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Cyriac R, Lee K. Glutaminase inhibition as potential cancer therapeutics: current status and future applications. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2024; 39:2290911. [PMID: 38078371 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2023.2290911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Alterations in normal metabolic processes are defining features of cancer. Glutamine, an abundant amino acid in the human blood, plays a critical role in regulating several biosynthetic and bioenergetic pathways that support tumour growth. Glutaminolysis is a metabolic pathway that converts glutamine into various metabolites involved in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and generates antioxidants that are vital for tumour cell survival. As glutaminase catalyses the initial step of this metabolic pathway, it is of great significance in cancer metabolism and tumour progression. Inhibition of glutaminase and targeting of glutaminolysis have emerged as promising strategies for cancer therapy. This review explores the role of glutaminases in cancer metabolism and discusses various glutaminase inhibitors developed as potential therapies for tumour regression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajath Cyriac
- Bio & Drug Discovery Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
- Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmacology, Korea National University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Kwangho Lee
- Bio & Drug Discovery Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
- Medicinal Chemistry & Pharmacology, Korea National University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
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2
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Uo T, Ojo KK, Sprenger CC, Soriano Epilepsia K, Perera BGK, Damodarasamy M, Sun S, Kim S, Hogan HH, Hulverson MA, Choi R, Whitman GR, Barrett LK, Michaels SA, Xu LH, Sun VL, Arnold SL, Pang HJ, Nguyen MM, Vigil ALB, Kamat V, Sullivan LB, Sweet IR, Vidadala R, Maly DJ, Van Voorhis WC, Plymate SR. A Compound That Inhibits Glycolysis in Prostate Cancer Controls Growth of Advanced Prostate Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2024; 23:973-994. [PMID: 38507737 PMCID: PMC11219269 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-23-0540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer remains incurable regardless of recent therapeutic advances. Prostate cancer tumors display highly glycolytic phenotypes as the cancer progresses. Nonspecific inhibitors of glycolysis have not been utilized successfully for chemotherapy, because of their penchant to cause systemic toxicity. This study reports the preclinical activity, safety, and pharmacokinetics of a novel small-molecule preclinical candidate, BKIDC-1553, with antiglycolytic activity. We tested a large battery of prostate cancer cell lines for inhibition of cell proliferation, in vitro. Cell-cycle, metabolic, and enzymatic assays were used to demonstrate their mechanism of action. A human patient-derived xenograft model implanted in mice and a human organoid were studied for sensitivity to our BKIDC preclinical candidate. A battery of pharmacokinetic experiments, absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion experiments, and in vitro and in vivo toxicology experiments were carried out to assess readiness for clinical trials. We demonstrate a new class of small-molecule inhibitors where antiglycolytic activity in prostate cancer cell lines is mediated through inhibition of hexokinase 2. These compounds display selective growth inhibition across multiple prostate cancer models. We describe a lead BKIDC-1553 that demonstrates promising activity in a preclinical xenograft model of advanced prostate cancer, equivalent to that of enzalutamide. BKIDC-1553 demonstrates safety and pharmacologic properties consistent with a compound that can be taken into human studies with expectations of a good safety margin and predicted dosing for efficacy. This work supports testing BKIDC-1553 and its derivatives in clinical trials for patients with advanced prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuma Uo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Kayode K. Ojo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Disease (CERID), University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Cynthia C.T. Sprenger
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Kathryn Soriano Epilepsia
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - B. Gayani K. Perera
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Mamatha Damodarasamy
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Shihua Sun
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Soojin Kim
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Hannah H. Hogan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Matthew A. Hulverson
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Disease (CERID), University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Ryan Choi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Disease (CERID), University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Grant R. Whitman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Disease (CERID), University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Lynn K. Barrett
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Disease (CERID), University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Samantha A. Michaels
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Disease (CERID), University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Linda H. Xu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Vicky L. Sun
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Samuel L.M. Arnold
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Haley J. Pang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Matthew M. Nguyen
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Anna-Lena B.G. Vigil
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center; Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Varun Kamat
- Department of Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Diabetes Center, University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Lucas B. Sullivan
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center; Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Ian R. Sweet
- Department of Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Diabetes Center, University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Ram Vidadala
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Dustin J. Maly
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Wesley C. Van Voorhis
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Center for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Disease (CERID), University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Stephen R. Plymate
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, University of Washington; Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
- Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System; Seattle, Washington 98108, USA
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Ma Y, Hu Y, Liu H, Li X, Li Y, Zhao Y, Zhang Q, Zhang Z, Leng Q, Luo L, Li L, Dai Y, Chen G, Zhang J, Li Z. High-Lactate-Metabolizing Photosynthetic Bacteria Reprogram Tumor Immune Microenvironment. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2405930. [PMID: 38924191 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202405930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
The elevated levels of lactate in tumor tissue play a pivotal role in fostering an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Therefore, efficiently reducing lactate levels to reprogram tumor immune microenvironment (TIM) is considered a crucial step for boosted immunotherapy. Here, a high-lactate-metabolizing photosynthetic bacteria (LAB-1) is selectively screened for TIM reprogramming, which then improves the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy. The culture medium for LAB-1 screening is initially developed through an orthogonal experiment, simulating the tumor microenvironment (TME) and utilizing lactate as the sole organic carbon source. As demonstrated in a murine 4T1 model, LAB-1 colonizes the TME selectively, resulting in a significant reduction in lactate levels and a subsequent increase in pH values within the tumor tissue. Furthermore, single-cell RNA sequencing analysis reveals that LAB-1 effectively reprograms the TIM, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of antitumor immune therapy. This approach of utilizing lactate-consuming bacteria represents a potent tool for augmenting tumor immunotherapy efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichuan Ma
- College of Chemistry & Materials Science, State Key Laboratory of New Pharmaceutical Preparations and Excipients, Chemical Biology Key Laboratory of Hebei Province, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of Ministry of Education, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Yujing Hu
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Huifang Liu
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Xiaoya Li
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Yuanhang Li
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Yu Zhao
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- College of Chemistry & Materials Science, State Key Laboratory of New Pharmaceutical Preparations and Excipients, Chemical Biology Key Laboratory of Hebei Province, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of Ministry of Education, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Ziyang Zhang
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Qingqing Leng
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Li Luo
- The Tenth Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong, 523059, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardiac Function and Microcirculation, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Lanya Li
- The Tenth Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong, 523059, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardiac Function and Microcirculation, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yunlu Dai
- Cancer Centre and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, SAR, 999078, China
| | - Guojun Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada
| | - Jinchao Zhang
- College of Chemistry & Materials Science, State Key Laboratory of New Pharmaceutical Preparations and Excipients, Chemical Biology Key Laboratory of Hebei Province, Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of Ministry of Education, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, China
| | - Zhenhua Li
- The Tenth Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong, 523059, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardiac Function and Microcirculation, Guangzhou, 510515, China
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Qiu Y, Xie E, Xu H, Cheng H, Li G. One-carbon metabolism shapes T cell immunity in cancer. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2024:S1043-2760(24)00160-7. [PMID: 38925992 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2024.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
One-carbon metabolism (1CM), comprising folate metabolism and methionine metabolism, serves as an important mechanism for cellular energy provision and the production of vital signaling molecules, including single-carbon moieties. Its regulation is instrumental in sustaining the proliferation of cancer cells and facilitating metastasis; in addition, recent research has shed light on its impact on the efficacy of T cell-mediated immunotherapy. In this review, we consolidate current insights into how 1CM affects T cell activation, differentiation, and functionality. Furthermore, we delve into the strategies for modulating 1CM in both T cells and tumor cells to enhance the efficacy of adoptively transferred T cells, overcome metabolic challenges in the tumor microenvironment (TME), and maximize the benefits of T cell-mediated immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajing Qiu
- National Key Laboratory of Immunity and Inflammation, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China; Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology Regulatory Elements, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ermei Xie
- National Key Laboratory of Immunity and Inflammation, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China; Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology Regulatory Elements, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Haipeng Xu
- Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fujian, 350011, China
| | - Hongcheng Cheng
- National Key Laboratory of Immunity and Inflammation, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China; Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology Regulatory Elements, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Guideng Li
- National Key Laboratory of Immunity and Inflammation, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China; Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology Regulatory Elements, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China.
