TMET-04. SENSITIZING DIPGS TO ANTIFOLATES: A PRECLINICAL STUDY ON PURINE BIOSYNTHESIS TARGETS

Abstract

Abstract Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Gliomas (DIPGs), among the most devastating pediatric brain tumors, present a desperate need for innovative treatment strategies, given the lack of effective therapies. Our study unveils a significant metabolic vulnerability in DIPGs, rooted in purine biosynthesis, a key facilitator of tumor progression. Contrary to prior reports, we demonstrate DIPG cell lines' sensitivity to methotrexate, an antifolate that targets purine metabolism, underscoring a potential reappraisal of its therapeutic role. Further, our research reveals a promising therapeutic synergy between antifolates, namely methotrexate and LSN-3213128, and SHMT inhibition, offering a potential novel treatment combination. This synergy, demonstrated in a proof-of-concept study, curtailed tumor progression in our DIPG mouse model, underscoring a promising new treatment strategy. Importantly, we identify a paradoxical antifolate resistance mechanism: while typical resistance is linked to dysfunctional folate transport, our findings intriguingly show an upregulation of folate transporters and intracellular folate in DIPGs. This paradox suggests that elevated intracellular folate levels may be effectively outcompeting antifolate metabolites for their targets. Significantly, the failure of physiological concentrations of purines in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to restore DIPG cell viability under antifolate treatment further reinforces our rationale for targeting purine metabolism. The resistance mechanism is further validated by the observed synergy with SHMT inhibition, which disrupts the folate cycle allowing for the antifolates to out-compete the intracellular folates for their intended target. Our findings challenge conventional wisdom, open new avenues in DIPG therapeutic strategy, and highlight a paradoxical antifolate resistance mechanism that necessitates further exploration in the field.