HSP90A inhibition promotes anti-tumor immunity by reversing multi-modal resistance and stem-like property of immune-refractory tumors

Nat Commun. 2020 Jan 28;11(1):562. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-14259-y.

Abstract

Cancer immunotherapy has emerged as a promising cancer treatment. However, the presence of immune-refractory tumor cells limits its clinical success by blocking amplification of anti-tumor immunity. Previously, we found that immune selection by immunotherapy drives the evolution of tumors toward multi-modal resistant and stem-like phenotypes via transcription induction of AKT co-activator TCL1A by NANOG. Here, we report a crucial role of HSP90A at the crossroads between NANOG-TCL1A axis and multi-aggressive properties of immune-edited tumor cells by identifying HSP90AA1 as a NANOG transcriptional target. Furthermore, we demonstrate that HSP90A potentiates AKT activation through TCL1A-stabilization, thereby contributing to the multi-aggressive properties in NANOGhigh tumor cells. Importantly, HSP90 inhibition sensitized immune-refractory tumor to adoptive T cell transfer as well as PD-1 blockade, and re-invigorated the immune cycle of tumor-reactive T cells. Our findings implicate that the HSP90A-TCL1A-AKT pathway ignited by NANOG is a central molecular axis and a potential target for immune-refractory tumor.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Female
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / drug effects*
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunity*
  • Immunotherapy*
  • Isoxazoles / pharmacology
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, SCID
  • Nanog Homeobox Protein / metabolism
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / immunology*
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Resorcinols / pharmacology

Substances

  • 5-(2,4-dihydroxy-5-isopropylphenyl)-4-(4-morpholin-4-ylmethylphenyl)isoxazole-3-carboxylic acid ethylamide
  • HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • HSP90AA1 protein, human
  • Isoxazoles
  • NANOG protein, human
  • Nanog Homeobox Protein
  • PDCD1 protein, human
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Resorcinols
  • TCL1A protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt