Shared PRAME Epitopes are T-Cell Targets in NUT Carcinoma

NUT carcinoma is a rare but highly lethal solid tumor without an effective standard of care. NUT carcinoma is caused by bromodomain-containing NUTM1 fusion oncogenes, most commonly BRD4::NUTM1 . BRD4::NUTM1 recruits p300 to acetylate H3K27 forming expansive stretches of hyperacetylated chromatin called "megadomains" with the overexpression of corresponding oncogenes, including MYC . We hypothesized that transcriptional dysregulation caused by BRD4::NUTM1 would lead to the generation of cancer-specific antigens that could be therapeutically actionable.

We integrated genomics, computational antigen prediction software, targeted immunopeptidomics using single- and double-labeled peptide standards, and gain/loss-of-function genetic experiments on a panel of cell lines (N=5), a patient derived xenograft, a tissue microarray (N=77), and patient samples from the Tempus AI Sequencing Database harboring evidence of NUTM1 fusions (N=165). We created an αPRAME ₄₂₅ T-cell receptor x SP34 αCD3 bispecific molecule modeled after brenetafusp, an αPRAME ₄₂₅ T-cell receptor bispecific T-cell engager, as well as αPRAME ₄₂₅ TCR T-cells based on anzutresgene autoleucel and we applied these products to NUT carcinoma cells in vitro .

We identified PRAME as the most commonly expressed cancer/testis antigen in patient samples harboring the three canonical NUT carcinoma fusions ( BRD4::NUTM1 , BRD3::NUTM1 , and NSD3::NUTM1 ). Additionally, 56% (43/77) of NUT carcinoma tissue microarray samples stained positive for PRAME. BRD4::NUTM1 expression in HEK 293T cells enhanced PRAME levels and BRD4::NUTM1 knockout in NUT carcinoma cells reduced PRAME levels. Immunopeptidomics detected more PRAME-derived HLA ligands (N=9) than all other cancer/testis antigens combined (N=5). Targeted mass spectrometry detected the HLA-A*02:01/SLLQHLIGL (PRAME ₄₂₅ ) epitope in 100% (4/4) of HLA-A*02+, PRAME+ NUT carcinoma samples at higher levels (>0.01 fM) than HLA-A*02:01/RLDQLLRHV (PRAME ₃₁₂ ) or HLA-A*02:01/YLHARLREL (PRAME ₄₆₂ ). The αPRAME ₄₂₅ T-cell receptor x SP34 αCD3 bispecific molecule and αPRAME ₄₂₅ TCR T-cells each exhibited potent, T-cell mediated cytotoxicity against PRAME + NUT carcinoma cells.

PRAME is highly and frequently expressed in NUT carcinoma and the most common oncoprotein causing NUT carcinoma, BRD4::NUTM1, contributes to these high PRAME levels. PRAME epitopes presented by HLA Class I are a previously unrecognized therapeutic vulnerability for NUT carcinoma that warrant clinical trials testing PRAME targeted immunotherapies in this neglected patient population.

NUT carcinoma is a devastating malignancy that is recalcitrant to cytotoxic chemotherapy, T-cell checkpoint blockade, and targeted therapies in the form of bromodomain inhibitors.

NUT carcinoma tumors are high in the cancer/testis gene PRAME . The oncogene most commonly causing NUT carcinoma, BRD4::NUTM1 , contributes to these high levels. NUT carcinoma cells present PRAME epitopes on HLA Class I molecules and are susceptible to PRAME-directed, T-cell mediated cytotoxicity.

Our results argue for phase I/II clinical trials testing PRAME immunotherapies like brenetafusp or anzutresgene autoleucel in PRAME + NUT carcinoma patients.