Abstract 5617: Combined inhibition of ATR and ATM with tuvusertib and lartesertib (M4076) impacts the tumor microenvironment
Authors: Laaber Karin , Turchick Audrey , Jabs Julia , Elenbaas Brian , Vassilev Lyubomir T. , Zimmermann Astrid 
Published: March 2024

Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein (ATR) and ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) are two of the main kinases of the DNA damage response (DDR). Recent work has demonstrated that the addition of ATM inhibitors enhances the cytotoxicity and in vivo anti-tumor efficacy of ATR inhibitors by abrogating the ATR inhibitor mediated G1 cell cycle arrest and enhancing chromosomal damage.1 Prior to causing cell death, damaged chromosome fragments can end up in the cytosol where they are detected by cytosolic nucleic acid sensors such as cGAS, resulting in the induction of inflammatory signaling pathways and an anti-tumor immune response. This suggests that the mode of action of DDR inhibitors may involve the tumor microenvironment (TME). We therefore aimed to assess the influence of combined pharmacological ATR and ATM inhibition on the TME to better understand how this could be exploited therapeutically.

In line with published results in human tumor models, the treatment of murine colon cancer MC-38 cells in vitro with a combination of ATR inhibitor tuvusertib and ATM inhibitor lartesertib led to cell death. Further analysis revealed an activation of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway, an upregulation of PD-L1 and the release of inflammatory cytokines. These results confirmed the activation of immune signaling pathways upon combined inhibition of ATR and ATM.

To analyze the stimulation of an anti-tumor immune response upon tuvusertib + lartesertib treatment in vivo, MC-38 cells were transplanted into immunocompetent C57BL/6J mice. Immunoprofiling by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry staining confirmed that treatment with tuvusertib + lartesertib indeed altered the TME in this setting. In line with the in vitro findings, a significant upregulation of PD-L1 on immune and tumor cells could be observed after 24, 48, and 72 h of treatment even though MC-38 cells expressed high levels of PD-L1 already. Immunoprofiling did not reveal any changes in the TME immune cell content at these early time points. Interestingly, PD-L1 expression as well as tumor immune population changed after prolonged (23 days) treatment. PD-L1 was still expressed on tumor cells but to a significantly lesser extent and a depletion of CD8+ T-cells was observed. However, a significant increase in NK cells could be detected.

In summary, we show that inhibition of the DDR through a combination of ATR and ATM inhibitors influences the TME in the MC-38 tumor model. These findings suggest an additional mode of action beyond direct cancer cell cytotoxicity. Further studies on how this may be leveraged therapeutically, for example through a combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors, are warranted.

1. Turchick A, Zimmermann A, et al. Mol Cancer Ther 2023;22(7):859-872.

Citation Format: Karin Laaber, Audrey Turchick, Julia Jabs, Brian Elenbaas, Lyubomir T. Vassilev, Astrid Zimmermann. Combined inhibition of ATR and ATM with tuvusertib and lartesertib (M4076) impacts the tumor microenvironment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 5617.