Treatment-induced damage to the tumor micro-environment promotes cancer therapy resistance through extracellular proteins

1. A method for enhancing the effectiveness of a genotoxic cancer therapeutic comprising:

administering the genotoxic cancer therapeutic to a subject, wherein administration of the genotoxic cancer therapeutic induces activity of a gene encoding a DNA damage secretory polypeptide or protein (DDSP) into a tumor microenvironment by a benign cell; and

administering an agent that inhibits the activity of the gene encoding the DDSP polypeptide or protein subsequent to treatment of the subject with the genotoxic cancer therapeutic.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the DDSP polypeptide or protein is matrix metallopeptidase 1 (interstitial collagenase) (MMP1), Wingless-type MMTV integration site family member 16B (WNT16B), secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (SFRP2), matrix metallopeptidase 12 (MMP12), serine peptidase inhibitor (Kazal type 1) (SPINK1), matrix metallopeptidase 10 (stromelysin 2) (MMP10), ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 5 (ENPP5), epiregulin (EREG), bone morphogenic protein 6 (BMP6), angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4), chondroitin sulfate N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (CSGALNACT), chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 26 (CCL26), ampiregulin (AREG), angioplastin 1 (ANGPT1), cholecystokinin (CCK), thrombomodulin (THBD), chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 14 (CXCL14), novoblastoma overexpressed protein (NOV), galanin prepropeptide (GAL), natriuretic peptide C (NPPC), family with sequence similarity 150, member B (FAM150B), cystatin SN (CST1), glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), mucin-like 1 (MUCL1), neuronal pentaraxin II (NPTX2), transmembrane protein 155 (TMEM155), endothelin 1 (EDN1), pregnancy specific beta-1-glycoprotein 9 (PSG9), ADAM metallopeptidease with thrombospondin type 1 motif, 3 (ADAMTS3), CD24, pro-platelet basic protein (chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 7) (PPBP), chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 3 (CXCL3), matrix metallopeptidase 3 (stromelysin 1, progelatinase (MMP3), cystatin SA (CST2), pregnancy specific beta-1-glycoprotein 8 (PSG8), procollagen C-endopeptidase enhancer 2 (PCOLCE2), pregnancy specific beta-1-glycoprotein 7 (PSG7), tumor necrosis factor (ligand) superfamily, member 15 (TNFSF15), chromosome 17 open reading frame 67 (C17orf17), calcitonin-related polypeptide alpha (CALCA), fibroblast growth factor 18 (FGF18), bone morphogenic protein 2 (BMP2), matrilin 3 (MATN3), transferring pseudogene 1 (TFP1), serpin peptidase inhibitor, clade 1, member 1 (neuroserpin) (SERPINI1), tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, member 25 (TNFRSF25), or interleukin 23, alpha subunit p19 (IL23A).

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the DDSP extracellular protein is WNT16B, secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (SFRP2), serine peptidase inhibitor (Kazal type 1) (SPINK1), and/or glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF).

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the agent that inhibits the activity of the gene encoding the DDSP polypeptide or protein subsequent to treatment of the subject with the genotoxic cancer therapeutic comprises an antisense nucleic acid that specifically binds to and inhibits the expression of the identified DDSP polypeptide or protein, a polypeptide comprising a portion of the identified DDSP polypeptide of protein that antagonizes its activity, an antibody or a fragment or derivative thereof that specifically binds to and inhibits the activity of the identified DDSP polypeptide or protein, or a chemical compound of natural or synthetic origin that modulates the expression or the activity of the identified DDSP polypeptide of protein.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the genotoxic cancer therapeutic is radiation, mitoxantrone or bleomycin.