Targeting the ATM-TRMT10A-BRCA1 axis confers synthetic lethality to PARP inhibition in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Abstract

Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) progresses aggressively and resists existing therapies. Although poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPis) benefit a subset of patients with mCRPC and BRCA1/2 deficiencies, therapeutic options remain limited for those without such mutations. Here, we uncover a critical role for the ATM-TRMT10A-BRCA1 signaling axis in regulating homologous recombination (HR) repair and PARPi sensitivity. We demonstrate that ATM phosphorylates TRMT10A at serine-28 after DNA damage, promoting BRCA1 recruitment and efficient HR repair. TRMT10A deletion disrupts HR repair, sensitizing cells to PARPis. Moreover, TRMT10A is up-regulated in mCRPC through stabilization by USP10. Targeting USP10 with spautin-1 induces TRMT10A degradation and enhances tumor sensitivity to PARPis in cell-derived xenografts and patient-derived xenograft models. These findings identify TRMT10A as a therapeutic vulnerability in mCRPC and demonstrate that combined inhibition of PARP and USP10 offers a promising synthetic lethal strategy for a broader group of patients lacking classical BRCA mutations.