A genome-wide in vivo CRISPR activation screen identifies BACE1 as a therapeutic vulnerability of lung cancer brain metastasis

Sci Transl Med. 2025 Jul 2;17(805):eadu2459. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adu2459. Epub 2025 Jul 2.

Abstract

Brain metastasis occurs in up to 40% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Considerable genomic heterogeneity exists between the primary lung tumor and respective brain metastasis; however, the identity of the genes capable of driving brain metastasis is incompletely understood. Here, we carried out an in vivo genome-wide CRISPR activation screen to identify molecular drivers of brain metastasis from an orthotopic xenograft model derived from a patient with NSCLC. We found that activating expression of the Alzheimer's disease-associated beta-secretase 1 (BACE1) led to a substantial increase in brain metastases. Furthermore, genetic and pharmacological inhibition of BACE1 blocked NSCLC brain metastasis. Mechanistically, we identified that BACE1 acts through epidermal growth factor receptor to drive this metastatic phenotype. Together, our data highlight the power of in vivo CRISPR activation screening to unveil molecular drivers and potential therapeutic targets of NSCLC brain metastasis.

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases* / genetics
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases* / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases* / genetics
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases* / metabolism
  • Brain Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Brain Neoplasms* / secondary
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems* / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / pathology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats* / genetics
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Mice
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases
  • BACE1 protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors