Abstract Lipid nanoparticle (LNP)–encapsulated mRNA has been used for in vivo production of several secreted protein classes, such as IgG, and has enabled the development of personalized vaccines in oncology. Establishing the feasibility of delivering complex multispecific modalities that require higher-order structures important for their function could help expand the use of mRNA/LNP biologic formulations. Here, we evaluated whether in vivo administration of mRNA/LNP formulations of SIRPα-Fc-CD40L and TIGIT-Fc-LIGHT could achieve oligomerization and extend exposure, on-target activity, and antitumor responses comparable with that of the corresponding recombinant fusion proteins. Intravenous infusion of the formulated LNP-encapsulated mRNAs led to rapid and sustained production of functional hexameric proteins in vivo, which increased the overall exposure relative to the recombinant protein controls by ∼28 to 140 fold over 96 hours. High concentrations of the mRNA-encoded proteins were also observed in secondary lymphoid organs and within implanted tumors, with protein concentrations in tumors up to 134-fold greater than with the recombinant protein controls 24 hours after treatment. In addition, SIRPα-Fc-CD40L and TIGIT-Fc-LIGHT mRNAs induced a greater increase in antigen-specific CD8+ T cells in the tumors. These mRNA/LNP formulations were well tolerated and led to a rapid increase in serum and intratumoral IL2, delayed tumor growth, extended survival, and outperformed the activities of benchmark mAb controls. Furthermore, the mRNA/LNPs demonstrated improved efficacy in combination with anti-PD-L1 relative to the recombinant fusion proteins. These data support the delivery of complex oligomeric biologics as mRNA/LNP formulations, where high therapeutic expression and exposure could translate into improved patient outcomes. Significance: Lipid nanoparticle–encapsulated mRNA can efficiently encode complex fusion proteins encompassing immune checkpoint blockers and costimulators that functionally oligomerize in vivo with extended pharmacokinetics and durable exposure to induce potent antitumor immunity.

Supplemental material and methods, supplemental tables (1-6) and supplemental figures (1-5)

Coinhibition of TIGIT (T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains) and PD-1/PD-L1 (PD-1/L1) may improve response rates compared with monotherapy PD-1/L1 blockade in checkpoint naive non (cid:1) small cell lung cancer with PD-L1 expression > 50%. TIGIT mAbs with an effector-competent Fc can induce myeloid cell activation, and some have demonstrated effector T cell depletion, which carries a clinical liability of unknown significance. TIGIT Ab blockade translates to antitumor activity by enabling PVR signaling through CD226 (DNAM-1), which can be directly inhibited by PD-1. Furthermore, DNAM-1 is downregulated on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in advanced and checkpoint inhibition (cid:1) resistant cancers. Therefore, broadening clinical responses from TIGIT blockade into PD-L1 low or checkpoint inhibition (cid:1) resistant tumors, may be induced by immune costimulation that operates independently from PD-1/L1 inhibition. TNFSF14 (LIGHT) was identified through genomic screens, in vitro functional analysis, and immune profiling of TILs as a TNF ligand that could provide broad immune activation. Accordingly, murine and human bifunctional fusion proteins were engineered linking the extracellular domain of TIGIT to the extracellular domain of LIGHT, yielding TIGIT-Fc-LIGHT. TIGIT competitively inhibited binding to all PVR ligands. LIGHT directly activated myeloid cells through interactions with LT b R Assessment of differentially expressed genes between the TIGIT-Fc(IgG1)-LIGHT and TIGIT-Fc(IgG4)-LIGHT treatment groups, indicating the datasets are near identical (fold change or <-2-fold, and adjusted p-values < 0.05).

