Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) is an actionable therapeutic target in CDK4/6 inhibitor-resistant ER+/RB-deficient breast cancer.

CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) have improved survival of patients with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer. However, patients treated with CDK4/6i eventually develop drug resistance and progress. RB1 loss-of-function alterations confer acquired resistance to CDK4/6i, but the optimal therapy for these patients is unclear. Using a genome-wide CRISPR screen, we identified protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) as a molecular vulnerability in ER+/ RB1 -knockout (RBKO) breast cancer cells. PRMT5 inhibition blocked cell cycle G1-to-S transition independent of RB, thus arresting growth of RBKO cells. Proteomics analysis uncovered fused in sarcoma (FUS) as a downstream effector of PRMT5. Pharmacological inhibition of PRMT5 resulted in dissociation of FUS from RNA polymerase II (Pol II), Ser2 Pol II hyperphosphorylation, and intron retention in genes that promote DNA synthesis. Treatment with the PRMT5i inhibitor pemrametostat and fulvestrant synergistically inhibited growth of ER+/RB-deficient patient-derived xenografts, suggesting dual ER and PRMT5 blockade as a novel therapeutic strategy to treat ER+/RB-deficient breast cancer.