Modeling CIC::DUX4 sarcoma reveals oncogene-mediated MHCI-dependent immune evasion.

Abstract

CIC::DUX4 sarcoma (CDS) is a highly aggressive malignancy with limited therapeutic options. Here, we present a doxycycline-inducible CIC::DUX4 chimeric mouse model and a cancer line derived from it, imChCDS, that faithfully recapitulates the molecular, histological, and immunological features of human CDS. We demonstrate that CIC::DUX4 expression alone is sufficient to drive tumorigenesis in permissive lineages of soft connective tissues. The imChCDS cell line retains the transcriptional footprint of its mesenchymal cell of origin, develops metastatic tumors in immunocompetent hosts, and exhibits a clear dependency on the P300/CBP transcriptional co-activators. Notably, we identify CIC::DUX4/P300/CBP-mediated suppression of MHC class I (MHCI) as a key mechanism of CDS immune evasion. Genetical inactivation of CIC::DUX4 or pharmacological inhibition of P300/CBP induces cancer cell cycle arrest, restores MHCI expression, and triggers robust anti-tumor immune responses, thereby transforming the immunologically "cold" CDS microenvironment into a "hot" one and driving tumor regression. Together, these models offer a versatile and physiologically relevant platform to investigate CDS pathogenesis, unravel immune evasion mechanisms, and evaluate emerging therapeutic strategies, including those targeting CIC::DUX4/P300/CBP oncogenic axis.