Abstract Approximately 20-40% of cancer patients who initially benefit from PD-1/L1 checkpoint blockade later develop progressive disease, which is associated with genetic and/or phenotypic changes in tumor cells that enable acquired resistance. Tumors from patients who have developed acquired resistance to checkpoint blockade (CPI-AR) typically demonstrate downregulation of specific antigens or proteins involved in antigen presentation on MHC class I, and dysregulation of interferon response pathways. With increasing CPI use across a large number of tumor types, the proportion of cancer patients with CPI-AR is increasing. Pre-clinical tumor models which mimic CPI-AR in humans are needed. We generated in vivo CPI-AR tumor models by serially passaging common CPI responsive murine syngeneic tumor cell lines (i.e. CT26) in vivo, followed by the excision and ex vivo expansion of the tumors that failed to respond to anti-PD1. This was repeated until passaged tumors no longer responded to anti-PD1 therapy. Transcriptomes of CT26 parental, CT26/CPI-AR, and B16.F10 melanoma (considered CPI primary resistant, CPI-PR) tumors were sequenced either under normal culture conditions or following 24 hour exposure to IFNg to assess interferon responsiveness. Here we present the genomic characterization of the CPI -PR and -AR models. Paradoxically, CPI-AR tumors maintain a state of type I/II IFN gene hyperactivation and increased expression of genes involved in MHC class I mediated antigen presentation/processing. Despite this transcriptional hyperactivity, CPI-AR tumor cells have a decreased capacity to translate and traffic these associated proteins to the cell membrane. Interestingly, upon challenge with IFNg, CPI-AR tumors down-regulate gene expression for PD-L1, TAP1, TAP2, β2M and other key pathways typically up-regulated by IFN stimulation. Collectively, the CPI-AR and -PR tumor models reflect many of the genomic and phenotypic changes reported in CPI-AR cancer patients. The CT26/CPI-AR tumors reproduce a state of IFN hypo-responsiveness and genetic/protein dysregulation. These clinically relevant models can be used to screen therapeutics that may translate to meaningful benefit for CPI-AR cancer patients. Citation Format: George J. Fromm, Danish Memon, Suresh de Silva, Kyung Jin Yoo, Kellsey Johannes, Casey Shuptrine, Jaya Miriyala, Arpita Patel, Fatima Rangwala, Zachary Opheim, Thuy-Ai Nguyen, Louis Gonzalez, Fatima Rangwala, Taylor H. Schreiber, Matthew D. Hellmann, Martin L. Miller, Taylor H. Schreiber. The development of an in vivo model of checkpoint acquired resistance, reveals a program of interferon hyperstimulation, resulting in dysregulation of MHC class I, protein translation/trafficking, and other unique pathways, that may be useful for guiding clinical strategy in patients with phenotypic similarities [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 1697.

The p53 transcription factor confers its potent tumor suppressor functions primarily through the regulation of a large network of target genes. The recent explosion of next generation sequencing protocols has enabled the study of the p53 gene regulatory network (GRN) and underlying mechanisms at an unprecedented depth and scale, helping us to understand precisely how p53 controls gene regulation. Here, we discuss our current understanding of where and how p53 binds to DNA and chromatin, its pioneer-like role, and how this affects gene regulation. We provide an overview of the p53 GRN and the direct and indirect mechanisms through which p53 affects gene regulation. In particular, we focus on delineating the ubiquitous and cell type-specific network of regulatory elements that p53 engages; reviewing our understanding of how, where, and when p53 binds to DNA and the mechanisms through which these events regulate transcription. Finally, we discuss the evolution of the p53 GRN and how recent work has revealed remarkable differences between vertebrates, which are of particular importance to cancer researchers using mouse models.

p53 transcriptional networks are well-characterized in many organisms. However, a global understanding of requirements for in vivo p53 interactions with DNA and relationships with transcription across human biological systems in response to various p53 activating situations remains limited. Using a common analysis pipeline, we analyzed 41 data sets from genome-wide ChIP-seq studies of which 16 have associated gene expression data, including our recent primary data with normal human lymphocytes. The resulting extensive analysis, accessible at p53 BAER hub via the UCSC browser, provides a robust platform to characterize p53 binding throughout the human genome including direct influence on gene expression and underlying mechanisms. We establish the impact of spacers and mismatches from consensus on p53 binding in vivo and propose that once bound, neither significantly influences the likelihood of expression. Our rigorous approach revealed a large p53 genome-wide cistrome composed of >900 genes directly targeted by p53. Importantly, we identify a core cistrome signature composed of genes appearing in over half the data sets, and we identify signatures that are treatment- or cell-specific, demonstrating new functions for p53 in cell biology. Our analysis reveals a broad homeostatic role for human p53 that is relevant to both basic and translational studies.

