1. Academic Validation
  2. YAP1 Inhibition Induces Phenotype Switching of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts to Tumor Suppressive in Prostate Cancer

YAP1 Inhibition Induces Phenotype Switching of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts to Tumor Suppressive in Prostate Cancer

  • Cancer Res. 2024 Aug 13. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-24-0932.
Hongtao Song 1 Tong Lu 2 Donghui Han 3 Jiayu Zhang 2 Lunbiao Gan 4 Chao Xu 1 Shaojie Liu 1 Peng Li 5 Keying Zhang 2 Zhihao Hu 1 Hongji Li 1 Yu Li 6 Xiaolong Zhao 2 Jingliang Zhang 2 Nianzeng Xing 7 Changhong Shi 8 Weihong Wen 9 Fa Yang 10 Weijun Qin 11
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 The Forth Military Medical University, Xian, China.
  • 2 Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China.
  • 3 Air Force Medical University, China.
  • 4 Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China.
  • 5 Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
  • 6 Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province China, China.
  • 7 Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
  • 8 Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaan'xi, China.
  • 9 Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaan'xi, China.
  • 10 Air Force Medical University, xi'an, Shaanxi Province China, China.
  • 11 Xijing Hospital, Xi'an, None Selected, China.
Abstract

Prostate Cancer (PCa) rarely responds to immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are critical components of the immunologically "cold" tumor microenvironment and are considered a promising target to enhance the immunotherapy response. In this study, we aimed to reveal the mechanisms regulating CAF plasticity to identify potential strategies to switch CAFs from pro-tumorigenic to anti-tumor phenotypes and enhance ICB efficacy in PCa. Integration of four PCa single-cell RNA-sequencing datasets defined pro-tumorigenic and anti-tumor CAFs, and RNA-seq, flow cytometry, and a PCa Organoid model demonstrated the functions of two CAF subtypes. Extracellular matrix-associated CAFs (ECM-CAF) promoted collagen deposition and Cancer cell progression, and lymphocyte-associated CAFs (Lym-CAF) exhibited an anti-tumor phenotype and induced the infiltration and activation of CD8+ T cells. YAP1 activity regulated the ECM-CAF phenotype, and YAP1 silencing promoted switching to Lym-CAFs. NF-κB p65 was the core transcription factor in the Lym-CAF subset, and YAP1 inhibited nuclear translocation of p65. Selective depletion of YAP1 in ECM-CAFs in vivo promoted CD8+ T-cell infiltration and activation and enhanced the therapeutic effects of anti- PD-1 treatment in PCa. Overall, this study revealed a mechanism regulating CAF identity in PCa and highlighted a therapeutic strategy for altering the CAF subtype to suppress tumor growth and increase sensitivity to ICB.

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