Chromosome 9p21.3 Coordinates Cell Intrinsic and Extrinsic Tumor Suppression [scRNA-seq]

Somatic chromosomal deletions are prevalent in cancer, yet their effects are poorly understood. The most prominent homozygous deletions affect chromosome 9p21.3 and eliminate the CDKN2A/B tumor suppressor genes, thus disabling a cell intrinsic barrier to tumorigenesis. However, half of 9p21.3 deletions encompass a cluster of 16 type I interferons (IFNs) whose co-deletion remains unexplored. To functionally dissect 9p21.3 and other genomic deletions, we developed MACHETE (Molecular Alteration of Chromosomes with Engineered Tandem Elements), a genome engineering strategy that enables flexible modeling of megabase-sized deletions. Applying MACHETE to a syngeneic mouse model of pancreatic cancer, we show that concomitant loss of the IFN cluster with Cdkn2a/b enhanced immune evasion, metastasis, and immunotherapy resistance compared to Cdkn2a/b deletions alone. Mechanistically, IFN co-deletion disrupted type I IFN signaling in the tumor microenvironment, leading to marked changes in infiltrating immune cells and escape from CD8+ T cell surveillance, effects largely driven by the poorly understood interferon epsilon (Ifne). These results reveal how IFN-encompassing 9p21.3 deletions disable cell intrinsic and extrinsic tumor suppression, thereby providing a pervasive route for immune evasion, metastasis, and immunotherapy resistance. Our study provides a framework for interrogating large deletion events in cancer and beyond. Overall design: sc RNA-seq analysis was performed on CD45+ cells sorted from from KrasG12D; sgP53; dS or KrasG12D; sgP53; dL tumors, which were harvested from immune-competent mice treated with control IgG or anti-IFNAR1 blocking antibody.