Abstract The APOBEC3 (A3) family of proteins are DNA cytidine deaminases that act as sentinels in the innate immune response against retroviral infections and are responsive to IFN. Recently, a few A3 genes were identified as potent enzymatic sources of mutations in several human cancers. Using human cancer cells and lymphocytes, we show that under stress conditions and immune challenges, all A3 genes are direct transcriptional targets of the tumor suppressor p53. Although the expression of most A3 genes (including A3C and A3H) was stimulated by the activation of p53, treatment with the DNA-damaging agent doxorubicin or the p53 stabilizer Nutlin led to repression of the A3B gene. Furthermore, p53 could enhance IFN type-I induction of A3 genes. Interestingly, overexpression of a group of tumor-associated p53 mutants in TP53-null cancer cells promoted A3B expression. These findings establish that the "guardian of the genome" role ascribed to p53 also extends to a unique component of the immune system, the A3 genes, thereby integrating human immune and chromosomal stress responses into an A3/p53 immune axis. Implications: Activated p53 can integrate chromosomal stresses and immune responses through its influence on expression of APOBEC3 genes, which are key components of the innate immune system that also influence genomic stability. Mol Cancer Res; 15(6); 735–44. ©2017 AACR.

Tumor necrosis factor-α-induced protein 8 (TNFAIP8) is a stress-response gene that has been associated with cancer, but no studies have differentiated among or defined the regulation or function of any of its several recently described expression variants. We found that TNFAIP8 variant 2 (v2) is overexpressed in multiple human cancers, whereas other variants are commonly downregulated in cancer (v1) or minimally expressed in cancer or normal tissue (v3–v6). Silencing v2 in cancer cells induces p53-independent inhibition of DNA synthesis, widespread binding of p53, and induction of target genes and p53-dependent cell cycle arrest and DNA damage sensitization. Cell cycle arrest induced by v2 silencing requires p53-dependent induction of p21. In response to the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin, p53 regulates v2 through binding to an intragenic enhancer, together indicating that p53 and v2 engage in complex reciprocal regulation. We propose that TNFAIP8 v2 promotes human cancer by broadly repressing p53 function, in essence offsetting p53-dependent tumor suppression.

The cell response to pathogens involves complex signaling cascades that affect expression of thousands of genes. Characterization of the regulation and function of genes involved in the stress response is critical since failure of this response can foster the development of chronic disorders such as autoimmune diseases and cancer. A growing body of evidence shows a role for the transcription factor p53 in the immune response. To better characterize the role of p53 in the innate immune response, we performed a microarray in primary human macrophages and identified the gene Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Induced Protein-8 (TNFAIP8) as novel p53 target. ChIP-seq analysis shows strong binding of p53 to an intragenic region within TNFAIP8, which contains a functional p53 response element as confirmed with reporter assays. This region is an enhancer, since ChIP assays show enhancer-like histone modifications and 3C assays indicate chromatin looping with the promoter region. Very little is known about TNFAIP8 function; however, Tnfaip8 was previously reported to confer resistance to Staphylococcus aureus, suggesting a role in host defense. Studies are currently underway to characterize expression regulation and functions of TNFAIP8 in macrophages in response to TLR ligands. These results provide a better understanding of the role of p53 in the innate immune response and the regulation and function of the understudied TNFAIP8 gene.

The wild-type (WT) human p53 (TP53) tumor suppressor can be posttranslationally modified at over 60 of its 393 residues. These modifications contribute to changes in TP53 stability and in its activity as a transcription factor in response to a wide variety of intrinsic and extrinsic stresses in part through regulation of protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions. The TP53 gene frequently is mutated in cancers, and in contrast to most other tumor suppressors, the mutations are mostly missense often resulting in the accumulation of mutant (MUT) protein, which may have novel or altered functions. Most MUT TP53s can be posttranslationally modified at the same residues as in WT TP53. Strikingly, however, codons for modified residues are rarely mutated in human tumors, suggesting that TP53 modifications are not essential for tumor suppression activity. Nevertheless, these modifications might alter MUT TP53 activity and contribute to a gain-of-function leading to increased metastasis and tumor progression. Furthermore, many of the signal transduction pathways that result in TP53 modifications are altered or disrupted in cancers. Understanding the signaling pathways that result in TP53 modification and the functions of these modifications in both WT TP53 and its many MUT forms may contribute to more effective cancer therapies.

The effects of diverse stresses on promoter selectivity and transcription regulation by the tumor suppressor p53 are poorly understood. We have taken a comprehensive approach to characterizing the human p53 network that includes p53 levels, binding, expression and chromatin changes under diverse stresses. Human osteosarcoma U2OS cells treated with anti-cancer drugs Doxorubicin (DXR) or Nutlin-3 (Nutlin) led to strikingly different p53 gene binding patterns based on chromatin immunoprecipitation with high-throughput sequencing experiments. Although two contiguous RRRCWWGYYY decamers is the consensus binding motif, p53 can bind a single decamer and function in vivo. Although the number of sites bound by p53 was six times greater for Nutlin than DXR, expression changes induced by Nutlin were much less dramatic compared with DXR. Unexpectedly, the solvent dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) alone induced p53 binding to many sites common to DXR; however, this binding had no effect on target gene expression. Together, these data imply a two-stage mechanism for p53 transactivation where p53 binding only constitutes the first stage. Furthermore, both p53 binding and transactivation were associated with increased active histone modification histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation. We discovered 149 putative new p53 target genes including several that are relevant to tumor suppression, revealing potential new targets for cancer therapy and expanding our understanding of the p53 regulatory network.

