Concurrent genetic and non-genetic resistance mechanisms to KRAS inhibition in colorectal cancer.

Abstract

KRAS is mutationally activated in 45%-50% of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases, and while KRAS-targeted therapies have shown clinical promise, drug resistance limits their efficacy. To explore the mechanisms underlying KRAS inhibitor resistance, we use targeted exome sequencing and spatial transcriptomics on patient-matched CRC biopsies following combined treatment with KRAS^G12C and EGFR inhibitors. We show that acquired genetic events are identified in most patients at progression but are often subclonal and coexist with transcriptional adaptive states. Mesenchymal, YAP, and fetal-like transcriptional signatures predominate in resistant tumors, while inflammatory programs are induced early on treatment. Single-cell spatial analysis reveals intratumoral heterogeneity, with diverse adaptive states in different zones of individual tumors. Using human and murine organoid models, we show that drug-induced inflammatory programs are, at least in part, cancer-cell autonomous, and precede the emergence of drug resistance. We identify TBK1 as a target to abrogate the inflammatory adaptive phase and enhance responses to KRAS inhibition.