Biology subjects

Jaquet, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Jaquet, M..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Aurora kinase A is a synthetic lethal target in FANCA-deficient cancers

Loss-of-function genomic alterations in FANCA occur across multiple cancer types, yet no molecularly tailored therapies have successfully exploited this potential vulnerability. Using complementary unbiased approaches, including a genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 loss-of-function screen and a high-throughput drug screen in isogenic cancer cell-based models, we identified Aurora kinase A (AURKA) as a reproducible synthetic lethal target of FANCA-deficient cancers. Inhibition of AURKA induced chromosomal instability, micronucleation, and early G2/M arrest selectively in FANCA-deficient cells, consistent with an increased reliance on mitotic checkpoint control. Mechanistically, FANCA deficiency is associated with an elevated AURKA expression at both the transcriptomic and protein levels, and with an upregulation of mitotic spindle and G2/M checkpoint gene signatures. Analysis of large-scale cancer genomics datasets, including over 650,000 clinically sequenced tumors, confirms that FANCA is the most frequently altered Fanconi anemia pathway gene across cancers, and that Fanconi anemia-defective tumors exhibit an increased tumor mutational burden and genomic instability. Collectively, our findings point to AURKA inhibition as a promising precision treatment strategy in FANCA-deficient cancers and provide a rationale to further explore this strategy in the clinic.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Blocking Minor Intron Splicing Disrupts DNA Repair and Overcomes Therapy Resistance in Prostate and Breast Cancer

The minor spliceosome (MiS) is a specialized RNA-processing machinery upregulated in cancer, promoting oncogene expression. We uncovered an adaptive resistance mechanism driven by secretion of extracellular vesicles enriched in U6atac snRNA, which amplifies MiS activity and promotes therapy resistance. Here, we show that U6atac snRNA, a crucial MiS component, reverses this process when depleted, revealing it as a druggable vulnerability in therapy-resistant prostate and breast cancers. U6atac knockdown triggers R-loop-mediated DNA damage while impairing repair by downregulating key DNA repair factors, disabling both homologous recombination and non-homologous end joining. This dual effect sensitizes prostate and breast tumors to PARP inhibitors, cisplatin, and radiation, independent of BRCA status. Across multiple in vitro and in vivo models, MiS targeting demonstrates tumor-selective activity with minimal toxicity. These findings position U6atac as a central regulator of genome stability and establish MiS targeting as a promising approach to potentiate genotoxic therapy and overcome resistance. Statement of significanceU6atac, a minor spliceosome component, is a crucial regulator of genome stability in cancer. Its knockdown triggers R-loop-driven DNA damage, downregulates DNA repair genes, and sensitizes tumors to DNA-damaging therapies while simultaneously blocking resistance mechanisms. Thus, minor spliceosome knockdown is a tumour-selective and broadly applicable therapeutic strategy.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Minor intron splicing efficiency increases with the development of lethal prostate cancer

Here we explored the role of minor spliceosome (MiS) function and minor intron-containing gene (MIG) expression in prostate cancer (PCa). We show MIGs are enriched as direct interactors of cancer-causing genes and their expression discriminates PCa progression. Increased expression of MiS U6atac snRNA, including others, and 6x more efficient minor intron splicing was observed in castration-resistant PCa (CRPC) versus primary PCa. Notably, androgen receptor signalling influenced MiS activity. Inhibition of MiS through siU6atac in PCa caused minor intron mis-splicing and aberrant expression of MIG transcripts and encoded proteins, which enriched for MAPK activity, DNA repair and cell cycle. Single cell-RNAseq confirmed cell cycle defects and lineage dependency on the MiS from primary to CRPC and neuroendocrine PCa. siU6atac was [~]50% more efficient in lowering tumor burden of CRPC cells and organoids versus current state-of-the-art combination therapy. In all, MiS is a strong therapeutic target for lethal PCa and potentially other cancers. Graphical AbstractU6atac expression, MiS activity, and minor intron splicing correlate with PCa therapy resistance and PCa progression to CRPC-adeno and transdifferentiation to CRPC-NE. One major MiS regulator during that process is the AR-axis, which is re-activated during CRPC-adeno and blocked in CRPC-NE. Molecularly, an increase in MiS dependent splicing promotes changes of transcriptome and proteome. This results in cell cycle activation, increased MAPK signalling and increased DNA repair. U6atac mediated MiS inhibition renders MiS splicing error-prone through increased intron retention and alternative splicing events, which results in cell cycle block and decreased MAPK signalling and DNA repair. MiS inhibition blocks all stages of PCa. Figure created with BioRender.com. O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=154 SRC="FIGDIR/small/471104v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (61K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1c1c296org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1ce1416org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@88d842org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@2ddf96_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Role of Specialized mSWI/SNF Complexes in Prostate Cancer Lineage Plasticity

Advanced prostate cancer initially responds to hormonal treatment, but ultimately becomes resistant and requires more potent therapies. One mechanism of resistance observed in [~]10% of these patients is through lineage plasticity, which manifests in a partial or complete small cell or neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) phenotype. Here, we investigate the role of the mammalian SWI/SNF (mSWI/SNF) chromatin remodeling complex in NEPC. Using large patient datasets, patient-derived organoids and cancer cell lines, we identify mSWI/SNF subunits that are deregulated in NEPC and demonstrate that SMARCA4 (BRG1) overexpression is associated with aggressive disease. We also show that SWI/SNF complexes interact with different lineage-specific factors in NEPC compared to prostate adenocarcinoma. These data suggest a role for mSWI/SNF complexes in therapy-related lineage plasticity, which may be relevant for other solid tumors.

cancer biology↗