Abstract Mutation of K-Ras is a frequent oncogenic event in human cancers, particularly cancers of lungs, pancreas, and colon. It remains unclear why some tissues are more susceptible to Ras-induced transformation than others. Here, we globally activated a mutant oncogenic K-Ras allele (K-RasG12D) in mice and examined the tissue-specific effects of this activation on cancer pathobiology, Ras signaling, tumor suppressor, DNA damage, and inflammatory responses. Within 5 to 6 weeks of oncogenic Ras activation, mice develop oral and gastric papillomas, lung adenomas, and hematopoietic hyperproliferation and turn moribund. The oral, gastric, and lung premalignant lesions display activated extracellular signal–regulated kinases (Erk)1/2 and NF-κB signaling as well as activated tumor suppressor and DNA damage responses. Other organs such as pancreas, liver, and small intestine do not exhibit neoplastic progression within 6 weeks following K-RasG12D activation and do not show a potent tumor suppressor response. Even though robust Erk1/2 signaling is activated in all the tissues examined, the pErk1/2 distribution remains largely cytoplasmic in K-RasG12D–refractory tissues (pancreas, liver, and intestines) as opposed to a predominantly nuclear localization in K-RasG12D–induced neoplasms of lung, oral, and gastric mucosa. The downstream targets of Ras signaling, pElk-1 and c-Myc, are elevated in K-RasG12D–induced neoplastic lesions but not in K-RasG12D–refractory tissues. We propose that oncogenic K-Ras–refractory tissues delay oncogenic progression by spatially limiting the efficacy of Ras/Raf/Erk1/2 signaling, whereas K-Ras–responsive tissues exhibit activated Ras/Raf/Erk1/2 signaling, rapidly form premalignant tumors, and activate potent antitumor responses that effectively prevent further malignant progression. Mol Cancer Res; 10(6); 845–55. ©2012 AACR.

In response to DNA double strand breaks, the histone variant H2AX at the break site is phosphorylated at serine 139 by DNA damage sensor kinases such as ataxia telangiectasia-mutated, forming gamma-H2AX. This phosphorylation event is critical for sustained recruitment of other proteins to repair the break. After repair, restoration of the cell to a prestress state is associated with gamma-H2AX dephosphorylation and dissolution of gamma-H2AX-associated damage foci. The phosphatases PP2A and PP4 have previously been shown to dephosphorylate gamma-H2AX. Here, we demonstrate that the wild-type p53-induced phosphatase 1 (WIP1) also dephosphorylates gamma-H2AX at serine 139 in vitro and in vivo. Overexpression of WIP1 reduces formation of gamma-H2AX foci in response to ionizing and ultraviolet radiation and blocks recruitment of MDC1 (mediator of DNA damage checkpoint 1) and 53BP1 (p53 binding protein 1) to DNA damage foci. Finally, these inhibitory effects of WIP1 on gamma-H2AX are accompanied by WIP1 suppression of DNA double strand break repair. Thus, WIP1 has a homeostatic role in reversing the effects of ataxia telangiectasia-mutated phosphorylation of H2AX.

DNA double strand breaks are a particularly toxic form of DNA damage and the mammalian cell has evolved an intricate set of responses to repair this type of DNA lesion. A key early event in the DNA damage response (DDR) is ATM phosphorylation of the histone variant H2AX at serine 139 at the site of the DNA break. Phosphorylated S139 H2AX, or γ-H2AX, forms a docking site for binding of MDC1, leading to sustained recruitment of other DNA repair factors that mediate the repair of the DNA double strand break. Moreover, recruitment of MDC1 to the break site activates cell cycle checkpoints, protecting the cell from replication of damaged DNA templates. While the molecular events leading to DNA double strand break repair have been well described, the deactivating or homeostatic mechanisms following completion of repair remain largely unexplored. Recent publications by our laboratories and the Medema laboratory shed new light on this issue. Both publications showed that the Wild-type p53-Induced Phosphatase 1 (WIP1) directly dephosphorylates γ-H2AX. WIP1 migrates to the sites of irradiation-induced foci (IRIF), though at a delayed rate relative to MDC1 and mediates γ-H2AX dephosphorylation, presumably after DNA repair is complete. This prevents recruitment of other repair factors such as MDC1 and 53BP1 to the DNA damage sites and promotes the dissolution of IRIF. In addition, overexpression of WIP1 has a suppressive effect on DNA double strand break repair. Taken together, these reports further implicate WIP1 as a critical homeostatic regulator of the DDR.

