Chromatin regulator chd1 remodels the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in pten-deficient prostate cancer

Di Zhao, Li Cai, Xin Lu, Xin Liang, Jiexi Li, Peiwen Chen, Michael Ittmann, Xiaoying Shang, Shan Jiang, Haoyan Li, Chenling Meng, Ivonne Flores, Jian H. Song, James W. Horner, Zhengdao Lan, Chang Jiun Wu, Jun Li, Qing Chang, Ko Chien Chen, Guocan WangPingna Deng, Denise J. Spring, Y. Alan Wang*, Ronald A. Depinho*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

60 Scopus citations

Abstract

Genetic inactivation of PTEN is common in prostate cancer and correlates with poorer prognosis. We previously identified CHD1 as an essential gene in PTEN-deficient cancer cells. Here, we sought definitive in vivo genetic evidence for, and mechanistic under-standing of, the essential role of CHD1 in PTEN-deficient prostate cancer. In Pten and Pten/Smad4 genetically engineered mouse models, prostate-specific deletion of Chd1 resulted in markedly delayed tumor progression and prolonged survival. Chd1 deletion was associated with profound tumor microenvironment (TME) remodeling characterized by reduced myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and increased CD8+ T cells. Further analysis identified IL6 as a key transcriptional target of CHD1, which plays a major role in recruitment of immunosuppressive MDSCs. Given the prominent role of MDSCs in suppressing responsiveness to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), our genetic and tumor biological findings support combined testing of anti-IL6 and ICI therapies, specifically in PTEN-deficient prostate cancer. SIGNIFICANCE: We demonstrate a critical role of CHD1 in MDSC recruitment and discover CHD1/IL6 as a major regulator of the immunosuppressive TME of PTEN-deficient prostate cancer. Pharmacologic inhibition of IL6 in combination with immune checkpoint blockade elicits robust antitumor responses in prostate cancer.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1374-1387
Number of pages14
JournalCancer discovery
Volume10
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology

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