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Huang Y, Meng F, Zeng T, Thorne RF, He L, Zha Q, Li H, Liu H, Lang C, Xiong W, Pan S, Yin D, Wu M, Sun X, Liu L. IFRD1 promotes tumor cells "low-cost" survival under glutamine starvation via inhibiting histone H1.0 nucleophagy. Cell Discov 2024; 10:57. [PMID: 38802351 PMCID: PMC11130292 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-024-00668-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Glutamine addiction represents a metabolic vulnerability of cancer cells; however, effective therapeutic targeting of the pathways involved remains to be realized. Here, we disclose the critical role of interferon-related developmental regulator 1 (IFRD1) in the adaptive survival of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells during glutamine starvation. IFRD1 is induced under glutamine starvation to inhibit autophagy by promoting the proteasomal degradation of the key autophagy regulator ATG14 in a TRIM21-dependent manner. Conversely, targeting IFRD1 in the glutamine-deprived state increases autophagy flux, triggering cancer cell exhaustive death. This effect largely results from the nucleophilic degradation of histone H1.0 and the ensuing unchecked increases in ribosome and protein biosynthesis associated with globally enhanced chromatin accessibility. Intriguingly, IFRD1 depletion in preclinical HCC models synergizes with the treatment of the glutaminase-1 selective inhibitor CB-839 to potentiate the effect of limiting glutamine. Together, our findings reveal how IFRD1 supports the adaptive survival of cancer cells under glutamine starvation, further highlighting the potential of IFRD1 as a therapeutic target in anti-cancer applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yabin Huang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Fanzheng Meng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Taofei Zeng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Rick Francis Thorne
- Translational Research Institute of People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Lifang He
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Qingrui Zha
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Hairui Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Hong Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Chuandong Lang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Wanxiang Xiong
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Shixiang Pan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Dalong Yin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China.
| | - Mian Wu
- Translational Research Institute of People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
| | - Xuedan Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
| | - Lianxin Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- Anhui Provincial Clinical Research Center for Hepatobiliary Diseases, Hefei, Anhui, China.
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Galvis J, Guyon J, Dartigues B, Hecht H, Grüning B, Specque F, Soueidan H, Karkar S, Daubon T, Nikolski M. DIMet: an open-source tool for differential analysis of targeted isotope-labeled metabolomics data. Bioinformatics 2024; 40:btae282. [PMID: 38656970 PMCID: PMC11109473 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btae282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION Many diseases, such as cancer, are characterized by an alteration of cellular metabolism allowing cells to adapt to changes in the microenvironment. Stable isotope-resolved metabolomics (SIRM) and downstream data analyses are widely used techniques for unraveling cells' metabolic activity to understand the altered functioning of metabolic pathways in the diseased state. While a number of bioinformatic solutions exist for the differential analysis of SIRM data, there is currently no available resource providing a comprehensive toolbox. RESULTS In this work, we present DIMet, a one-stop comprehensive tool for differential analysis of targeted tracer data. DIMet accepts metabolite total abundances, isotopologue contributions, and isotopic mean enrichment, and supports differential comparison (pairwise and multi-group), time-series analyses, and labeling profile comparison. Moreover, it integrates transcriptomics and targeted metabolomics data through network-based metabolograms. We illustrate the use of DIMet in real SIRM datasets obtained from Glioblastoma P3 cell-line samples. DIMet is open-source, and is readily available for routine downstream analysis of isotope-labeled targeted metabolomics data, as it can be used both in the command line interface or as a complete toolkit in the public Galaxy Europe and Workfow4Metabolomics web platforms. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION DIMet is freely available at https://github.com/cbib/DIMet, and through https://usegalaxy.eu and https://workflow4metabolomics.usegalaxy.fr. All the datasets are available at Zenodo https://zenodo.org/records/10925786.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Galvis
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, IBGC UMR 5095, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux Bioinformatics Center CBiB, Bordeaux, France
| | - Joris Guyon
- University of Bordeaux, INSERM, BPH U1219, Bordeaux, France
- Medical Pharmacology Department, Bordeaux University Hospital, Bordeaux, France
| | - Benjamin Dartigues
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux Bioinformatics Center CBiB, Bordeaux, France
| | - Helge Hecht
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Galaxy Europe, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Björn Grüning
- Galaxy Europe, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Florian Specque
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, IBGC UMR 5095, Bordeaux, France
| | - Hayssam Soueidan
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux Bioinformatics Center CBiB, Bordeaux, France
| | - Slim Karkar
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, IBGC UMR 5095, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux Bioinformatics Center CBiB, Bordeaux, France
| | - Thomas Daubon
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, IBGC UMR 5095, Bordeaux, France
| | - Macha Nikolski
- University of Bordeaux, CNRS, IBGC UMR 5095, Bordeaux, France
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux Bioinformatics Center CBiB, Bordeaux, France
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7
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Ziki RA, Colnot S. Glutamine metabolism, a double agent combating or fuelling hepatocellular carcinoma. JHEP Rep 2024; 6:101077. [PMID: 38699532 PMCID: PMC11063524 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2024.101077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The reprogramming of glutamine metabolism is a key event in cancer more generally and in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in particular. Glutamine consumption supplies tumours with ATP and metabolites through anaplerosis of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, while glutamine production can be enhanced by the overexpression of glutamine synthetase. In HCC, increased glutamine production is driven by activating mutations in the CTNNB1 gene encoding β-catenin. Increased glutamine synthesis or utilisation impacts tumour epigenetics, oxidative stress, autophagy, immunity and associated pathways, such as the mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) pathway. In this review, we will discuss studies which emphasise the pro-tumoral or tumour-suppressive effect of glutamine overproduction. It is clear that more comprehensive studies are needed as a foundation from which to develop suitable therapies targeting glutamine metabolic pathways, depending on the predicted pro- or anti-tumour role of dysregulated glutamine metabolism in distinct genetic contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razan Abou Ziki
- INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers (CRC), Paris, F-75006, France
- Équipe labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, France
| | - Sabine Colnot
- INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers (CRC), Paris, F-75006, France
- Équipe labellisée Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, France
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8
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Lee Y, Vousden KH, Hennequart M. Cycling back to folate metabolism in cancer. NATURE CANCER 2024; 5:701-715. [PMID: 38698089 PMCID: PMC7616045 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-024-00739-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Metabolic changes contribute to cancer initiation and progression through effects on cancer cells, the tumor microenvironment and whole-body metabolism. Alterations in serine metabolism and the control of one-carbon cycles have emerged as critical for the development of many tumor types. In this Review, we focus on the mitochondrial folate cycle. We discuss recent evidence that, in addition to supporting nucleotide synthesis, mitochondrial folate metabolism also contributes to metastasis through support of antioxidant defense, mitochondrial protein synthesis and the overflow of excess formate. These observations offer potential therapeutic opportunities, including the modulation of formate metabolism through dietary interventions and the use of circulating folate cycle metabolites as biomarkers for cancer detection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marc Hennequart
