ATR is a master regulator of the DNA damage response in human cells. Inhibition of ATR sensitizes cancer cells to radiation and DNA-damaging drugs, providing an attractive strategy to improve radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Furthermore, in cancer cells with significant intrinsic genomic instability, inhibition of ATR results in massive DNA damage, thereby killing cancer cells by exploiting the vulnerability of their own genomes. Identification of the intrinsic liabilities of cancer cells that render them reliant on ATR for survival will greatly facilitate the use of ATR inhibitors in targeted therapy and radiotherapy. Several ATR inhibitors are already on clinical trials and showing promising efficacy. However, despite the success of initial trials, it is still largely unknown whether and how ATR inhibitors can be broadly used to target different types of genomic vulnerabilities of cancer cells. Recent studies suggested that R loops, a group of transcription intermediates containing DNA:RNA hybrids and displaced single-stranded DNA, are a source of genomic instability in cancer cells. In the preliminary studies leading to this application, we find that ATR is activated by R loops and it plays a key role in suppressing R loop-associated DNA damage. Furthermore, we show that cancer-associated RNA splicing factor mutations promote R loop formation and render cells sensitive to ATR inhibition. These exciting findings lead us to hypothesize that aberrant R loop accumulation is a new targetable liability of cancer cells. Furthermore, ATR is a key sensor of R loops and a critical suppressor of R loop-associated DNA damage, making ATR inhibition an attractive way to target the R-loop liability of cancer cells. To these hypotheses, in Aim 1, we will elucidate the mechanisms by which ATR is activated by R loops through a previously unknown pathway.
In Aim 2, we will determine how ATR protects the genome against R loops through three novel mechanisms.
In Aim 3, we will test whether ATR inhibitors can selectively eliminate cancer cells harboring high levels of R loops in vitro and in vivo, and identify markers to predict the R-loop liability of tumors. In addition, we will investigate whether radiation can be used to induce R loops in cancer cells and sensitize R loop-high tumors to ATR inhibitors. Together, these studies will mechanistically explain how R loops are sensed by ATR in cells, reveal how ATR enables cells to cope with R loop-associated genomic instability, and address whether the R-loop liability of cancer cells can be effectively exploited by ATR inhibitors in therapy. These studies will not only significantly advance our understanding of the fundamental biology of R loops and ATR signaling, but also transform the use of ATR inhibitors in targeted therapy and radiotherapy.

Public Health Relevance

R loops, a group of transcription intermediates containing DNA:RNA hybrids and displaced single- strand DNA, impose a threat to genomic stability. In this project, we will investigate how the ATR checkpoint kinase senses R loops in the genome, how it suppresses R loop-associated DNA damage, and whether the aberrant accumulation of R loops in cancer cells can be targeted by ATR inhibition, providing the mechanistic basis for a novel strategy of targeted cancer therapy.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01CA197779-06
Application #
9973670
Study Section
Radiation Therapeutics and Biology Study Section (RTB)
Program Officer
Oberdoerffer, Philipp
Project Start
2015-07-01
Project End
2025-06-30
Budget Start
2020-07-01
Budget End
2021-06-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Massachusetts General Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
073130411
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02114
Nguyen, Hai Dang; Leong, Wan Yee; Li, Weiling et al. (2018) Spliceosome Mutations Induce R Loop-Associated Sensitivity to ATR Inhibition in Myelodysplastic Syndromes. Cancer Res 78:5363-5374
Teng, Yaqun; Yadav, Tribhuwan; Duan, Meihan et al. (2018) ROS-induced R loops trigger a transcription-coupled but BRCA1/2-independent homologous recombination pathway through CSB. Nat Commun 9:4115
Kabeche, Lilian; Nguyen, Hai Dang; Buisson, Rémi et al. (2018) A mitosis-specific and R loop-driven ATR pathway promotes faithful chromosome segregation. Science 359:108-114
Yazinski, Stephanie A; Comaills, Valentine; Buisson, Rémi et al. (2017) ATR inhibition disrupts rewired homologous recombination and fork protection pathways in PARP inhibitor-resistant BRCA-deficient cancer cells. Genes Dev 31:318-332
Ouyang, Jian; Lan, Li; Zou, Lee (2017) Regulation of DNA break repair by transcription and RNA. Sci China Life Sci 60:1081-1086
Buisson, Rémi; Lawrence, Michael S; Benes, Cyril H et al. (2017) APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B Activities Render Cancer Cells Susceptible to ATR Inhibition. Cancer Res 77:4567-4578
Buisson, Rémi; Niraj, Joshi; Rodrigue, Amélie et al. (2017) Coupling of Homologous Recombination and the Checkpoint by ATR. Mol Cell 65:336-346
Nguyen, Hai Dang; Yadav, Tribhuwan; Giri, Sumanprava et al. (2017) Functions of Replication Protein A as a Sensor of R Loops and a Regulator of RNaseH1. Mol Cell 65:832-847.e4
Wu, Ching-Shyi; Zou, Lee (2016) The SUMO (Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier) Ligase PIAS3 Primes ATR for Checkpoint Activation. J Biol Chem 291:279-90