Single-cell profiling-guided combination therapy of c-Fos and histone deacetylase inhibitors in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Background: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) have been widely applied in multiple tumours, but the expected efficacy was not observed in DLBCL. Therefore, this study is aimed to explore superior HDACis and optimise a relative combinational therapeutic strategy.

Methods: The antitumour effects of the drug were evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and Apoptosis analysis. Single-cell RNA Sequencing (scRNA-Seq) was used to analyse the intratumoural heterogeneity of DLBCL cells. Whole-exome Sequencing and RNA Sequencing were performed to analyse the genetic and transcriptional features. Western blotting, qRT-PCR, protein array, immunohistochemistry, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were applied to explore the involved pathways. The antitumour effects of the compounds were assessed using subcutaneous xenograft tumour models.

Results: LAQ824 was screened and confirmed to kill DLBCL cells effectively. Using scRNA-Seq, we characterised the heterogeneity of DLBCL cells under different drug pressures, and c-Fos was identified as a critical factor in the survival of residual tumour cells. Moreover, we demonstrated that combinatorial treatment with LAQ824 and a c-Fos inhibitor more potently inhibited tumour cells both in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion: Altogether, we found an HDACi, LAQ824, with high efficacy in DLBCL and provided a promising HDACi-based combination therapy strategy.