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS), Molecular Physiology Unit (URPHYM), University of Namur, Namur, Belgium
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Wang X, Sun J, Liu Y, Lin Z, Jiang X, Ye Y, Lv C, Lian X, Xu W, Luo S, Liao S, Chen Z, Wang S. Trps1 predicts poor prognosis in advanced high grade serous ovarian carcinoma. Int J Cancer 2024; 154:1639-1651. [PMID: 38212905 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.34844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
TRPS1 is aberrantly expressed in a variety of tumors, including breast, prostate, and gastric cancers, and is strongly associated with tumorigenesis or prognosis. However, the role of TRPS1 in high grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSC) is unknown. We investigated the relationship between TRPS1 expression and clinicopathology in HGSC patients. The tumor-related regulatory mechanisms of TRPS1 was explored through in vivo and vitro experiments. The results showed that TRPS1 was highly expressed in HGSC compared to normal tissues. It was also linked to the cell proliferation index Ki67 and poor prognosis. In vivo experiments showed that knockdown of TRPS1 could inhibit tumor growth. In vitro experiments, knockdown of TRPS1 inhibited the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells. TRPS1 exerted its regulatory role as a transcription factor, binding to the PSAT1 promoter and promoting the expression of PSAT1 gene. Meanwhile, PSAT1 was positively correlated with CCND1 expression. These results suggest that TRPS1 affects HGSC proliferation and cell cycle by regulating PSAT1 and thus CCND1 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojiang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine of Fujian Province University, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jiandong Sun
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine of Fujian Province University, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yue Liu
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine of Fujian Province University, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zihang Lin
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine of Fujian Province University, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xia Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine of Fujian Province University, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yuhong Ye
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine of Fujian Province University, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Chengyu Lv
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine of Fujian Province University, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiuli Lian
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine of Fujian Province University, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Weiwei Xu
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine of Fujian Province University, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shanshan Luo
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine of Fujian Province University, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shumin Liao
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine of Fujian Province University, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhangting Chen
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine of Fujian Province University, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine of Fujian Province University, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
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10
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Deng B, Liu F, Chen N, Li X, Lei J, Chen N, Wu J, Wang X, Lu J, Fang M, Chen A, Zhang Z, He B, Yan M, Zhang Y, Wang Z, Liu Q. AURKA emerges as a vulnerable target for KEAP1-deficient non-small cell lung cancer by activation of asparagine synthesis. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:233. [PMID: 38521813 PMCID: PMC10960834 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06577-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
AURKA is an established target for cancer therapy; however, the efficacy of its inhibitors in clinical trials is hindered by differential response rates across different tumor subtypes. In this study, we demonstrate AURKA regulates amino acid synthesis, rendering it a vulnerable target in KEAP1-deficient non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Through CRISPR metabolic screens, we identified that KEAP1-knockdown cells showed the highest sensitivity to the AURKA inhibitor MLN8237. Subsequent investigations confirmed that KEAP1 deficiency heightens the susceptibility of NSCLC cells to AURKA inhibition both in vitro and in vivo, with the response depending on NRF2 activation. Mechanistically, AURKA interacts with the eIF2α kinase GCN2 and maintains its phosphorylation to regulate eIF2α-ATF4-mediated amino acid biosynthesis. AURKA inhibition restrains the expression of asparagine synthetase (ASNS), making KEAP1-deficient NSCLC cells vulnerable to AURKA inhibitors, in which ASNS is highly expressed. Our study unveils the pivotal role of AURKA in amino acid metabolism and identifies a specific metabolic indication for AURKA inhibitors. These findings also provide a novel clinical therapeutic target for KEAP1-mutant/deficient NSCLC, which is characterized by resistance to radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Fang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Nana Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Xinhao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Jie Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Ning Chen
- Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Jingjing Wu
- Department of Oncology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Xuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Jie Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Mouxiang Fang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Ailin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Zijian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Bin He
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Min Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Yuchen Zhang
- Department of Hematology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Zifeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
| | - Quentin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
- Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China.
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11
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Feng S, Aplin C, Nguyen TTT, Milano SK, Cerione RA. Filament formation drives catalysis by glutaminase enzymes important in cancer progression. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1971. [PMID: 38438397 PMCID: PMC10912226 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46351-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The glutaminase enzymes GAC and GLS2 catalyze the hydrolysis of glutamine to glutamate, satisfying the 'glutamine addiction' of cancer cells. They are the targets of anti-cancer drugs; however, their mechanisms of activation and catalytic activity have been unclear. Here we demonstrate that the ability of GAC and GLS2 to form filaments is directly coupled to their catalytic activity and present their cryo-EM structures which provide a view of the conformational states essential for catalysis. Filament formation guides an 'activation loop' to assume a specific conformation that works together with a 'lid' to close over the active site and position glutamine for nucleophilic attack by an essential serine. Our findings highlight how ankyrin repeats on GLS2 regulate enzymatic activity, while allosteric activators stabilize, and clinically relevant inhibitors block, filament formation that enables glutaminases to catalyze glutaminolysis and support cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi Feng
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Cody Aplin
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Thuy-Tien T Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Shawn K Milano
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Richard A Cerione
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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12
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Menendez JA, Cuyàs E, Encinar JA, Vander Steen T, Verdura S, Llop‐Hernández À, López J, Serrano‐Hervás E, Osuna S, Martin‐Castillo B, Lupu R. Fatty acid synthase (FASN) signalome: A molecular guide for precision oncology. Mol Oncol 2024; 18:479-516. [PMID: 38158755 PMCID: PMC10920094 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The initial excitement generated more than two decades ago by the discovery of drugs targeting fatty acid synthase (FASN)-catalyzed de novo lipogenesis for cancer therapy was short-lived. However, the advent of the first clinical-grade FASN inhibitor (TVB-2640; denifanstat), which is currently being studied in various phase II trials, and the exciting advances in understanding the FASN signalome are fueling a renewed interest in FASN-targeted strategies for the treatment and prevention of cancer. Here, we provide a detailed overview of how FASN can drive phenotypic plasticity and cell fate decisions, mitochondrial regulation of cell death, immune escape and organ-specific metastatic potential. We then present a variety of FASN-targeted therapeutic approaches that address the major challenges facing FASN therapy. These include limitations of current FASN inhibitors and the lack of precision tools to maximize the therapeutic potential of FASN inhibitors in the clinic. Rethinking the role of FASN as a signal transducer in cancer pathogenesis may provide molecularly driven strategies to optimize FASN as a long-awaited target for cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier A. Menendez
- Metabolism & Cancer Group, Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE)Catalan Institute of OncologyGironaSpain
- Girona Biomedical Research InstituteGironaSpain
| | - Elisabet Cuyàs
- Metabolism & Cancer Group, Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE)Catalan Institute of OncologyGironaSpain
- Girona Biomedical Research InstituteGironaSpain
| | - Jose Antonio Encinar
- Institute of Research, Development and Innovation in Biotechnology of Elche (IDiBE) and Molecular and Cell Biology Institute (IBMC)Miguel Hernández University (UMH)ElcheSpain
| | - Travis Vander Steen
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathologyMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
- Mayo Clinic Cancer CenterRochesterMNUSA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology LaboratoryMayo Clinic LaboratoryRochesterMNUSA
| | - Sara Verdura
- Metabolism & Cancer Group, Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE)Catalan Institute of OncologyGironaSpain
- Girona Biomedical Research InstituteGironaSpain
| | - Àngela Llop‐Hernández
- Metabolism & Cancer Group, Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE)Catalan Institute of OncologyGironaSpain
- Girona Biomedical Research InstituteGironaSpain
| | - Júlia López
- Metabolism & Cancer Group, Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE)Catalan Institute of OncologyGironaSpain
- Girona Biomedical Research InstituteGironaSpain
| | - Eila Serrano‐Hervás
- Metabolism & Cancer Group, Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE)Catalan Institute of OncologyGironaSpain
- Girona Biomedical Research InstituteGironaSpain
- CompBioLab Group, Institut de Química Computacional i Catàlisi (IQCC) and Departament de QuímicaUniversitat de GironaGironaSpain
| | - Sílvia Osuna
- CompBioLab Group, Institut de Química Computacional i Catàlisi (IQCC) and Departament de QuímicaUniversitat de GironaGironaSpain
- ICREABarcelonaSpain
| | - Begoña Martin‐Castillo
- Metabolism & Cancer Group, Program Against Cancer Therapeutic Resistance (ProCURE)Catalan Institute of OncologyGironaSpain
- Girona Biomedical Research InstituteGironaSpain
- Unit of Clinical ResearchCatalan Institute of OncologyGironaSpain
| | - Ruth Lupu
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathologyMayo ClinicRochesterMNUSA
- Mayo Clinic Cancer CenterRochesterMNUSA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology LaboratoryMayo Clinic LaboratoryRochesterMNUSA
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13
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Uo T, Ojo KK, Sprenger CC, Epilepsia KS, Perera BGK, Damodarasamy M, Sun S, Kim S, Hogan HH, Hulverson MA, Choi R, Whitman GR, Barrett LK, Michaels SA, Xu LH, Sun VL, Arnold SLM, Pang HJ, Nguyen MM, Vigil ALBG, Kamat V, Sullivan LB, Sweet IR, Vidadala R, Maly DJ, Van Voorhis WC, Plymate SR. A Compound that Inhibits Glycolysis in Prostate Cancer Controls Growth of Advanced Prostate Cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.07.01.547355. [PMID: 37461469 PMCID: PMC10350011 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.01.547355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer remains incurable regardless of recent therapeutic advances. Prostate cancer tumors display highly glycolytic phenotypes as the cancer progresses. Non-specific inhibitors of glycolysis have not been utilized successfully for chemotherapy, because of their penchant to cause systemic toxicity. This study reports the preclinical activity, safety, and pharmacokinetics of a novel small molecule preclinical candidate, BKIDC-1553, with antiglycolytic activity. Experimental design We tested a large battery of prostate cancer cell lines for inhibition of cell proliferation, in vitro. Cell cycle, metabolic and enzymatic assays were used to demonstrate their mechanism of action. A human PDX model implanted in mice and a human organoid were studied for sensitivity to our BKIDC preclinical candidate. A battery of pharmacokinetic experiments, absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion experiments, and in vitro and in vivo toxicology experiments were carried out to assess readiness for clinical trials. Results We demonstrate a new class of small molecule inhibitors where antiglycolytic activity in prostate cancer cell lines is mediated through inhibition of hexokinase 2. These compounds display selective growth inhibition across multiple prostate cancer models. We describe a lead BKIDC-1553 that demonstrates promising activity in a preclinical xenograft model of advanced prostate cancer, equivalent to that of enzalutamide. BKIDC-1553 demonstrates safety and pharmacologic properties consistent with a compound that can be taken into human studies with expectations of a good safety margin and predicted dosing for efficacy. Conclusion This work supports testing BKIDC-1553 and its derivatives in clinical trials for patients with advanced prostate cancer.
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14
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Bartman CR, Faubert B, Rabinowitz JD, DeBerardinis RJ. Metabolic pathway analysis using stable isotopes in patients with cancer. Nat Rev Cancer 2023; 23:863-878. [PMID: 37907620 PMCID: PMC11161207 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-023-00632-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming is central to malignant transformation and cancer cell growth. How tumours use nutrients and the relative rates of reprogrammed pathways are areas of intense investigation. Tumour metabolism is determined by a complex and incompletely defined combination of factors intrinsic and extrinsic to cancer cells. This complexity increases the value of assessing cancer metabolism in disease-relevant microenvironments, including in patients with cancer. Stable-isotope tracing is an informative, versatile method for probing tumour metabolism in vivo. It has been used extensively in preclinical models of cancer and, with increasing frequency, in patients with cancer. In this Review, we describe approaches for using in vivo isotope tracing to define fuel preferences and pathway engagement in tumours, along with some of the principles that have emerged from this work. Stable-isotope infusions reported so far have revealed that in humans, tumours use a diverse set of nutrients to supply central metabolic pathways, including the tricarboxylic acid cycle and amino acid synthesis. Emerging data suggest that some activities detected by stable-isotope tracing correlate with poor clinical outcomes and may drive cancer progression. We also discuss current challenges in isotope tracing, including comparisons of in vivo and in vitro models, and opportunities for future discovery in tumour metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline R Bartman
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Brandon Faubert
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Joshua D Rabinowitz
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
| | - Ralph J DeBerardinis
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Children's Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
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15
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Papalazarou V, Newman AC, Huerta-Uribe A, Legrave NM, Falcone M, Zhang T, McGarry L, Athineos D, Shanks E, Blyth K, Vousden KH, Maddocks ODK. Phenotypic profiling of solute carriers characterizes serine transport in cancer. Nat Metab 2023; 5:2148-2168. [PMID: 38066114 PMCID: PMC10730406 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-023-00936-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Serine is a vital amino acid in tumorigenesis. While cells can perform de novo serine synthesis, most transformed cells rely on serine uptake to meet their increased biosynthetic requirements. Solute carriers (SLCs), a family of transmembrane nutrient transport proteins, are the gatekeepers of amino acid acquisition and exchange in mammalian cells and are emerging as anticancer therapeutic targets; however, the SLCs that mediate serine transport in cancer cells remain unknown. Here we perform an arrayed RNAi screen of SLC-encoding genes while monitoring amino acid consumption and cell proliferation in colorectal cancer cells using metabolomics and high-throughput imaging. We identify SLC6A14 and SLC25A15 as major cytoplasmic and mitochondrial serine transporters, respectively. We also observe that SLC12A4 facilitates serine uptake. Dual targeting of SLC6A14 and either SLC25A15 or SLC12A4 diminishes serine uptake and growth of colorectal cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, particularly in cells with compromised de novo serine biosynthesis. Our results provide insight into the mechanisms that contribute to serine uptake and intracellular handling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasileios Papalazarou
- School of Cancer Sciences, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
- Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.
| | - Alice C Newman
- School of Cancer Sciences, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Alejandro Huerta-Uribe
- School of Cancer Sciences, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
| | - Nathalie M Legrave
- Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Metabolomics Platform, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Department of Cancer Research, Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Mattia Falcone
- School of Cancer Sciences, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Division of Oncogenomics, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tong Zhang
- School of Cancer Sciences, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Shanghai, China
| | - Lynn McGarry
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Emma Shanks
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
| | - Karen Blyth
- School of Cancer Sciences, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Oliver D K Maddocks
- School of Cancer Sciences, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
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16
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Kreuzaler P, Inglese P, Ghanate A, Gjelaj E, Wu V, Panina Y, Mendez-Lucas A, MacLachlan C, Patani N, Hubert CB, Huang H, Greenidge G, Rueda OM, Taylor AJ, Karali E, Kazanc E, Spicer A, Dexter A, Lin W, Thompson D, Silva Dos Santos M, Calvani E, Legrave N, Ellis JK, Greenwood W, Green M, Nye E, Still E, Barry S, Goodwin RJA, Bruna A, Caldas C, MacRae J, de Carvalho LPS, Poulogiannis G, McMahon G, Takats Z, Bunch J, Yuneva M. Vitamin B 5 supports MYC oncogenic metabolism and tumor progression in breast cancer. Nat Metab 2023; 5:1870-1886. [PMID: 37946084 PMCID: PMC10663155 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-023-00915-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Tumors are intrinsically heterogeneous and it is well established that this directs their evolution, hinders their classification and frustrates therapy1-3. Consequently, spatially resolved omics-level analyses are gaining traction4-9. Despite considerable therapeutic interest, tumor metabolism has been lagging behind this development and there is a paucity of data regarding its spatial organization. To address this shortcoming, we set out to study the local metabolic effects of the oncogene c-MYC, a pleiotropic transcription factor that accumulates with tumor progression and influences metabolism10,11. Through correlative mass spectrometry imaging, we show that pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) associates with MYC-high areas within both human and murine mammary tumors, where its conversion to coenzyme A fuels Krebs cycle activity. Mechanistically, we show that this is accomplished by MYC-mediated upregulation of its multivitamin transporter SLC5A6. Notably, we show that SLC5A6 over-expression alone can induce increased cell growth and a shift toward biosynthesis, whereas conversely, dietary restriction of pantothenic acid leads to a reversal of many MYC-mediated metabolic changes and results in hampered tumor growth. Our work thus establishes the availability of vitamins and cofactors as a potential bottleneck in tumor progression, which can be exploited therapeutically. Overall, we show that a spatial understanding of local metabolism facilitates the identification of clinically relevant, tractable metabolic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kreuzaler
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cluster of Excellence Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-associated Diseases (CECAD), Cologne, Germany.
| | - Paolo Inglese
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, UK
| | | | | | - Vincen Wu
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, UK
| | | | - Andres Mendez-Lucas
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Helen Huang
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, UK
| | | | - Oscar M Rueda
- University of Cambridge, MRC Biostatistics Unit, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Evdoxia Karali
- Signalling and Cancer Metabolism Team, Division of Cancer Biology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Emine Kazanc
- Signalling and Cancer Metabolism Team, Division of Cancer Biology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | | | - Alex Dexter
- The National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK
| | - Wei Lin
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Wendy Greenwood
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Emma Nye
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | | | - Simon Barry
- Imaging and Data Analytics, Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Richard J A Goodwin
- Imaging and Data Analytics, Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alejandra Bruna
- Modelling of Paediatric Cancer Evolution, Centre for Paediatric Oncology, Experimental Medicine, Centre for Cancer Evolution: Molecular Pathology Division, The Institute of Cancer Research, Belmont, Sutton, London, UK
| | - Carlos Caldas
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - George Poulogiannis
- Signalling and Cancer Metabolism Team, Division of Cancer Biology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Greg McMahon
- The National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK
| | - Zoltan Takats
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, UK
| | - Josephine Bunch
- The National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK
- The Rosalind Franklin Institute, Harwell Campus, Didcot, UK
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17
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Dong X, Xia S, Du S, Zhu MH, Lai X, Yao SQ, Chen HZ, Fang C. Tumor Metabolism-Rewriting Nanomedicines for Cancer Immunotherapy. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2023; 9:1864-1893. [PMID: 37901179 PMCID: PMC10604035 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.3c00702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy has become an established therapeutic paradigm in oncologic therapy, but its therapeutic efficacy remains unsatisfactory in the majority of cancer patients. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that the metabolically hostile tumor microenvironment (TME), characterized by acidity, deprivation of oxygen and nutrients, and accumulation of immunosuppressive metabolites, promotes the dysfunction of tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) and thereby compromises the effectiveness of immunotherapy. This indicates the potential role of tumor metabolic intervention in the reinvigoration of antitumor immunity. With the merits of multiple drug codelivery, cell and organelle-specific targeting, controlled drug release, and multimodal therapy, tumor metabolism-rewriting nanomedicines have recently emerged as an attractive strategy to strengthen antitumor immune responses. This review summarizes the current progress in the development of multifunctional tumor metabolism-rewriting nanomedicines for evoking antitumor immunity. A special focus is placed on how these nanomedicines reinvigorate innate or adaptive antitumor immunity by regulating glucose metabolism, amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, and nucleotide metabolism at the tumor site. Finally, the prospects and challenges in this emerging field are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Dong
- Department
of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Shanghai
University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Shu Xia
- Department
of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Shanghai
University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Shubo Du
- School
of Bioengineering, Dalian University of
Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Mao-Hua Zhu
- Hongqiao
International Institute of Medicine, Tongren Hospital and State Key
Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Department of Pharmacology
and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong
University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025 China
| | - Xing Lai
- Hongqiao
International Institute of Medicine, Tongren Hospital and State Key
Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Department of Pharmacology
and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong
University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025 China
| | - Shao Q. Yao
- Department
of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore
| | - Hong-Zhuan Chen
- Institute
of Interdisciplinary Integrative Biomedical Research, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203 China
| | - Chao Fang
- Hongqiao
International Institute of Medicine, Tongren Hospital and State Key
Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Department of Pharmacology
and Chemical Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong
University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025 China
- Key
Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education & Joint
International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of
Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563003, China
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18
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Holt AK, Najumudeen AK, Collard TJ, Li H, Millett LM, Hoskin AJ, Legge DN, Mortensson EMH, Flanagan DJ, Jones N, Kollareddy M, Timms P, Hitchings MD, Cronin J, Sansom OJ, Williams AC, Vincent EE. Aspirin reprogrammes colorectal cancer cell metabolism and sensitises to glutaminase inhibition. Cancer Metab 2023; 11:18. [PMID: 37858256 PMCID: PMC10588174 DOI: 10.1186/s40170-023-00318-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To support proliferation and survival within a challenging microenvironment, cancer cells must reprogramme their metabolism. As such, targeting cancer cell metabolism is a promising therapeutic avenue. However, identifying tractable nodes of metabolic vulnerability in cancer cells is challenging due to their metabolic plasticity. Identification of effective treatment combinations to counter this is an active area of research. Aspirin has a well-established role in cancer prevention, particularly in colorectal cancer (CRC), although the mechanisms are not fully understood. METHODS We generated a model to investigate the impact of long-term (52 weeks) aspirin exposure on CRC cells, which has allowed us comprehensively characterise the metabolic impact of long-term aspirin exposure (2-4mM for 52 weeks) using proteomics, Seahorse Extracellular Flux Analysis and Stable Isotope Labelling (SIL). Using this information, we were able to identify nodes of metabolic vulnerability for further targeting, investigating the impact of combining aspirin with metabolic inhibitors in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS We show that aspirin regulates several enzymes and transporters of central carbon metabolism and results in a reduction in glutaminolysis and a concomitant increase in glucose metabolism, demonstrating reprogramming of nutrient utilisation. We show that aspirin causes likely compensatory changes that render the cells sensitive to the glutaminase 1 (GLS1) inhibitor-CB-839. Of note given the clinical interest, treatment with CB-839 alone had little effect on CRC cell growth or survival. However, in combination with aspirin, CB-839 inhibited CRC cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in vitro and, importantly, reduced crypt proliferation in Apcfl/fl mice in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Together, these results show that aspirin leads to significant metabolic reprogramming in colorectal cancer cells and raises the possibility that aspirin could significantly increase the efficacy of metabolic cancer therapies in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy K Holt
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TW, UK
| | - Arafath K Najumudeen
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK
- Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tracey J Collard
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TW, UK
| | - Hao Li
- Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Ashley J Hoskin
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TW, UK
| | - Danny N Legge
- School of Translational Health Sciences, Dorothy Hodgkin Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS1 3NY, UK
| | - Eleanor M H Mortensson
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TW, UK
| | | | - Nicholas Jones
- Institute of Life Science, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Madhu Kollareddy
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TW, UK
| | - Penny Timms
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TW, UK
| | - Matthew D Hitchings
- Institute of Life Science, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - James Cronin
- Institute of Life Science, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Owen J Sansom
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
| | - Ann C Williams
- School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TW, UK
| | - Emma E Vincent
- Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Oakfield House, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 2BN, UK.
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19
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Hailiwu R, Zeng H, Zhan M, Pan T, Yang H, Li P. Salvianolic acid A diminishes LDHA-driven aerobic glycolysis to restrain myofibroblasts activation and cardiac fibrosis via blocking Akt/GSK-3β/HIF-1α axis. Phytother Res 2023; 37:4540-4556. [PMID: 37337901 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Myofibroblasts activation intensively contributes to cardiac fibrosis with undefined mechanism. Salvianolic acid A (SAA) is a phenolic component derived from Salvia miltiorrhiza with antifibrotic potency. This study aimed to interrogate the inhibitory effects and underlying mechanism of SAA on myofibroblasts activation and cardiac fibrosis. Antifibrotic effects of SAA were evaluated in mouse myocardial infarction (MI) model and in vitro myofibroblasts activation model. Metabolic regulatory effects and mechanism of SAA were determined using bioenergetic analysis and cross-validated by multiple metabolic inhibitors and siRNA or plasmid targeting Ldha. Finally, Akt/GSK-3β-related upstream regulatory mechanisms were investigated by immunoblot, q-PCR, and cross-validated by specific inhibitors. SAA inhibited cardiac fibroblasts-to-myofibroblasts transition, suppressed collage matrix proteins expression, and effectively attenuated MI-induced collagen deposition and cardiac fibrosis. SAA attenuated myofibroblasts activation and cardiac fibrosis by inhibiting LDHA-driven abnormal aerobic glycolysis. Mechanistically, SAA inhibited Akt/GSK-3β axis and downregulated HIF-1α expression by promoting its degradation via a noncanonical route, and therefore restrained HIF-1α-triggered Ldha gene expression. SAA is an effective component for treating cardiac fibrosis by diminishing LDHA-driven glycolysis during myofibroblasts activation. Targeting metabolism of myofibroblasts might occupy a potential therapeutic strategy for cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renaguli Hailiwu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hao Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Meiling Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ting Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hua Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
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20
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Liu D, Wang Y, Li X, Wang Y, Zhang Z, Wang Z, Zhang X. Participation of protein metabolism in cancer progression and its potential targeting for the management of cancer. Amino Acids 2023; 55:1223-1246. [PMID: 37646877 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-023-03316-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Cancer malignancies may broadly be described as heterogeneous disorders manifested by uncontrolled cellular growth/division and proliferation. Tumor cells utilize metabolic reprogramming to accomplish the upregulated nutritional requirements for sustaining their uncontrolled growth, proliferation, and survival. Metabolic reprogramming also called altered or dysregulated metabolism undergoes modification in normal metabolic pathways for anabolic precursor's generation that serves to continue biomass formation that sustains the growth, proliferation, and survival of carcinogenic cells under a nutrition-deprived microenvironment. A wide range of dysregulated/altered metabolic pathways encompassing different metabolic regulators have been described; however, the current review is focused to explain deeply the metabolic pathways modifications inducing upregulation of proteins/amino acids metabolism. The essential modification of various metabolic cycles with their consequent outcomes meanwhile explored promising therapeutic targets playing a pivotal role in metabolic regulation and is successfully employed for effective target-specific cancer treatment. The current review is aimed to understand the metabolic reprogramming of different proteins/amino acids involved in tumor progression along with potential therapeutic perspective elucidating targeted cancer therapy via these targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalong Liu
- Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130000, China
| | - Yun Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130000, China
| | - Xiaojiang Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130000, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, People's Hospital of Jilin City, Jilin, 136200, China
| | - Zhiqiang Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, Baishan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Baishan, 134300, China
| | - Zhifeng Wang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun Chaoyang District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130000, China
| | - Xudong Zhang
- Department of Brain Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130000, China.
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21
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Dang CV. Cancer Metabolism Historical Perspectives: A Chronicle of Controversies and Consensus. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2023; 13:a041530. [PMID: 37553212 PMCID: PMC10691493 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
A century ago, Otto Warburg's work sparked the field of cancer metabolism, which has since taken a tortuous path. As evidence accumulated over the decades, consensus views of causes of cancer emerged, whereby genetic and epigenetic oncogenic drivers promoted immune evasion and induced new blood vessels and neoplastic metabolism to support tumor growth. Neoplastic cells abandon social cues of intercellular cooperation, escape tissue confinement, metastasize, and ultimately kill the host. Herein, key milestones in the study of cancer metabolism are chronicled with an emphasis on carbohydrate metabolism. The field began with a cancer cell-autonomous view that has been refined by a richer understanding of solid cancers as growing, immune-suppressive, complex organs comprising different cell types that are nourished by a variety of nutrients and variable amounts of oxygen through abnormal neovasculatures. Based on foundational historical studies, our current understanding of cancer metabolism offers a hopeful outlook for targeting metabolism to enhance cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi V Dang
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, New York, New York 10017, USA
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
- Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA
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22
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Cazarin J, DeRollo RE, Shahidan SNABA, Burchett JB, Mwangi D, Krishnaiah S, Hsieh AL, Walton ZE, Brooks R, Mello SS, Weljie AM, Dang CV, Altman BJ. MYC disrupts transcriptional and metabolic circadian oscillations in cancer and promotes enhanced biosynthesis. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010904. [PMID: 37639465 PMCID: PMC10491404 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The molecular circadian clock, which controls rhythmic 24-hour oscillation of genes, proteins, and metabolites in healthy tissues, is disrupted across many human cancers. Deregulated expression of the MYC oncoprotein has been shown to alter expression of molecular clock genes, leading to a disruption of molecular clock oscillation across cancer types. It remains unclear what benefit cancer cells gain from suppressing clock oscillation, and how this loss of molecular clock oscillation impacts global gene expression and metabolism in cancer. We hypothesized that MYC or its paralog N-MYC (collectively termed MYC herein) suppress oscillation of gene expression and metabolism to upregulate pathways involved in biosynthesis in a static, non-oscillatory fashion. To test this, cells from distinct cancer types with inducible MYC were examined, using time-series RNA-sequencing and metabolomics, to determine the extent to which MYC activation disrupts global oscillation of genes, gene expression pathways, and metabolites. We focused our analyses on genes, pathways, and metabolites that changed in common across multiple cancer cell line models. We report here that MYC disrupted over 85% of oscillating genes, while instead promoting enhanced ribosomal and mitochondrial biogenesis and suppressed cell attachment pathways. Notably, when MYC is activated, biosynthetic programs that were formerly circadian flipped to being upregulated in an oscillation-free manner. Further, activation of MYC ablates the oscillation of nutrient transporter proteins while greatly upregulating transporter expression, cell surface localization, and intracellular amino acid pools. Finally, we report that MYC disrupts metabolite oscillations and the temporal segregation of amino acid metabolism from nucleotide metabolism. Our results demonstrate that MYC disruption of the molecular circadian clock releases metabolic and biosynthetic processes from circadian control, which may provide a distinct advantage to cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Cazarin
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Rachel E. DeRollo
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Siti Noor Ain Binti Ahmad Shahidan
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Jamison B. Burchett
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Daniel Mwangi
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Saikumari Krishnaiah
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Institute of Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Chronobiology and Sleep Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Annie L. Hsieh
- The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Zandra E. Walton
- The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Rebekah Brooks
- The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Stephano S. Mello
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
- Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, United States of America
| | - Aalim M. Weljie
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Institute of Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Chronobiology and Sleep Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Chi V. Dang
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, New York, New York, United States of America
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Brian J. Altman
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, United States of America
- Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, United States of America
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23
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Feng S, Aplin C, Nguyen TTT, Milano SK, Cerione RA. Filament formation drives catalysis by glutaminase enzymes important in cancer progression. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.16.528860. [PMID: 36824706 PMCID: PMC9949068 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.16.528860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
The glutaminase enzymes GAC and GLS2 catalyze the hydrolysis of glutamine to glutamate, satisfying the 'glutamine addiction' of cancer cells. They are the targets of anti-cancer drugs; however, their mechanisms of activation and catalytic activity have been unclear. Here we demonstrate that the ability of GAC and GLS2 to form filaments is directly coupled to their catalytic activity and present their cryo-EM structures which provide an unprecedented view of the conformational states essential for catalysis. Filament formation guides an 'activation loop' to assume a specific conformation that works together with a 'lid' to close over the active site and position glutamine for nucleophilic attack by an essential serine. Our findings highlight how ankyrin repeats on GLS2 regulate enzymatic activity, while allosteric activators stabilize, and clinically relevant inhibitors block, filament formation that enables glutaminases to catalyze glutaminolysis and support cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi Feng
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University,
Ithaca, New York, 14853
| | - Cody Aplin
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University,
Ithaca, New York, 14853
| | - Thuy-Tien T. Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University,
Ithaca, New York, 14853
| | - Shawn K. Milano
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University,
Ithaca, New York, 14853
| | - Richard A. Cerione
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University,
Ithaca, New York, 14853
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New
York, 14853
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24
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D’Avola A, Kluckova K, Finch AJ, Riches JC. Spotlight on New Therapeutic Opportunities for MYC-Driven Cancers. Onco Targets Ther 2023; 16:371-383. [PMID: 37309471 PMCID: PMC10257908 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s366627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
MYC can be considered to be one of the most pressing and important targets for the development of novel anti-cancer therapies. This is due to its frequent dysregulation in tumors and due to the wide-ranging impact this dysregulation has on gene expression and cellular behavior. As a result, there have been numerous attempts to target MYC over the last few decades, both directly and indirectly, with mixed results. This article reviews the biology of MYC in the context of cancers and drug development. It discusses strategies aimed at targeting MYC directly, including those aimed at reducing its expression and blocking its function. In addition, the impact of MYC dysregulation on cellular biology is outlined, and how understanding this can underpin the development of approaches aimed at molecules and pathways regulated by MYC. In particular, the review focuses on the role that MYC plays in the regulation of metabolism, and the therapeutic avenues offered by inhibiting the metabolic pathways that are essential for the survival of MYC-transformed cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa D’Avola
- Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Katarina Kluckova
- Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Andrew J Finch
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - John C Riches
- Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
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25
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Li X, Duan Z, Chen X, Pan D, Luo Q, Gu L, Xu G, Li Y, Zhang H, Gong Q, Chen R, Gu Z, Luo K. Impairing Tumor Metabolic Plasticity via a Stable Metal-Phenolic-Based Polymeric Nanomedicine to Suppress Colorectal Cancer. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2300548. [PMID: 36917817 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202300548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Targeting metabolic vulnerability of tumor cells is a promising anticancer strategy. However, the therapeutic efficacy of existing metabolism-regulating agents is often compromised due to tolerance resulting from tumor metabolic plasticity, as well as their poor bioavailability and tumor-targetability. Inspired by the inhibitive effect of N-ethylmaleimide on the mitochondrial function, a dendronized-polymer-functionalized metal-phenolic nanomedicine (pOEG-b-D-SH@NP) encapsulating maleimide-modified doxorubicin (Mal-DOX) is developed to enable improvement in the overall delivery efficiency and inhibition of the tumor metabolism via multiple pathways. It is observed that Mal-DOX and its derived nanomedicine induces energy depletion of CT26 colorectal cancer cells more efficiently than doxorubicin, and shifts the balance of programmed cell death from apoptosis toward necroptosis. Notably, pOEG-b-D-SH@NP simultaneously inhibits cellular oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis, thus potently suppressing cancer growth and peritoneal intestinal metastasis in mouse models. Overall, the study provides a promising dendronized-polymer-derived nanoplatform for the treatment of cancers through impairing metabolic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoling Li
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Animal Experimental Center, Department of Radiology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Zhenyu Duan
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Animal Experimental Center, Department of Radiology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xiaoting Chen
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Animal Experimental Center, Department of Radiology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Dayi Pan
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Animal Experimental Center, Department of Radiology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Qiang Luo
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Animal Experimental Center, Department of Radiology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Lei Gu
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Animal Experimental Center, Department of Radiology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Gang Xu
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Animal Experimental Center, Department of Radiology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Functional and molecular imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, NHC, and Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yinggang Li
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Animal Experimental Center, Department of Radiology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Hu Zhang
- Amgen Bioprocessing Centre, Keck Graduate Institute, Claremont, CA, 91711, USA
| | - Qiyong Gong
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Animal Experimental Center, Department of Radiology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Functional and molecular imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, NHC, and Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Department of Radiology, West China Xiamen Hospital of Sichuan University, Xiamen, Fujian, 361000, China
| | - Rongjun Chen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Zhongwei Gu
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Animal Experimental Center, Department of Radiology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Kui Luo
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Animal Experimental Center, Department of Radiology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Functional and molecular imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Key Laboratory of Transplant Engineering and Immunology, NHC, and Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China
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26
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Jin J, Byun JK, Choi YK, Park KG. Targeting glutamine metabolism as a therapeutic strategy for cancer. Exp Mol Med 2023; 55:706-715. [PMID: 37009798 PMCID: PMC10167356 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-023-00971-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 79.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Proliferating cancer cells rely largely on glutamine for survival and proliferation. Glutamine serves as a carbon source for the synthesis of lipids and metabolites via the TCA cycle, as well as a source of nitrogen for amino acid and nucleotide synthesis. To date, many studies have explored the role of glutamine metabolism in cancer, thereby providing a scientific rationale for targeting glutamine metabolism for cancer treatment. In this review, we summarize the mechanism(s) involved at each step of glutamine metabolism, from glutamine transporters to redox homeostasis, and highlight areas that can be exploited for clinical cancer treatment. Furthermore, we discuss the mechanisms underlying cancer cell resistance to agents that target glutamine metabolism, as well as strategies for overcoming these mechanisms. Finally, we discuss the effects of glutamine blockade on the tumor microenvironment and explore strategies to maximize the utility of glutamine blockers as a cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonghwa Jin
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, 41944, South Korea
| | - Jun-Kyu Byun
- BK21 FOUR Community-based Intelligent Novel Drug Discovery Education Unit, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Korea
| | - Yeon-Kyung Choi
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Daegu, 41404, Korea.
| | - Keun-Gyu Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, 41944, South Korea.
