CRISPR screens identify the ATPase VCP as a druggable therapeutic vulnerability in cholangiocarcinoma

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Yang, Wu; Wang, Siying; Ji, Shuyi; Wang, Jian; Lian, Shuo; Li, Zhe; Jansen, Robin A.; Wu, Wei; Niu, Kongyan; Sun, Zhen; Jia, Qi; Zheng, Jiaojiao; Zhu, Huijue; Deng, Xuan; Wang, Liqin; Fan, Zhoulong; Shi, Yaoping; Lieftink, Cor; Guan, Ming; Beijersbergen, Roderick L.; Qin, Wenxin; Gao, Qiang; Bernards, Rene; Jin, Haojie
• 署名单位: Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Netherlands Cancer Institute; Tongji University; Tongji University; Fudan University; Fudan University; Sun Yat Sen University; State Key Lab Oncology South China; Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Shanghai Jiao Tong University
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-8680
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2519568122
• 发表日期: 2025-09-30

摘要

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) remains a lethal malignancy with limited therapeutic options. Through genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screening, we identified the adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) valosin-containing protein (VCP) as a critical dependency in CCA. Compound screens revealed that the VCP inhibitor CB-5339 potently suppresses CCA proliferation in a panel of patient-derived organoids by inducing cellular senescence. It is known that senescent cells persist, and this can contribute to therapy resistance. To address this, we combined CB-5339 with senolytic agents (ABT-263 and conatumumab), which selectively eliminate senescent CCA cells, resulting in enhanced tumor suppression both in vitro and in vivo. Clinical analysis showed that VCP overexpression in CCA patients correlates with poor prognosis. Our study unveils a one-two punch strategy, targeting VCP-mediated senescence followed by senolytic clearance, offering a promising therapeutic approach for CCA.