# Enhancing Breast Tumor Cell Immunogenicity by Targeting the Epigenetic Factor NURF

> **NIH NIH R21** · VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $187,539

## Abstract

Project Summary
Despite their potential to suppress tumor growth, natural killer (NK) cells do not have significant activity against
solid tumors due to limited activity in the tumor microenvironment (TME). We seek to identify the molecular basis
for this limitation and to develop a strategy for improving NK cell–mediated antitumor activity.
 An underlying premise for our approach is that some established cytotoxic chemotherapies enhance
tumor cell immunogenicity by promoting autophagy, immune stimulating damage-associated molecular pattern
(DAMP) molecules, cytokines/chemokines, and immunogenic cell death. These immune stimulatory signals
enhancing the antitumor immune response improving therapeutic outcomes. These effects can be further
enhanced by combining chemotherapy with an immunotherapy designed to enhance effector cell (CD8 T cell or
NK cell) antitumor activity. It is with this strategy in mind that we have combined the chemotherapies doxorubicin
or paclitaxel, with our novel immunotherapy that depletes the epigenetic regulator the nucleosome remodeling
factor (NURF). Our preliminary studies demonstrated that this combinatorial treatment enhances the cytotoxic
effects of doxorubicin (increased DNA damage, autophagy and reduced tumor cell growth), in breast cancer
cells. The combined treatment improves tumor cell immunogenicity as measured by enhanced NK cell killing
and reduced tumor growth in animal models. Similar increases in autophagy, reductions in tumor cell growth,
and enhanced tumor cell immunogenicity were observed using a novel small molecule inhibitor of NURF (AU1),
demonstrating that NURF can be targeted therapeutically. It is the objective of this proposal to characterize how
pharmacological NURF inhibition enhances sensitivity to chemotherapy, and if these effects improve therapeutic
outcomes using preclinical models of metastatic breast cancer.
 To test this hypothesis we will complete two Specific Aims. In Aim1 we will develop strategies to improve
NK cell antitumor activity. Towards this end NURF depletion will be combined with chemotherapies to discover
NK cell stimulating combinations. Promising combinations will be studied in vivo for effects on NK cell activation,
maturation, proliferation (intra-tumor and peripheral), homing, and NK cell-mediated antitumor activity (in vivo
and ex vivo). In Aim2 we will determine how NURF regulates breast cancer cell sensitivity to doxorubicin (and
other chemotherapies as identified from Aim1). These studies will focus on therapy induced DAMP and
cytokine/chemokine production, and how that could be regulated by increases in autophagy. New pharmacologic
inhibitors to NURF will be used to repeat key observations from Aim1 and 2 to determine its therapeutic potential.
Completing these Aims will discover how therapy treated tumors stimulate NK cell antitumor activity, further
characterizing chromatin remodeling as a novel regulator of NK cell-mediated antitumor immunity and leveraging
t...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10074549
- **Project number:** 5R21CA245455-02
- **Recipient organization:** VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Joseph William Landry
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $187,539
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-01-01 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10074549

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10074549, Enhancing Breast Tumor Cell Immunogenicity by Targeting the Epigenetic Factor NURF (5R21CA245455-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10074549. Licensed CC0.

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