Inhibition of Tumor Microenvironment-Driven JAK-STAT Signaling Enhances Response to Arginine Deprivation Therapy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Abstract

Argininosuccinate synthetase 1 (ASS1) expression and arginine availability are key metabolic determinants that influence tumor fitness and regulate immune interactions within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Using an orthotopic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) model, we demonstrate that arginine deprivation heightens tumor dependence on the TME for survival. Mechanistically, fibroblasts sustain tumor viability by supplying arginine, whereas macrophages cooperate with stromal cues to activate Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) signaling, thereby enhancing tumor survival. Concordantly, a JAK-STAT gene-expression signature correlates with ASS1 levels in human TNBC datasets. Translationally, combined pharmacological inhibition of JAK signaling with arginine deprivation markedly suppresses tumor growth. Together, these findings reveal a TME-driven, targetable stromal-immune circuit that enables tumors to withstand arginine deficiency-induced metabolic stress. Broadly, our work highlights that mapping and strategically inducing metabolic dependencies can reveal actionable compensatory pathways, offering opportunities to improve cancer therapy.