Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is associated with mutations in Kras, a known oncogenic driver of PDAC; and the KRAS (G12D) mutation is present in nearly half of PDAC patients. Recently, a non-covalent small molecule inhibitor (MRTX1133) was identified with specificity to the Kras (G12D) mutant protein. Here we explore the impact of Kras (G12D) inhibition by MRTX1133 on advanced PDAC and its influence on the tumor microenvironment. Employing different orthotopic xenograft and syngeneic tumor models, eight different PDXs, and two different autochthonous genetic models, we demonstrate that MRTX1133 reverses early PDAC growth, increases intratumoral CD8 (+) effector T cells, decreases myeloid infiltration, and reprograms cancer associated fibroblasts. Autochthonous genetic mouse models treated with MRTX1133 leads to regression of both established PanINs and advanced PDAC. Regression of advanced PDAC requires CD8 (+) T cells and immune checkpoint blockade therapy (iCBT) synergizes with MRTX1133 to eradicate PDAC and prolong overall survival. Mechanistically, inhibition of mutant Kras in advanced PDAC and human patient derived organoids (PDOs) induces Fas expression in cancer cells and facilitates CD8 (+) T cell mediated death. These results demonstrate the efficacy of MRTX1133 in different mouse models of PDAC associated with reprogramming of stromal fibroblasts and a dependency on CD8 (+) T cell mediated tumor clearance. Collectively, this study provides a rationale for a synergistic combination of MRTX1133 with iCBT in clinical trials.