Combined inhibition of DNA Polymerase Theta and ATR targets MYBL2-high triple-negative breast cancer stem cells

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Abstract

Triple negaJve breast cancer (TNBC) is characterised by poor prognosis and limited treatment opJons, parJally due to therapy-resistant stem/progenitor cells driving metastasis. Elevated expression of the transcripJon factor MYBL2 is associated with aggressive disease, yet its role in BC stem/progenitor cells remains elusive. Here, we employed inducible MYBL2 downregulaJon in TNBC cell lines and paJent-derived models to invesJgate its funcJon and idenJfy potenJal vulnerabiliJes associated with its high expression. Our funcJonal and mechanisJc analyses reveal that high MYBL2 levels are criJcal for stem cell self-renewal, DNA repair, and replicaJon stress response and lowering MYBL2 impairs stemness and self-renewal both in vitro and in vivo. Accordingly, high-MYBL2 stem/progenitor cells exhibit increased sensiJvity to Polθ inhibitors which is lost upon MYBL2 downregulaJon due to transcripJonal suppression. Combining Polθ inhibitors with ATR inhibitors further enhances this sensiJvity, in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo. These findings suggest that dual Polθ/ATR inhibiJon represents a promising therapeuJc strategy to target TNBC stem/progenitor cells with high MYBL2 expression, highlighJng MYBL2 as a potenJal biomarker to straJfy paJents for Polθ inhibitor-based therapies in TNBC.

Authors

Rachel Bayley, Xiaoping Qu, Adrija Chakraborty, Menna Shamma, Ciara Ward, Kinga Koscielniak, Anna Munsey, Suman Ahmed, Amber Stiby, Bohdana-Myroslava Briantseva, Kirendeep Jawanda, Christopher J. Lord, Abeer M. Shaaban, Marco Saponaro, Graeme C. M. Smith, Robert B. Clarke, Clare Davies, Paloma Garcia