# Effect of APOBEC3 on Bladder Cancer Biology and Response to Immunotherapy

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2021 · $46,036

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide 3 (APOBEC3) family of proteins play an
important role in innate immunity by restricting retroviral replication. During a viral infection, these enzymes are
upregulated by interferon signaling. They catalyze the conversion of cytidine to uracil within reverse-transcribed,
single-stranded DNA, resulting in the degradation or integration of defective viral nucleic acid, and therefore,
impaired viral replication. During DNA replication and transcription in mammalian cells, single-stranded DNA can
also serve as the substrate for APOBEC3 enzymes. Given the highly proliferative nature of cancer cells, and a
high level of interferon signaling in certain cancer types, APOBEC-induced mutagenesis can contribute
significantly to their mutational spectrum. In cancer, high APOBEC expression correlates with an increased tumor
mutational burden (TMB) and predicted neoantigen load. Studies in vitro and in liver cancer transgenic mouse
models have shown that APOBEC overexpression can promote tumor progression. In urothelial carcinoma, the
expression of APOBEC3B, a particular member of this protein family, is significantly upregulated. Strikingly,
upwards of 70% of mutations can be attributed to APOBEC-induced mutagenesis. I have generated mouse
bladder cancer cell lines with inducible murine Apobec3. I confirmed the induction of Apobec3 protein, induction
of an APOBEC mutational pattern, and the ability of Apobec3 to promote anchorage-independent growth. In
addition, we have generated a novel Rosa26-Apobec3 knock-in allele in which the expression of Apobec3 is
Cre-inducible, allowing for spatial and temporal control of Apobec3 expression. Currently, no studies have
examined APOBEC's role in mediating intratumoral heterogeneity, or in response to immune checkpoint
blockade. High intratumoral heterogeneity has been shown to negatively correlate with response to
immunotherapy. Additionally, because of the increased mutational load (and therefore, neoantigens) imparted
by APOBEC-induced mutagenesis, one would expect a robust response to immune checkpoint blockade.
However, many of the neoantigens may be subclonal and persistent APOBEC mutagenesis, in the context of a
neoantigen driven anti-tumor immune response, may allow for antigen escape (i.e. due to nonsense mutations
in the gene encoding the neoantigen). I will utilize the tools we have developed to answer these important
questions. Specifically, in Aim 1, I will cross our novel Apobec3 knock-in allele to our established Pten and
Trp53-deficient mouse model of bladder cancer and characterize the intratumoral heterogeneity by multiregional
whole-exome sequencing. In Aim 2, I will utilize an allograft bladder cancer model with inducible Apobec3 to test
whether Apobec3 mutagenic activity can dampen the efficacy of immunotherapy. Results of the proposed aims
will contribute to a greater understanding of the role of APOBEC3 mutagenesis in f...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10092808
- **Project number:** 5F31CA247250-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** Andrew Truong
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $46,036
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-02-01 → 2023-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10092808

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10092808, Effect of APOBEC3 on Bladder Cancer Biology and Response to Immunotherapy (5F31CA247250-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10092808. Licensed CC0.

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