repression in lung cancer and therapeutic resistance

F Sun, L Li, P Yan, J Zhou, SD Shapiro, G Xiao… - Nature …, 2019 - nature.com
F Sun, L Li, P Yan, J Zhou, SD Shapiro, G Xiao, Z Qu
Nature communications, 2019nature.com
Most cancers are resistant to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 and chemotherapy. Herein we identify
PDLIM2 as a tumor suppressor particularly important for lung cancer therapeutic responses.
While PDLIM2 is epigenetically repressed in human lung cancer, associating with
therapeutic resistance and poor prognosis, its global or lung epithelial-specific deletion in
mice causes increased lung cancer development, chemoresistance, and complete
resistance to anti-PD-1 and epigenetic drugs. PDLIM2 epigenetic restoration or ectopic …
Abstract
Most cancers are resistant to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 and chemotherapy. Herein we identify PDLIM2 as a tumor suppressor particularly important for lung cancer therapeutic responses. While PDLIM2 is epigenetically repressed in human lung cancer, associating with therapeutic resistance and poor prognosis, its global or lung epithelial-specific deletion in mice causes increased lung cancer development, chemoresistance, and complete resistance to anti-PD-1 and epigenetic drugs. PDLIM2 epigenetic restoration or ectopic expression shows antitumor activity, and synergizes with anti-PD-1, notably, with chemotherapy for complete remission of most lung cancers. Mechanistically, through repressing NF-κB/RelA and STAT3, PDLIM2 increases expression of genes involved in antigen presentation and T-cell activation while repressing multidrug resistance genes and cancer-related genes, thereby rendering cancer cells vulnerable to immune attacks and therapies. We identify PDLIM2-independent PD-L1 induction by chemotherapeutic and epigenetic drugs as another mechanism for their synergy with anti-PD-1. These findings establish a rationale to use combination therapies for cancer treatment.
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