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is the only mechanism in humans to repair UV-induced DNA lesions such as pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidone photoproducts and cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs). In response to UV damage, the ataxia telangiectasia mutated and Rad3-related (ATR) kinase phosphorylates and activates several downstream effector proteins, such as p53 and XPA, to arrest cell cycle progression, stimulate DNA repair, or initiate apoptosis. However, following the completion of DNA repair, there must be active mechanisms that restore the cell to a prestressed homeostatic state. An important part of this recovery must include a process to reduce p53 and NER activity as well as to remove repair protein complexes from the DNA damage sites. Since activation of the damage response occurs in part through phosphorylation, phosphatases are obvious candidates as homeostatic regulators of the DNA damage and repair responses. Therefore, we investigated whether the serine/threonine wild-type p53-induced phosphatase 1 (WIP1/PPM1D) might regulate NER. WIP1 overexpression inhibits the kinetics of NER and CPD repair, whereas WIP1 depletion enhances NER kinetics and CPD repair. This NER suppression is dependent on WIP1 phosphatase activity, as phosphatase-dead WIP1 mutants failed to inhibit NER. Moreover, WIP1 suppresses the kinetics of UV-induced damage repair largely through effects on NER, as XPD-deficient cells are not further suppressed in repairing UV damage by overexpressed WIP1. Wip1 null mice quickly repair their CPD and undergo less UV-induced apoptosis than their wild-type counterparts. In vitro phosphatase assays identify XPA and XPC as two potential WIP1 targets in the NER pathway. Thus WIP1 may suppress NER kinetics by dephosphorylating and inactivating XPA and XPC and other NER proteins and regulators after UV-induced DNA damage is repaired.

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor of childhood. Despite numerous advances, clinical challenges range from recurrent and progressive disease to long-term toxicities in survivors. The lack of more effective, less toxic therapies results from our limited understanding of medulloblastoma growth. Although TP53 is the most commonly altered gene in cancers, it is rarely mutated in medulloblastoma. Accumulating evidence, however, indicates that TP53 pathways are disrupted in medulloblastoma. Wild-type p53-induced phosphatase 1 (WIP1 or PPM1D) encodes a negative regulator of p53. WIP1 amplification (17q22-q23) and its overexpression have been reported in diverse cancer types. We examined primary medulloblastoma specimens and cell lines, and detected WIP1 copy gain and amplification prevalent among but not exclusively in the tumors with 17q gain and isochromosome 17q (i17q), which are among the most common cytogenetic lesions in medulloblastoma. WIP1 RNA levels were significantly higher in the tumors with 17q gain or i17q. Immunoblots confirmed significant WIP1 protein in primary tumors, generally higher in those with 17q gain or i17q. Under basal growth conditions and in response to the chemotherapeutic agent, etoposide, WIP1 antagonized p53-mediated apoptosis in medulloblastoma cell lines. These results indicate that medulloblastoma express significant levels of WIP1 that modulate genotoxic responsiveness by negatively regulating p53.

The W ild-type p53- i nduced p hosphatase 1, Wip1 (or PPM1D), is unusual in that it is a serine/threonine phosphatase with oncogenic activity. A member of the type 2C phosphatases (PP2Cδ), Wip1 has been shown to be amplified and overexpressed in multiple human cancer types, including breast and ovarian carcinomas. In rodent primary fibroblast transformation assays, Wip1 cooperates with known oncogenes to induce transformed foci. The recent identification of target proteins that are dephosphorylated by Wip1 has provided mechanistic insights into its oncogenic functions. Wip1 acts as a homeostatic regulator of the DNA damage response by dephosphorylating proteins that are substrates of both ATM and ATR, important DNA damage sensor kinases. Wip1 also suppresses the activity of multiple tumor suppressors, including p53, ATM, p16 INK4a and ARF. We present evidence that the suppression of p53, p38 MAP kinase, and ATM/ATR signaling pathways by Wip1 are important components of its oncogenicity when it is amplified and overexpressed in human cancers.