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Inactivated cGAS-STING Signaling Facilitates Endocrine Resistance by Forming a Positive Feedback Loop with AKT Kinase
Kai-Ming Zhang1,2, De-Chang Zhao1,2, Ze-Yu Li3,4
1State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
Endocrine-resistant breast cancer shows reduced innate immune signaling due to AKT1-mediated cGAS-STING pathway inhibition. Combining AKT1 inhibitors with STING agonists may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for this aggressive cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Endocrine-resistant ER+HER2- breast cancer (BC) presents a significant clinical challenge with poor outcomes.
- Current therapeutic strategies for endocrine-resistant BC are limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanisms underlying endocrine resistance in ER+HER2- BC.
- To identify potential therapeutic targets for endocrine-resistant BC.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of RNA-sequencing data from ER+HER2- BC patients undergoing neoadjuvant endocrine therapy.
- Spatial transcriptomics analysis to assess immune signaling.
- Kinase inhibitor library screening.
- In vivo studies using humanized mice models.
Main Results:
- Downregulation of innate immune signaling sensing cytosolic DNA was observed in endocrine-resistant BC cells.
- The cGAS-STING pathway's activity is attenuated in endocrine-resistant BC cells, mediated by AKT1 kinase hyperactivation.
- AKT1 inhibits TBK1, preventing TBK1/STING/IRF3 complex formation.
- A positive feedback loop between cGAS-STING inactivation and AKT1 hyperactivation promotes endocrine resistance.
- Combination therapy with an AKT1 inhibitor and STING agonist engaged immune signaling and reduced tumor growth in mice.
Conclusions:
- Inactivation of the cGAS-STING pathway by hyperactivated AKT1 is a key mechanism in endocrine-resistant ER+HER2- BC.
- Blocking this feedback loop represents a promising therapeutic strategy for endocrine-resistant breast cancer.
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