Abstract C074: VPS34 inhibition delays activation-induced STING degradation to prolong STING signaling and improve anti-tumor efficacy in preclinical models
Authors: Bogdan Madhumita , Simeon Jodi , Timson Mary J , Al-Hashimi Hikmat , Smith Bryan D , Flynn Daniel L 
Published: December 2023

Background: The STING/interferon (IFN) response pathway has been a target of cancer immunotherapy for many years, as a method for reactivating the anti-tumor immune response. Stimulation of the STING pathway leads to activation and infiltration of immune cells into the tumor, and cancer cell death. However, multiple STING agonists have failed in the clinic due to poor efficacy or toxicity1. STING activation leads to its degradation within a few hours through trafficking to the lysosome, as a mechanism to control immune cell hyperactivation2. Although this safety mechanism is important for preventing autoimmunity and chronic inflammation, it diminishes the continuous activation of immune-mediated cancer cell killing, especially in an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. VPS34 is a lipid kinase which plays an integral role in endosomal trafficking and autophagy3.  Previous publications have demonstrated a role for VPS34 inhibition in increased effector immune cell infiltration, which synergizes with anti-PD1 therapy, demonstrating a link to immune activation4. Herein, we demonstrate that the in vivo combination efficacy with a VPS34 inhibitor and a STING agonist is due to reduced degradation of activated STING, through the inhibition of VPS34-mediated endosomal trafficking.

Materials and Methods: Cancer cell lines were cultured using recommended medium. STING activity was measured by Western blot and via a CisBio pTBK1 kit.  ADU-S100/MSA-2 were sourced from MedChemExpress.  CCL5, CXCL10 and IFNb ELISA’s were purchased from R&D systems. Primers used to measure mRNA expression were obtained from IDT.

Results: DP-9244 is a potent and selective VPS34 inhibitor.  The combination of DP-9244 with the STING agonist, ADU-S100, enhances IFN-mediated gene expression and cytokine secretion in the murine melanoma cell line, B16F10, and in the human and murine myeloid cell lines THP-1 and DC2.4, demonstrating combination activity in both cancer and immune cells. This combination activity is STING-dependent as demonstrated by the complete loss of IRF and NFκB activity in the THP-1 STING-/- cell line when treated with ADU-S100, DP-9244 or the combination. Mechanistically, VPS34 inhibition delays degradation of activated STING and prolongs downstream signaling of pTBK1 in multiple human and murine cancer cell lines. Importantly, the in vitro effects extend to in vivo efficacy in the B16F10 model, in which the combination of DP-9244 and ADU-S100 results in increased tumor growth control and number of mice responding to treatment.

Conclusions: These data provide a strong preclinical rationale to combine a VPS34 inhibitor with a STING agonist as a method of improving STING pathway mediated anti-tumor efficacy.

References:1. Amouzegar A et al Cancers (Basel) 2021 May 30 doi: 10.3390/cancers13112695 2. Gonugunta VK et al Cell Rep 2017 Dec 12 doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.11.061 3. Marsh T et al Nat Cell Biol 2015 Jan;17 doi: 10.1038/ncb3089 4. Noman MZ et al Sci Adv 2020 Apr 29 doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aax7881. Erratum in: Sci Adv. 2021 Apr 9

Citation Format: Madhumita Bogdan, Jodi Simeon, Mary J Timson, Hikmat Al-Hashimi, Bryan D Smith, Daniel L Flynn. VPS34 inhibition delays activation-induced STING degradation to prolong STING signaling and improve anti-tumor efficacy in preclinical models [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC Virtual International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2023 Oct 11-15; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2023;22(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C074.