BRCA1/2 Mutation Status Impact on Autophagy and Immune Response: Unheralded Target

Susan Morand; Laura Stanbery; Adam Walter; Rodney P Rocconi; John Nemunaitis

doi:10.1093/jncics/pkaa077

BRCA1/2 Mutation Status Impact on Autophagy and Immune Response: Unheralded Target

JNCI Cancer Spectr. 2020 Aug 24;4(6):pkaa077. doi: 10.1093/jncics/pkaa077. eCollection 2020 Dec.

Authors

Susan Morand¹, Laura Stanbery², Adam Walter³, Rodney P Rocconi⁴, John Nemunaitis²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA.
² Gradalis, Inc, Carrollton, TX, USA.
³ Promedica Health System, Toledo, OH, USA.
⁴ University of South Alabama - Mitchell Cancer Institute, Mobile, AL, USA.

Abstract

BRCA1 and possibly BRCA2 proteins may relate to the regulation of autophagy. Autophagy plays a key role in immune response from both a tumor and immune effector cell standpoint. In cells with BRCA mutations, increased autophagy leads to elevated expression of major histocompatibility complex class II but may cause subclonal neoantigen presentation, which may impair the immune response related to clonal neoantigen visibility. We review evidence of BRCA1/2 regulation of autophagy, immune response, and antigen presentation.