Abstract 1773: The tyrosine phosphatase, SHP-2, is involved in regulating PD-L1 expression in non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), specifically those which target the T-cell surface receptor Programmed Cell Death-1 (PD-1) and its ligand, Programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1), have demonstrated substantial clinical benefit in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Tumoral PD-L1 expression may be important for response to therapy, but the precise mechanism of regulation has yet to be fully elucidated. It is known that PD-L1 expression is elevated in cancers harboring mutations in the RAS family of genes, specifically KRAS. Mutations in the KRAS gene are found in up to 30% of NSCLC tumors, and there are no targeted treatment options available for this subset of patients. The tyrosine phosphatase, SHP-2, has been shown to be a critical regulator of the KRAS signaling cascade. Therefore, genes regulated by the RAS/MAPK signaling cascade, including PD-L1, may be modulated by SHP-2 inhibition. Thus, this study aims to investigate the impact of SHP-2 activity on PD-L1 expression in NSCLC. The allosteric inhibitor of SHP-2, SHP099, was used to ablate SHP-2 activity in KRAS-mutant NSCLC cell lines, H460, A549, H2122, and EGFR-mutant NSCLC cell line PC9. PD-L1 levels were quantified by western blot and flow cytometry analyses. PD-L1 mRNA was measured by quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. SHP099 activity was confirmed by SHP-2, siRNA transfection in KRAS active cell lines. Inhibition of SHP-2 led to increased levels of PD-L1 expression in the KRAS-mutant cell lines, but not in the EGFR-mutant cells. Analysis of PD-L1 surface expression by flow cytometry confirmed that surface PD-L1 levels increased following exposure to SHP099. To determine whether SHP-2 controlled expression at the transcriptional level, mRNA quantification by qRT-PCR displayed increased levels of PD-L1 mRNA following SHP099 treatment. Together, these results suggest that SHP-2 regulates PD-L1 expression in KRAS-active NSCLC at the level of PD-L1 gene expression. It is presently unclear whether SHP-2 also has a role in controlling protein turnover. Using SHP-2 mutant constructs that mimic a constitutively active phosphatase, we hope to gain further insight into the roles of both SHP-2 catalytic and scaffolding functionality on PD-L1 expression. Citation Format: Keller Toral. The tyrosine phosphatase, SHP-2, is involved in regulating PD-L1 expression in non-small cell lung cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1773.