Date of this Version
12-1-2021
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a collection of biologically diverse cancers characterized by distinct transcriptional patterns, biology, and immune composition. TNBCs subtypes include two basal-like (BL1, BL2), a mesenchymal (M) and a luminal androgen receptor (LAR) subtype. Through a comprehensive analysis of mutation, copy number, transcriptomic, epigenetic, proteomic, and phospho-proteomic patterns we describe the genomic landscape of TNBC subtypes. Mesenchymal subtype tumors display high mutation loads, genomic instability, absence of immune cells, low PD-L1 expression, decreased global DNA methylation, and transcriptional repression of antigen presentation genes. We demonstrate that major histocompatibility complex I (MHC-I) is transcriptionally suppressed by H3K27me3 modifications by the polycomb repressor complex 2 (PRC2). Pharmacological inhibition of PRC2 subunits EZH2 or EED restores MHC-I expression and enhances chemotherapy efficacy in murine tumor models, providing a rationale for using PRC2 inhibitors in PD-L1 negative mesenchymal tumors. Subtype-specific differences in immune cell composition and differential genetic/pharmacological vulnerabilities suggest additional treatment strategies for TNBC.
DOI
10.1038/s41467-021-26502-6
Recommended Citation
Lehmann, Brian D.; Colaprico, Antonio; Silva, Tiago C.; Chen, Jianjiao; An, Hanbing; Ban, Yuguang; Huang, Hanchen; Wang, Lily; James, Jamaal L.; Balko, Justin M.; Gonzalez-Ericsson, Paula I.; Sanders, Melinda E.; Zhang, Bing; Pietenpol, Jennifer A.; and Chen, X. Steven, "Multi-omics analysis identifies therapeutic vulnerabilities in triple-negative breast cancer subtypes" (2021). All Faculty. 252.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/all_faculty/252