Ibrahim et al. profiled sotorasib-induced changes in syngeneic KRASG12C/Trp53−/− lung and colon carcinoma models with and without anti-PD-1. scRNAseq revealed that sotorasib reduced proliferative tumor cells and enriched MHC-Ihigh immune-active tumor cells with elevated NF-κB and STAT1 signaling, chemokine expression, and inflammatory cytokine responsiveness. Immune-active tumor cell states were associated with increased effector T cells and MHC-IIhigh macrophages, reduced regulatory myeloid cells, and enhanced anti-PD-1 efficacy. Sotorasib-resistant tumors lacked MHC-Ihigh immune-active tumor cells and associated immune remodeling.

Contributed by Shishir Pant

ABSTRACT: Inhibition of KRASG12C (G12Ci) has shown promising clinical activity in several cancers; however, emergence of resistance is a major limitation to long-term benefit. It remains unknown how G12Ci impacts the tumor immune microenvironment and its association with resistance. We investigated the immune modulatory impact of the G12Ci sotorasib in KrasG12C/Trp53-/- (KP) lung and colon carcinoma models. Single-cell RNA sequencing of tumors in both models demonstrated sotorasib-induced loss of proliferative tumor cells and to the enrichment of immune-active tumor cells with elevated NF-_B and interferon signaling, and elevated MHC-I expression. These changes led to an increased proportion of effector T cells and MHC-IIhi macrophages in the tumors, and a reduced proportion of regulatory myeloid cells. Furthermore, sotorasib-resistant tumors exhibited a marked reduction of MHC-Ihigh immune-active tumor cells and immune cell type changes. Enrichment of immune-active tumor cells was associated directly with sotorasib-induced activation of NF-_B and STAT1, leading to heightened responsiveness to inflammatory cytokines and to upregulation of MHC-I and chemokine expression. These findings indicate that modulation of immune-active tumor cell populations is a key mechanism associated with G12Ci therapeutic efficacy and the development of resistance.

Author Info: (1) California Northstate University Elk grove United States. ROR: https://ror.org/03h0d2228 (2) Moffitt Cancer Center Tampa United States. ROR: https://ror.org/01xf75524 (3) Moffi tt Cancer Center Tampa, FL United States. ROR: https://ror.org/01xf75524 (4) Moffitt Cancer Center United States. ROR: https://ror.org/01xf75524 (5) Moffitt Cancer Center United States. ROR: https://ror.org/01xf75524 (6) Moffitt Cancer Center Tampa, FL United States. ROR: https://ror.org/01xf75524 (7) Moffitt Cancer Center Tampa, FL United States. ROR: https://ror.org/01xf75524 (8) Moffitt Cancer Center Tampa, FL United States. ROR: https://ror.org/01xf75524 (9) Moffitt Cancer Center Tampa, FL United States. ROR: https://ror.org/01xf75524 (10) Moffitt Cancer Center Tampa, FL United States. ROR: https://ror.org/01xf75524 (11) Moffitt Cancer Center Tampa, FL United States. ROR: https://ror.org/01xf75524 (12) Moffitt Cancer Center Tampa, Florida United States. ROR: https://ror.org/01xf75524 (13) Moffitt Cancer Center Tampa, FL United States. ROR: https://ror.org/01xf75524 (14) H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute Tampa, FL United States.