Abstract 3115: Adora2a inhibition via caffeine as a novel therapeutic target for cisplatin-induced chemobrain

Abstract

Abstract Cisplatin chemotherapy, although efficacious in resolution of cancer, potentiates cognitive impairments (known as chemobrain) affecting approximately 14 million cancer survivors in the United States. Cisplatin is a frontline chemotherapy used to treat ovarian, testicular, breast and brain cancers. Despite the high prevalence of clinical reports of cognitive impairments during and following chemotherapy, there is little information on how learning/memory are detrimentally affected and no known cure. To elucidate the mechanisms by which chemobrain impairs cognition, we implemented a mouse model resembling intermittent cisplatin chemotherapy in humans. Our preliminary studies revealed that repeated intermittent cisplatin treatment detrimentally affects the structure of neuronal brain cells in the hippocampus, a brain region known for its ability to control learning/memory, emotional behaviors and motor function. Although the molecular pathways vulnerable to cisplatin in the brain remain elusive, gene sequencing from the hippocampus of mice administered cisplatin identified the adenosine A2A receptor (Adora2a) protein was concentrated in elevated quantities in this brain region. Importantly, the Adora2a receptor protein is known for its critical role in learning/memory and has been found to play a role in neurodegenerative conditions. To investigate Adora2a functionality in cisplatin-induced chemobrain, we assessed the efficacy of the non-selective Adora2a antagonist caffeine, in preventing cisplatin-induced cognitive dysfunction. Caffeine was selected as a therapeutic due to its safe pharmacological profile, its universal availability, and low cost. Our translational approach employing the non-selective Adora2a antagonist caffeine, protected against cisplatin-induced body weight deficits and motor dysfunction, both of which are common clinical symptoms of chemotherapy. Interestingly, relative to cisplatin alone, mice treated with caffeine in combination with cisplatin exhibited improved dendritic spine densities in the hippocampus, suggesting improved neuronal morphology by caffeine. Given that Adora2a antagonists are known to enhance anti-tumor activity while also showing neuroprotective promise in neurodegenerative conditions, inhibiting Adora2a during cancer treatment may have far-reaching synergistic effects on quality of life improvement for cancer survivors. Citation Format: Alfredo Oliveros, Ana M. Corujo-Ramirez, Ki-Hyun Yoo, Jason Tang, Danielle Brogren, Mohammad A. Rashid, Yuanhang Liu, Mi-Hyeon Jang. Adora2a inhibition via caffeine as a novel therapeutic target for cisplatin-induced chemobrain [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 3115.