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Publications and source records attributed to Furnari, F..
Withdrawal StatementThe authors have withdrawn their manuscript because the reported synergy of TOP2A inhibitors plus MLN4924 proved to be untrue (not reproducible). Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as reference for the project. If you have any questions, please contact the corresponding author (mberens@tgen.org).
Precision medicine in oncology leverages clinical observations of exceptional response. Towards an understanding of the molecular features that define this response, we applied an integrated, multi-platform analysis of RNA profiles derived from clinically annotated glioblastoma samples. This analysis suggested that specimens from exceptional responders are characterized by decreased accumulation of microglia/macrophages in the glioblastoma microenvironment. Glioblastoma-associated microglia/macrophages secreted interleukin 11 (IL11) to activate STAT3-MYC signaling in glioblastoma cells. This signaling induced stem cell states that confer enhanced tumorigenicity and resistance to the standard-of-care chemotherapy, temozolomide (TMZ). Targeting a myeloid cell restricted isoform of PI3K, PI3K{gamma}, by pharmacologic inhibition or genetic inactivation, disrupted this signaling axis by suppressing microglia/macrophage accumulation and associated IL11 secretion in the tumor microenvironment. Mirroring the clinical outcomes of exceptional responders, PI3K{gamma} inhibition synergistically enhanced the anti-neoplastic effects of TMZ in orthotopic murine glioblastoma models. Moreover, inhibition or genetic inactivation of PI3K{gamma} in murine glioblastoma models recapitulated expression profiles observed in clinical specimens isolated from exceptional responders. Our results suggest key contributions from tumor-associated microglia/macrophages in exceptional responses and highlight the translational potential for PI3K{gamma} inhibition as a glioblastoma therapy. Significance StatementUnderstanding the basis for exceptional responders represents a key pillar in the framework of precision medicine. In this study, we utilized distinct informatics platforms to analyze the expression profiles of clinically annotated tumor specimens derived from patients afflicted with glioblastoma, the most common form of primary brain cancer. These analyses converged on prognostic contributions from glioblastoma-associated microglia/macrophages. Glioblastoma-associated microglia secreted interleukin 11 (IL11) to activate a STAT3-MYC signaling axis in glioblastoma cells, facilitating resistance to the standard-of-care chemotherapy, temozolomide. Microglia recruitment and IL11 secretion were dependent on the myeloid specific phosphoinositide-3-kinase gamma isoform (PI3K{gamma}). Inhibition or genetic inactivation of PI3K{gamma} in murine glioblastoma models recapitulated expression profiles observed in specimens derived from exceptional responders, suggesting potential for clinical translation.
Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (ATRT) are challenging pediatric brain cancers which are predominantly associated with inactivation of the gene SMARCB1, a conserved subunit of the chromatin remodeling BAF complex, which has known contributions to developmental processes. To identify potential interactions between SMARCB1 loss and the process of neural development, we introduced an inducible SMARCB1 loss of function system into human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) which were subjected to either directed neuronal differentiation or differentiation into cerebral organoids. Using this system, we have identified substantial differences in the downstream effects of SMARCB1 loss depending on differentiation state and identified an interaction between SMARCB1 loss and neural differentiation pressure which causes a resistance to terminal differentiation and a defect in maintenance of a normal cell state. Our results provide insight into how SMARCB1 loss might interact with neural development in the process of ATRT tumorigenesis.