PRKDC Induces Chemoresistance in Osteosarcoma by Recruiting GDE2 to Stabilize GNAS and Activate AKT.

Chemoresistance is one of the major causes of poor prognosis in osteosarcoma. Alternative therapeutic strategies for osteosarcoma are limited, indicating that increasing sensitivity to currently used chemotherapies could be an effective approach to improve patient outcomes. Using a kinome-wide CRISPR screen, we identified PRKDC as a critical determinant of doxorubicin (DOX) sensitivity in osteosarcoma. Analysis of clinical samples demonstrated that PRKDC was hyperactivated in osteosarcoma, and functional experiments showed that loss of PRKDC significantly increased sensitivity of osteosarcoma to DOX. Mechanistically, PRKDC recruited and bound GDE2 to enhance the stability of GNAS. The elevated GNAS protein levels subsequently activated AKT phosphorylation and conferred resistance to DOX. The PRKDC inhibitor AZD7648 and DOX synergized and strongly suppressed the growth of osteosarcoma in mouse xenograft models and human organoids. In conclusion, the PRKDC-GDE2-GNAS-AKT regulatory axis suppresses DOX sensitivity and comprises targetable candidates for improving the efficacy of chemotherapy in osteosarcoma.