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.

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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
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article

Tumor cell-derived IFN spatially reprograms osteopontin-enriched macrophage niches to promote PARP inhibitor resistance

Dongchen Zhou, Kangjia Tao, Guangtao Zhao, Zikun Peng et al.
Journal of Clinical Investigation
Bone and Dental Protein Studies
article

Tumor cell-derived IFN spatially reprograms osteopontin-enriched macrophage niches to promote PARP inhibitor resistance

Dongchen Zhou, Kangjia Tao, Guangtao Zhao, 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
article en

Abstract

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.

Journal of Clinical Investigation
Central Hospital of Wuhan (CN), Tongji Hospital (CN), Huazhong University of Science and Technology (CN)
Zero hunger
Openalex Percentile: Top 47%
Bone and Dental Protein Studies
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