CRISPR screens reveal genetic determinants of PARP inhibitor sensitivity and resistance in prostate cancer

Abstract

Prostate cancer harboring BRCA1/2 mutations are often exceptionally sensitive to PARP inhibitors. However, genomic alterations in other DNA damage response genes have not been consistently predictive of clinical response to PARP inhibition. Here, we perform genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screens in BRCA1/2-proficient prostate cancer cells and identify previously unknown genes whose loss has a profound impact on PARP inhibitor response. Specifically, MMS22L deletion, frequently observed (up to 14%) in prostate cancer, renders cells hypersensitive to PARP inhibitors by disrupting RAD51 loading required for homologous recombination repair, although this response is TP53-dependent. Unexpectedly, loss of CHEK2 confers resistance rather than sensitivity to PARP inhibition through increased expression of BRCA2, a target of CHEK2-TP53-E2F7-mediated transcriptional repression. Combined PARP and ATR inhibition overcomes PARP inhibitor resistance caused by CHEK2 loss. Our findings may inform the use of PARP inhibitors beyond BRCA1/2-deficient tumors and support reevaluation of current biomarkers for PARP inhibition in prostate cancer.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Jan 17, 2023
Source ID
10.1038/s41467-023-35880-y

Entities

People

  • Adam S. Kibel
  • Antoine Simoneau
  • Atish D. Choudhury
  • Bin Gui
  • Chao Feng
  • Chenkui Miao
  • Fu Gui
  • Haruhito Azuma
  • Kent W. Mouw
  • Kunihiko Hinohara
  • Ladan Fazli
  • Lee Zou
  • Li Jia
  • Ning Xie
  • Takeshi Tsutsumi
  • Takuya Tsujino
  • Tomoaki Takai
  • Xiao Bai
  • Xuesen Dong
  • Zoltán Szállási
  • Zsófia Sztupinszki

Organizations

  • National Cancer Institute
  • United States Department of Defense

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Biology
  • Medicine

Readers

  • Molecular Genetics
  • Molecular and genetic basis of cancer.
  • Oncology (Cancer Research).

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology