Combinatorial clinical trials of PARP inhibitors with immunotherapies are ongoing, yet the immunomodulatory effects of PARP inhibition have been incompletely studied. Here, we sought to dissect the mechanisms underlying PARP inhibitor-induced changes in the tumor microenvironment of BRCA1-defi cient triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We demonstrate that the PARP inhibitor olaparib induces CD8 + T-cell infi ltration and activation in vivo , and that CD8 + T-cell depletion severely compromises antitumor effi cacy. Olaparib-induced T-cell recruitment is mediated through activation of the cGAS/STING pathway in tumor cells with paracrine activation of dendritic cells and is more pronounced in HR-defi cient compared with HR-profi cient TNBC cells and in vivo models. CRISPR-mediated knockout of STING in cancer cells prevents proinfl ammatory signaling and is suffi cient to abolish olaparib-induced T-cell infi ltration in vivo. These fi ndings elucidate an additional mechanism of action of PARP inhibitors and provide a rationale for combining PARP inhibition with immunotherapies for the treatment of TNBC. SIGNIFICANCE: This work demonstrates cross-talk between PARP inhibition and the tumor microenvironment related to STING/TBK1/IRF3 pathway activation in cancer cells that governs CD8 + T-cell recruitment and antitumor effi cacy. The data provide insight into the mechanism of action of PARP inhibitors in BRCA-associated breast cancer.

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Polyploidal giant cancer cells (PGCCs) have been observed by pathologists in patient tumor samples and are especially prominent in late stage, high grade disease or after chemotherapy. However, they are often overlooked due to their apparent dormancy. Recent research has shown PGCCs to be chemoresistant and express stem-like features, traits associated with disease progression and relapse. Here, we show the preferential survival of PGCCs during Paclitaxel (PTX) treatment and used multiple particle tracking analysis to probe their unique biophysical phenotype. We show that PGCCs have higher inherent cytoplasmic and nuclear stiffness in order to withstand the mechanical stress associated with their increased size and the chemical stress from PTX treatment. Inhibitor studies show the involvement of a dysregulated RhoA-Rock1 pathway and overall actin cytoskeletal network as the underlying mechanism for the altered biophysical phenotype of PGCCs. Furthermore, PGCCs exhibit a slow but persistent migratory phenotype, a trait commonly associated with metastatic dissemination and invasiveness. This work demonstrates the clinical relevance and the need to study this subpopulation, in order to devise therapeutic strategies to combat disease relapse. By highlighting the unique biophysical phenotype of PGCCs, we hope to provide unique avenues for therapeutic targeting of these cells in disease treatment.