ABCC10-mediated cGAMP efflux drives cancer cell radiotherapy resistance

Cell Death Differ. 2026 Jan;33(1):111-125. doi: 10.1038/s41418-025-01552-1. Epub 2025 Aug 6.

Abstract

Although radiotherapy (RT) is used in more than 50% of cancer patients, the intrinsic radioresistance of cancer cells, characterized by metabolic adaptation, significantly limits its clinical efficacy. However, the mechanisms underlying RT resistance (RTR) remain incompletely understood. In this study, we used high-throughput metabolic CRISPR library screening and identified ABCC10 as a novel molecular contributor to RTR. Functional assays, including vesicle transport, molecular docking, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, confirmed that the R545 site of ABCC10 binds to and effluxes 2'3'-cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) in an ATP-dependent manner. Mechanistically, RNA transcriptomics, along with overexpression and silencing experiments, demonstrated that ABCC10-mediated export of cGAMP suppresses the STING-TBK1-IRF3 signaling pathway. This efflux reduces RT-induced intercellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species and DNA damage. In vivo, a combination of RT and nilotinib, a potential ABCC10 inhibitor, synergistically inhibited tumor growth. In summary, we identified ABCC10 as a novel exporter of cGAMP in RTR. Our results highlight its potential role as a biomarker for predicting RT response and as a therapeutic target for overcoming RTR.

MeSH terms

  • ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family C Proteins* / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA Damage
  • Humans
  • Interferon Regulatory Factor-3
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Neoplasms* / radiotherapy
  • Nucleotides, Cyclic* / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Random Allocation
  • STING Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family C Proteins
  • cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate
  • IRF3 protein, human
  • multidrug resistance-associated protein 1
  • Nucleotides, Cyclic
  • STING Protein
  • TBK1 protein, human
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Interferon Regulatory Factor-3