ZBTB7A is a modulator of KDM5-driven transcriptional networks in basal breast cancer (RNA-Seq)

We previously identified KDM5B, encoding a histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) demethylase, as an oncogene in estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer driving endocrine resistance. Here we describe that KDM5A is frequently amplified and overexpressed in basal breast tumors and is associated with chemotherapy resistance. Using CRISPR knockout viability screens -/+ KDM5 inhibition (KDM5i), we found that deletion of the transcription factor ZBTB7A and core SAGA complex increased sensitivity to KDM5i, whereas knockout of RHO-GTPases led to resistance. Integrated ChIP-seq and RNA-seq analyses revealed colocalization of ZBTB7A and KDM5s at promoters with high H3K4me3 signal and dependence of KDM5A binding on ZBTB7A. ZBTB7A knockout had a pleiotropic effect on transcriptional responses to KDM5i, in which it modulates the KDM5i-induced innate immune signaling and NF-kB-regulated genes. ZBTB7A knockout and KDM5i cooperate to alter cell states with KDM5i decreasing basal-like and ZBTB7A knockout inducing mesenchymal-like gene expression patterns. Our work furthers our understanding of KDM5-mediated gene regulation in breast cancer and identifies key pathways that mediate sensitivity to KDM5 inhibition