Targeting SWI/SNF ATPases in enhancer-addicted prostate cancer

The switch/sucrose non-fermentable (SWI/SNF) complex has a crucial role in chromatin remodelling(1) and is altered in over 20% of cancers(2,3). Here we developed a proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) degrader of the SWI/SNF ATPase subunits, SMARCA2 and SMARCA4, called AU-15330. Androgen receptor (AR)(+) forkhead box A1 (FOXA1)(+) prostate cancer cells are exquisitely sensitive to dual SMARCA2 and SMARCA4 degradation relative to normal and other cancer cell lines. SWI/SNF ATPase degradation rapidly compacts cis-regulatory elements bound by transcription factors that drive prostate cancer cell proliferation, namely AR, FOXA1, ERG and MYC, which dislodges them from chromatin, disables their core enhancer circuitry, and abolishes the downstream oncogenic gene programs. SWI/SNF ATPase degradation also disrupts super-enhancer and promoter looping interactions that wire supra-physiologic expression of the AR, FOXA1 and MYC oncogenes themselves. AU-15330 induces potent inhibition of tumour growth in xenograft models of prostate cancer and synergizes with the AR antagonist enzalutamide, even inducing disease remission in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) models without toxicity. Thus, impeding SWI/SNF-mediated enhancer accessibility represents a promising therapeutic approach for enhancer-addicted cancers.

Automated summary

The SWI/SNF complex plays a crucial role in chromatin remodeling and is altered in over 20% of cancers. A newly developed proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) named AU-15330 can degrade the SWI/SNF ATPase subunits, SMARCA2 and SMARCA4, leading to inhibition of tumor growth in prostate cancer cells that are sensitive to this degradation. Impeding SWI/SNF-mediated enhancer accessibility could be a promising therapeutic approach for enhancer-addicted cancers.