Tumor cell-derived IFN spatially reprograms osteopontin-enriched macrophage niches to promote PARP inhibitor resistance
Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) benefit homologous recombination-deficient (HRD) malignancies, yet resistance remains a major challenge. Leveraging specimens from a prospective neoadjuvant niraparib monotherapy trial in treatment-naïve high-grade serous ovarian cancer, we integrated PhenoCycler-Fusion spatial profiling, scRNA-seq, and multiplex immunohistochemistry to identify two therapeutic-modulated cellular neighborhoods: an IFN+ tumor cell-enriched niche that expands in resistant lesions and a tumor-associated macrophage (TAM)-enriched niche that persists but acquires enhanced immunosuppressive features. Mechanistically, sustained tumor cell-derived IFN induced osteopontin (SPP1) expression in TAMs via STAT signaling, creating immunosuppressive niches enriched in Tregs and myofibroblastic cancer-associated fibroblasts with intensified cell-cell interactions. SPP1 directly suppressed T cell signaling and effector function. High baseline SPP1+ cells predicted lower response rate (30.0% vs 76.2%, P = 0.021) and shorter progression-free survival (median 13.5 vs 28.3 months, P = 0.0006). In HRD mouse models, SPP1 blockade restored PARPi sensitivity, reversed acquired resistance, and enhanced T cell cytotoxicity-effects abrogated in immunodeficient mice, confirming immune dependence. These data establish a spatial IFN-SPP1 axis whereby persistent tumor cell IFN reprograms TAMs to promote PARPi resistance, position SPP1 as a key therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker for this therapy, and underscore therapeutic potential of microenvironment-targeted strategies to overcome PARPi resistance.
Authors
- Dongchen Zhou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1923-9671)
- Kangjia Tao
- Guangtao Zhao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3911-8992)
- Zikun Peng
- Jianhua Chi
- Qinglei Gao
- Chujun Cai
- Jiahao Liu
- Qing Zhong
- Xiong Li
- Yong Fang
- Yaying Lin
- Dan Liu
- Wen Pan
- Yu Xia
- Cheng Xu
- Xingzhe Liu
- Sisi Wu
- Kairong Xiong
- Ding Ma
- Cui Feng
- Wen Yang
Institutions
- Central Hospital of Wuhan (CN)
- Tongji Hospital (CN)
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Clinical Investigation
- Published
- 2026-02-24
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1172/jci199035
- Primary Topic
- Bone and Dental Protein Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00