ARID1A-deficient bladder cancer is dependent on PI3K signaling and sensitive to EZH2 and PI3K inhibitors

Hasibur Rehman, Darshan S. Chandrashekar, Chakravarthi Balabhadrapatruni, Saroj Nepal, Sai Akshaya Hodigere Balasubramanya, Abigail K. Shelton, Kasey R. Skinner, Ai Hong Ma, Ting Rao, Sumit Agarwal, Marie Lisa Eich, Alyncia D. Robinson, Gurudatta Naik, Upender Manne, George J. Netto, C. Ryan Miller, Chong Xian Pan, Guru Sonpavde, Sooryanarayana Varambally, James E. Ferguson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Metastatic urothelial carcinoma is generally incurable with current systemic therapies. Chromatin modifiers are frequently mutated in bladder cancer, with ARID1A-inactivating mutations present in about 20% of tumors. EZH2, a histone methyltransferase, acts as an oncogene that functionally opposes ARID1A. In addition, PI3K signaling is activated in more than 20% of bladder cancers. Using a combination of in vitro and in vivo data, including patient-derived xenografts, we show that ARID1A-mutant tumors were more sensitive to EZH2 inhibition than ARID1A WT tumors. Mechanistic studies revealed that (a) ARID1A deficiency results in a dependency on PI3K/ AKT/mTOR signaling via upregulation of a noncanonical PI3K regulatory subunit, PIK3R3, and downregulation of MAPK signaling and (b) EZH2 inhibitor sensitivity is due to upregulation of PIK3IP1, a protein inhibitor of PI3K signaling. We show that PIK3IP1 inhibited PI3K signaling by inducing proteasomal degradation of PIK3R3. Furthermore, ARID1A-deficient bladder cancer was sensitive to combination therapies with EZH2 and PI3K inhibitors in a synergistic manner. Thus, our studies suggest that bladder cancers with ARID1A mutations can be treated with inhibitors of EZH2 and/or PI3K and revealed mechanistic insights into the role of noncanonical PI3K constituents in bladder cancer biology.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere155899
JournalJCI Insight
Volume7
Issue number16
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 22 2022
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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