Abstract 3938: A novel mouse model reveals potential therapeutic strategies for RIT1-driven lung adenocarcinomas
Authors: Mozzarelli Alessandro Mauro , Cuevas-Navarro Antonio , Urisman Anatoly , Castel Pau 
Published: March 2024

Gain-of-function oncogenic mutations in RIT1 have been identified in lung adenocarcinoma and are mutually exclusive with other reported driver mutations, highlighting the role of RIT1 as a cancer driver. RIT1 is a poorly-studied non-classical RAS GTPase and, to date, there are no reported genetically-engineered mouse models of RIT1-driven lung adenocarcinoma. Here, we have generated a conditional knock-in allele within the endogenous mouse Rit1 locus, introducing the most frequent mutation observed in lung adenocarcinomas (RIT1M90I). Upon intranasal administration of adenovirus encoding the Cre recombinase to induce somatic recombination in the mouse lungs, we observed the formation of discrete adenomas. Although Rit1M90I mutation can promote lung tumor initiation in mice, we found that this phenotype is less penetrant than the common KrasG12D mutation. Immunohistochemistry analysis of Rit1M90I and KrasG12D tumors showed expression of typical histological markers associated with lung adenocarcinoma (i.e., TTF1 and SPC), as well as increased levels of Ki67 and pERK expression. Next, to develop potential pharmacological strategies for RIT1-driven lung tumors, we first explored drugs that inhibit the RAS/MAPK pathway and are either FDA-approved or under clinical development. In vitro experiments with cell lines carrying the RIT1M90I mutation demonstrated high sensitivity to SHP2, MEK, RAF, and RAS inhibitors. In vivo, SHP2 and RAS, but not MEK, inhibitors slowed down tumor progression in both cell line and patient-derived xenografts. Our results indicate that, although RAS signaling might be needed for RIT1-dependent growth, these tumors are not sensitive to MAPK inhibition as a monotherapy and, hence, other pathways could contribute to tumor growth. Therefore, we decided to explore whether targeting RIT1 directly, could be a more beneficial strategy for these tumors. In order to inhibit oncogenic RIT1 directly, we have undertaken two complementary approaches. First, because RIT1 mutations were shown to impair its proteolysis, we explored whether restoring RIT1 proteasomal degradation could be a promising strategy. Recently, the development of Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTAC) has demonstrated that targeted degradation can be used as a pharmacological approach for the treatment of cancer. Therefore, we have tested successfully several proof-of-concept PROTAC approaches that caused degradation of oncogenic RIT1 in different cellular models. Second, we used a chemical biology approach to assess whether covalent inhibitors directed against the closely-related GTPase KRAS could cross-react and bind to oncogenic RIT1. We have identified a molecule that binds RIT1 and we are currently characterizing it in our preclinical models. Overall, our work provides comprehensive insights into the oncogenic role of RIT1 in lung cancer emphasizing its potential as a therapeutic target.

Citation Format: Alessandro Mauro Mozzarelli, Antonio Cuevas-Navarro, Anatoly Urisman, Pau Castel. A novel mouse model reveals potential therapeutic strategies for RIT1-driven lung adenocarcinomas [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 3938.