Higinio Dopeso

Interferon response and epigenetic modulation by SMARCA4 mutations drive ovarian tumor immunogenicity

Cell-intrinsic mechanisms of immunogenicity in ovarian cancer (OC) are not well understood. Damaging mutations in the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex, such as SMARCA4 (BRG1), are associated with improved response to immune checkpoint blockade; however, the mechanism by which this occurs is unclear. We found that SMARCA4 loss in OC models resulted in increased cancer cell–intrinsic immunogenicity, characterized by up-regulation of long-terminal RNA repeats, increased expression of interferon-stimulated genes, and up-regulation of antigen presentation machinery. Notably, this response was dependent on STING, MAVS, and IRF3 signaling but was independent of the type I interferon receptor. Mouse ovarian and melanoma tumors with SMARCA4 loss demonstrated increased infiltration and activation of cytotoxic T cells, NK cells, and myeloid cells in the tumor microenvironment. These results were recapitulated in BRG1 inhibitor–treated SMARCA4- proficient tumor models, suggesting that modulation of chromatin remodeling through targeting SMARCA4 may serve as a strategy to overcome cancer immune evasion.

Evolution and Co-occurrence of PI3K Pathway Gene Mutations in Endometrial Carcinoma Molecular Subtypes at the Single-Cell Level

Abstract Purpose: The PI3K pathway is altered in >85% of endometrioid endometrial carcinomas (EEC), with multiple mutations commonly co-occurring. Yet, the therapeutic effects of single-agent PI3K pathway inhibitors have been limited. We used single-cell sequencing to determine whether co-occurring PTEN, PIK3CA, and/or PIK3R1 somatic mutations in EECs stratified by molecular subtype originated through convergent or linear evolution. Experimental Design: Banked frozen EECs with co-occurring PI3K pathway mutations of no specific molecular profile (NSMP; n = 5), mismatch repair–deficient (MMRd; n = 3), and POLE (n = 3) subtypes were selected for single-nucleus DNA sequencing targeting hotspot variants of 64 cancer-related genes and the PTEN, PIK3R1, and PIK3CA coding sequences. EEC cell lines and nonmalignant samples were used to define error rates and filter false-positive calls. Results: Single-nucleus analyses (n = 50,009 cells) revealed that in NSMP EECs, the co-occurring PIK3CA, PIK3R1, and/or PTEN mutations affected nearly all cells through linear evolution. MMRd EECs displayed higher levels of genetic heterogeneity, harboring PI3K pathway gene mutations in subsets of cells ranging from 3.9% to 96%. POLE EECs had the highest level of clonal diversity and harbored multiple, minor subclonal structures in all cases, through convergent evolution. We found a clear distinction between nearly clonal PI3K pathway gene alterations (>95%) and multiple, minor mutually exclusive subclones only affecting 1.4% to 27% of the tumor cells sequenced. Conclusions: Our exploratory, hypothesis-generating analysis suggests that PI3K pathway alterations evolve distinctly in MMRd/POLE compared with NSMP EECs, which may have therapeutic consequences. Further studies on the signaling output and PI3K pathway inhibitor response in EECs with subclonal PI3K pathway alterations are warranted.

Identification of recurrent FHL2-GLI2 oncogenic fusion in sclerosing stromal tumors of the ovary

AbstractSclerosing stromal tumor (SST) of the ovary is a rare type of sex cord-stromal tumor (SCST), whose genetic underpinning is currently unknown. Here, using whole-exome, targeted capture and RNA-sequencing, we report recurrent FHL2-GLI2 fusion genes in 65% (17/26) of SSTs and other GLI2 rearrangements in additional 15% (4/26) SSTs, none of which are detected in other types of SCSTs (n = 48) or common cancer types (n = 9,950). The FHL2-GLI2 fusions result in transcriptomic activation of the Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) pathway in SSTs. Expression of the FHL2-GLI2 fusion in vitro leads to the acquisition of phenotypic characteristics of SSTs, increased proliferation, migration and colony formation, and SHH pathway activation. Targeted inhibition of the SHH pathway results in reversal of these oncogenic properties, indicating its role in the pathogenesis of SSTs. Our results demonstrate that the FHL2-GLI2 fusion is likely the oncogenic driver of SSTs, defining a genotypic–phenotypic correlation in ovarian neoplasms.