Dissecting clonal determinants of platinum/PARP inhibitor cross-resistance in ovarian cancer

The recalcitrance of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) to available therapies is largely enabled by the disease’s ability to fast disseminate into the peritoneal cavity and its intrinsic molecular heterogeneity. A first-line platinum-taxane regimen, in combination with PARP inhibitors (PARPi) as maintenance therapy has improved patients’ survival and revolutionized HGSOC management, especially for those carrying mutations in BRCA1/2 genes. Recently, the sensitivity to PARPi has been associated not only with BRCA1/2 mutations, but with a broader homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) signature, which accounts for nearly 50% of HGSOCs. Surprisingly, PARPi sensitivity has also been observed in homologous recombination-proficient (HRP) tumors. Despite successful, the emergence of cross-resistance to platinum/PARPi treatment strongly hindered the long- term clinical benefit, posing a significant clinical challenge. The genetic and epigenetic instability of HGSOCs strongly contributes to the development of cross-resistant clones, which undergo lineage expansion, leading to treatment failure and disease relapse. Furthermore, the mechanisms driving the selection of Platinum/PARPi cross-resistant clones, and their evolution remain poorly understood. A critical question is whether recurrent disease is driven by pre-existing resistant clonal populations or by de novo (acquired) molecular scars selected during the treatment. Addressing this question is crucial for understanding HGSOC progression and developing more effective therapies. To investigate these issues, we have developed a novel somatic mosaic genetically-engineered mouse model (smGEMM) of HGSOC combined with a molecular barcoding technology. This approach allows for the high-throughput isolation and detailed characterization of specific cell lineages, including therapy cross-resistant clones, enabling us to track clonal dynamics and to identify molecular drivers of resistance. To assess this hypothesis, we will pursue specific aims that 1) generate longitudinal lineage-traced models of HRP and HRD HGSOCs using smGEMM models, 2) functionally characterize the clonal dynamics of platinum/PARPi resistance and 3) perform cross-species validation of molecular dependencies driving platinum/PARPi resistance. Our findings will be significant because they will 1) uncover the transcriptomic and genomic mechanisms behind platinum/PARPi cross-resistance in HRP and HRD tumors, 2) reconstruct the evolutionary pathways of aggressive HGSOCs, 3) identify the cross-species molecular signatures of platinum/PARPi resistance. Importantly, this research has the potential to extend beyond HGSOC, as Platinum/PARPi combinaiton is used in other HRD cancers, such as breast and pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, our CRT and sm-GEMM platforms are adaptable to other gynecological cancers, hence benefiting the broader scientific community. Ultimately, this study will address urgent clinical needs by identifying molecular signatures of platinum/PARPi resistance and discovering biomarkers for patient stratification and therapeutic targeting. Project Number: 1R03CA303904-01 | Fiscal Year: 2025 | NIH Institute/Center: National Cancer Institute (NCI) | Principal Investigator: Francesca Citron | Institution: UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR, HOUSTON, TX | Award Amount: $164,000 | Activity Code: R03 | Study Section: Special Emphasis Panel[ZCA1 PCRB-9 (M1)] View on NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11216843