Inositol Polyphosphate-4-Phosphatase Type II promotes gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells via lysosomal exocytosis

Abstract

Chemotherapy resistance is a major challenge in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). While high Inositol Polyphosphate-4-Phosphatase Type II (INPP4B) expression correlates with poor outcomes, its function in chemotherapy response is unclear. We show that INPP4B promotes gemcitabine resistance by enhancing lysosomal exocytosis. Across PDAC models, high INPP4B linked to reduced gemcitabine sensitivity, while knockdown restored it. INPP4B also conferred cross-resistance to agents including irinotecan, oxaliplatin, paclitaxel, and daunorubicin. Mechanistically, INPP4B increased cell-surface LAMP1, enhanced extracellular gemcitabine release, and mitigated DNA damage. Pharmacological targeting of lysosomes with chloroquine (CQ), Bafilomycin A (BafA), or specific PIKfyve or TRPML1 inhibitors blocked exocytosis and reversed resistance in vitro. Moreover, chloroquine co-treatment restored gemcitabine sensitivity in INPP4B-overexpressing xenografts. These results establish INPP4B-driven lysosomal exocytosis as a key mechanism of gemcitabine resistance, highlighting a therapeutic target for PDAC resensitization.