Co-targeting SOS1 enhances the antitumor effects of KRASG12C inhibitors by addressing intrinsic and acquired resistance

Abstract

Combination approaches are needed to strengthen and extend the clinical response to KRAS^G12C inhibitors (KRAS^G12Ci). Here, we assessed the antitumor responses of KRAS^G12C mutant lung and colorectal cancer models to combination treatment with a SOS1 inhibitor (SOS1i), BI-3406, plus the KRAS^G12C inhibitor, adagrasib. We found that responses to BI-3406 plus adagrasib were stronger than to adagrasib alone, comparable to adagrasib with SHP2 (SHP2i) or EGFR inhibitors and correlated with stronger suppression of RAS-MAPK signaling. BI-3406 plus adagrasib treatment also delayed the emergence of acquired resistance and elicited antitumor responses from adagrasib-resistant models. Resistance to KRAS^G12Ci seemed to be driven by upregulation of MRAS activity, which both SOS1i and SHP2i were found to potently inhibit. Knockdown of SHOC2, a MRAS complex partner, partially restored response to KRAS^G12Ci treatment. These results suggest KRAS^G12C plus SOS1i to be a promising strategy for treating both KRAS^G12Ci naive and relapsed KRAS^G12C-mutant tumors.