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Chu Z, Zhang B, Zhou X, Yuan H, Gao C, Liu L, Xiao Y, Zhang J, Hong J, Liang J, Chen D, Yao N. A DNA/RNA heteroduplex oligonucleotide coupling asparagine depletion restricts FGFR2 fusion-driven intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 2023; 34:102047. [PMID: 37869260 PMCID: PMC10589379 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.102047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Pemigatinib, a pan-FGFR inhibitor, is approved to treat intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) harboring FGFR2 fusion mutations. Improving its targeting of FGFR2 fusions remains an unmet clinical need due to its pan selectivity and resistance. Here, we report a cholesterol-conjugated DNA/RNA heteroduplex oligonucleotide targeting the chimeric site in FGFR2-AHCYL1 (F-A Cho-HDO) that accumulates in ICC through endocytosis of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), which is highly expressed in both human and murine ICC. F-A Cho-HDO was determined to be a highly specific, sustainable, and well-tolerated agent for inhibiting ICC progression through posttranscriptional suppression of F-A in ICC patient-derived xenograft mouse models. Moreover, we identified an EGFR-orchestrated bypass signaling axis that partially offset the efficacy of F-A Cho-HDO. Mechanistically, EGFR-induced STAT1 upregulation promoted asparagine (Asn) synthesis through direct transcriptional upregulation of asparagine synthetase (ASNS) and dictated cell survival by preventing p53-dependent cell cycle arrest. Asn restriction with ASNase or ASNS inhibitors reduced the intracellular Asn, thereby reactivating p53 and sensitizing ICC to F-A Cho-HDO. Our findings highlight the application of genetic engineering therapies in ICC harboring FGFR2 fusions and reveal an axis of adaptation to FGFR2 inhibition that presents a rationale for the clinical evaluation of a strategy combining FGFR2 inhibitors with Asn depletion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhen Chu
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Baohuan Zhang
- Morphology Experimental Teaching Center, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Xuxuan Zhou
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Hui Yuan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Huizhou Municipal Central Hospital, Huizhou, Guangdong 516001, China
| | - Chongqing Gao
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Lihao Liu
- School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Yang Xiao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Jichun Zhang
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Jian Hong
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Junjie Liang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Dong Chen
- Department of Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Nan Yao
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
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