Genome-Wide CRISPR-Cas9 Screens Expose Genetic Vulnerabilities and Mechanisms of Temozolomide Sensitivity in Glioblastoma Stem Cells

• Published in: Cell reports (Cambridge) Vol. 27; no. 3; pp. 971 - 986.e9
• Main Authors: MacLeod, Graham, Bozek, Danielle A., Rajakulendran, Nishani, Monteiro, Vernon, Ahmadi, Moloud, Steinhart, Zachary, Kushida, Michelle M., Yu, Helen, Coutinho, Fiona J., Cavalli, Florence M.G., Restall, Ian, Hao, Xiaoguang, Hart, Traver, Luchman, H. Artee, Weiss, Samuel, Dirks, Peter B., Angers, Stephane
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 16.04.2019; Elsevier
• Subjects: CRISPR-Cas9; fitness genes; functional genomics; glioblastoma; glioblastoma stem cells; functional genomics; glioblastoma; fitness genes; glioblastoma stem cells; CRISPR-Cas9
• ISSN: 2211-1247; 2211-1247
• DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.03.047

Glioblastoma therapies have remained elusive due to limitations in understanding mechanisms of growth and survival of the tumorigenic population. Using CRISPR-Cas9 approaches in patient-derived GBM stem cells (GSCs) to interrogate function of the coding genome, we identify actionable pathways responsible for growth, which reveal the gene-essential circuitry of GBM stemness and proliferation. In particular, we characterize members of the SOX transcription factor family, SOCS3, USP8, and DOT1L, and protein ufmylation as important for GSC growth. Additionally, we reveal mechanisms of temozolomide resistance that could lead to combination strategies. By reaching beyond static genome analysis of bulk tumors, with a genome-wide functional approach, we reveal genetic dependencies within a broad range of biological processes to provide increased understanding of GBM growth and treatment resistance. [Display omitted] •Genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screens in patient-derived glioblastoma stem cells•Identification of regulators of stemness governing glioblastoma stem cell growth•Multiple stress response pathways are genetic vulnerabilities in glioblastoma•Identification of modulators of sensitivity to standard of care chemotherapy MacLeod et al. describe genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screens identifying genetic vulnerabilities across a panel of patient-derived glioblastoma stem cell cultures. Regulators of stemness (SOX2, SOX9, DOT1L, and SOCS3) and stress response (ufmylation and ERAD pathways) govern the growth of glioblastoma stem cells. Chemogenomic screens using temozolomide identify modulators of sensitivity to chemotherapy.