Targeting the ER Stress Response in ARID1A-mutant Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma -
Project Summary / Abstract
ARID1A is a DNA binding subunit of the SWI/SNF complex that is mutated in over 50% of ovarian clear cell
carcinoma (OCCC) cases, which results in its loss of expression in over 90% of ARID1A-mutated OCCC
cases. There is an urgent need for effective treatment approaches for ARID1A-mutated OCCCs since
OCCCs are generally refractory to standard agents used to treat ovarian cancer and, when diagnosed in
advanced stages, OCCCs carry the worst prognosis of all ovarian cancer subtypes. The overall goal of my
application is to develop a novel therapeutic approach for ARID1A-mutated OCCCs by targeting the
endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response. The ER stress response restores intracellular integrity and
promotes tumor cell survival, which has emerged as a viable therapeutic target for developing cancer
therapeutics. However, whether ARID1A plays a role in regulating the ER stress response has never been
explored. I have discovered that ARID1A mutation drives an increase in the ER stress response in OCCCs.
Using the TCGA database and ARID1A ChIP-seq analysis, my preliminary data suggests that ARID1A
containing SWI/SNF directly represses the transcription of XBP1, a key mediator of the ER stress response.
Consistently, ARID1A mutation correlates with an increase in the ER stress response. I hypothesize that
the SWI/SNF complex suppresses XBP1 expression under ER stress conditions and potentiates the
ER stress response to promote tumor cell survival. I have produced preliminary data showing that the
inhibition of XBP1 signaling reduces OCCC cell growth in an ARID1A status dependent manner. Accordingly,
I have developed two Specific Aims to test my hypothesis. In Aim 1, I will investigate the mechanistic basis
by which ARID1A mutation promotes the ER stress response in OCCCs. I will also explore whether the
inhibition of the ER stress response is selective in ARID1A mutant tumors. In Aim 2, I will determine novel
therapeutic strategies for ARID1A-mutated OCCCs by targeting the ER stress response in combination with
platinum-based chemotherapy that is known to induce ER stress. To my knowledge, this data is the first of
its kind linking ARID1A’s tumor suppressor function to the ER stress response. My data also presents a novel
therapeutic strategy for the inhibition of XBP1 signaling in ARID1A-mutated OCCCs. Since ARID1A is the
most frequently mutated epigenetic regulator across human cancers, the mechanistic insights gained from
the current studies will have broad implications for many different types of cancers as well.
