Work

Molecular architecture of the tumor microenvironment caused by BRCA1 and BRCA2 somatic mutations in human lung adenocarcinoma

Year: 2026

Type: preprint

Abstract: ABSTRACT Objectives Homologous recombination repair (HRR) deficiency is associated with improved immunotherapy responses in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The HRR genes BRCA1 / 2 are key regulators of DNA repair, yet their impact on the tumor microenvironment (TME) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unclear. Methods Using single-cell sequencing and multi-omics data, we characterized BRCA1/2 mutation-associated transcriptional programs, immune cell composition, and functional alterations in T cells, investigating the molecular and immune architecture of BRCA-mutant LUAD patients. Results BRCA1 / 2 mutations were associated with increased genomic instability and poor prognosis in LUAD patients, but predicted better clinical outcomes following immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) treatment. BRCA1 mutations correlated with an upregulated type I IFN/IFN-γ signature and CD8 + T cell activation. BRCA2 mutations were associated with alveolar/stress/inflammatory responses and enhanced MHC-II antigen presentation, linked to CD4 + T cell differentiation. Both alterations coincided with reduced CD28 co-stimulation and CTL activity, hinting of immune evasion. We identified two tissue-resident memory T cell (Trm) subsets as predictors of clinical outcomes and ICB response. BRCA1 mutations were associated with CD8 + Trm expansion, whereas BRCA2 mutations linked to tumor CD4 + Trm expansion and peripheral T/NK cell cytotoxicity. Furthermore, a cancer-promoting program activated by BRCA1 mutation was vulnerable to histone deacetylase inhibitors, which inhibited LUAD tumor growth. Conclusions This study provides a preliminary characterization of the BRCA-mutant TME in LUAD patients, revealing distinct transcriptional and immune patterns that highlight differences in BRCA1/2 -associated molecular architecture and offer a framework for improving therapy efficacy in LUAD.

Source: eLife

DOI: 10.7554/elife.110662