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Nguyen TTT, Katt WP, Cerione RA. Alone and together: current approaches to targeting glutaminase enzymes as part of anti-cancer therapies. FUTURE DRUG DISCOVERY 2023; 4:FDD79. [PMID: 37009252 PMCID: PMC10051075 DOI: 10.4155/fdd-2022-0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming is a major hallmark of malignant transformation in cancer, and part of the so-called Warburg effect, in which the upregulation of glutamine catabolism plays a major role. The glutaminase enzymes convert glutamine to glutamate, which initiates this pathway. Inhibition of different forms of glutaminase (KGA, GAC, or LGA) demonstrated potential as an emerging anti-cancer therapeutic strategy. The regulation of these enzymes, and the molecular basis for their inhibition, have been the focus of much recent research. This review will explore the recent progress in understanding the molecular basis for activation and inhibition of different forms of glutaminase, as well as the recent focus on combination therapies of glutaminase inhibitors with other anti-cancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuy-Tien T Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - William P Katt
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Richard A Cerione
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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28
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Wang K, Luo L, Fu S, Wang M, Wang Z, Dong L, Wu X, Dai L, Peng Y, Shen G, Chen HN, Nice EC, Wei X, Huang C. PHGDH arginine methylation by PRMT1 promotes serine synthesis and represents a therapeutic vulnerability in hepatocellular carcinoma. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1011. [PMID: 36823188 PMCID: PMC9950448 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36708-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Serine synthesis is crucial for tumor growth and survival, but its regulatory mechanism in cancer remains elusive. Here, using integrative metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses, we show a heterogeneity between metabolite and transcript profiles. Specifically, the level of serine in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues is increased, whereas the expression of phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH), the first rate-limiting enzyme in serine biosynthesis pathway, is markedly downregulated. Interestingly, the increased serine level is obtained by enhanced PHGDH catalytic activity due to protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1)-mediated methylation of PHGDH at arginine 236. PRMT1-mediated PHGDH methylation and activation potentiates serine synthesis, ameliorates oxidative stress, and promotes HCC growth in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, PRMT1-mediated PHGDH methylation correlates with PHGDH hyperactivation and serine accumulation in human HCC tissues, and is predictive of poor prognosis of HCC patients. Notably, blocking PHGDH methylation with a TAT-tagged nonmethylated peptide inhibits serine synthesis and restrains HCC growth in an HCC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model and subcutaneous HCC cell-derived xenograft model. Overall, our findings reveal a regulatory mechanism of PHGDH activity and serine synthesis, and suggest PHGDH methylation as a potential therapeutic vulnerability in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kui Wang
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Li Luo
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, PR China.,Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Shuyue Fu
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Mao Wang
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Zihao Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Lixia Dong
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Xingyun Wu
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Lunzhi Dai
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Yong Peng
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Guobo Shen
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Hai-Ning Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Edouard Collins Nice
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Xiawei Wei
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, PR China.
| | - Canhua Huang
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China.
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29
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Clasen F, Nunes PM, Bidkhori G, Bah N, Boeing S, Shoaie S, Anastasiou D. Systematic diet composition swap in a mouse genome-scale metabolic model reveals determinants of obesogenic diet metabolism in liver cancer. iScience 2023; 26:106040. [PMID: 36844450 PMCID: PMC9947310 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Dietary nutrient availability and gene expression, together, influence tissue metabolic activity. Here, we explore whether altering dietary nutrient composition in the context of mouse liver cancer suffices to overcome chronic gene expression changes that arise from tumorigenesis and western-style diet (WD). We construct a mouse genome-scale metabolic model and estimate metabolic fluxes in liver tumors and non-tumoral tissue after computationally varying the composition of input diet. This approach, called Systematic Diet Composition Swap (SyDiCoS), revealed that, compared to a control diet, WD increases production of glycerol and succinate irrespective of specific tissue gene expression patterns. Conversely, differences in fatty acid utilization pathways between tumor and non-tumor liver are amplified with WD by both dietary carbohydrates and lipids together. Our data suggest that combined dietary component modifications may be required to normalize the distinctive metabolic patterns that underlie selective targeting of tumor metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederick Clasen
- Cancer Metabolism Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Patrícia M. Nunes
- Cancer Metabolism Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Gholamreza Bidkhori
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Nourdine Bah
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Science Technology Platform, Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Stefan Boeing
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Science Technology Platform, Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Saeed Shoaie
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, UK
- Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab), KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Tomtebodavägen 23, 171 65 Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Dimitrios Anastasiou
- Cancer Metabolism Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK
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30
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Kaushik AK, Tarangelo A, Boroughs LK, Ragavan M, Zhang Y, Wu CY, Li X, Ahumada K, Chiang JC, Tcheuyap VT, Saatchi F, Do QN, Yong C, Rosales T, Stevens C, Rao AD, Faubert B, Pachnis P, Zacharias LG, Vu H, Cai F, Mathews TP, Genovese G, Slusher BS, Kapur P, Sun X, Merritt M, Brugarolas J, DeBerardinis RJ. In vivo characterization of glutamine metabolism identifies therapeutic targets in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabp8293. [PMID: 36525494 PMCID: PMC9757752 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abp8293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Targeting metabolic vulnerabilities has been proposed as a therapeutic strategy in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Here, we analyzed the metabolism of patient-derived xenografts (tumorgrafts) from diverse subtypes of RCC. Tumorgrafts from VHL-mutant clear cell RCC (ccRCC) retained metabolic features of human ccRCC and engaged in oxidative and reductive glutamine metabolism. Genetic silencing of isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 or isocitrate dehydrogenase-2 impaired reductive labeling of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates in vivo and suppressed growth of tumors generated from tumorgraft-derived cells. Glutaminase inhibition reduced the contribution of glutamine to the TCA cycle and resulted in modest suppression of tumorgraft growth. Infusions with [amide-15N]glutamine revealed persistent amidotransferase activity during glutaminase inhibition, and blocking these activities with the amidotransferase inhibitor JHU-083 also reduced tumor growth in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent mice. We conclude that ccRCC tumorgrafts catabolize glutamine via multiple pathways, perhaps explaining why it has been challenging to achieve therapeutic responses in patients by inhibiting glutaminase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akash K. Kaushik
- Children’s Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Amy Tarangelo
- Children’s Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Lindsey K. Boroughs
- Children’s Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Mukundan Ragavan
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- Children’s Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Cheng-Yang Wu
- Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Xiangyi Li
- Children’s Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Kristen Ahumada
- Children’s Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jui-Chung Chiang
- Children’s Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Vanina T. Tcheuyap
- Kidney Cancer Program, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Faeze Saatchi
- Kidney Cancer Program, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Quyen N. Do
- Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Cissy Yong
- Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Tracy Rosales
- Children’s Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Christina Stevens
- Kidney Cancer Program, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Aparna D. Rao
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Brandon Faubert
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Panayotis Pachnis
- Children’s Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Lauren G. Zacharias
- Children’s Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Hieu Vu
- Children’s Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Feng Cai
- Children’s Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Thomas P. Mathews
- Children’s Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Giannicola Genovese
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Barbara S. Slusher
- Department of Neurology and Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Payal Kapur
- Kidney Cancer Program, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Xiankai Sun
- Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Kidney Cancer Program, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Advanced Imaging Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX USA
| | - Matthew Merritt
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - James Brugarolas
- Kidney Cancer Program, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Ralph J. DeBerardinis
- Children’s Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Kidney Cancer Program, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
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Yang C, Lee D, Zhang MS, Tse AP, Wei L, Bao MH, Wong BP, Chan CY, Yuen VW, Chen Y, Wong CC. Genome-Wide CRISPR/Cas9 Library Screening Revealed Dietary Restriction of Glutamine in Combination with Inhibition of Pyruvate Metabolism as Effective Liver Cancer Treatment. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2202104. [PMID: 36310121 PMCID: PMC9731711 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202202104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second most lethal cancer worldwide. Glutamine is an essential, extracellular nutrient which supports HCC growth. Dietary glutamine deficiency may be a potential therapeutic approach for HCC. HCC cells overcome metabolic challenges by rewiring their metabolic pathways for rapid adaptations. The efficiency of dietary glutamine deficiency as HCC treatment is examined and the adaptation machinery under glutamine depletion in HCC cells is unraveled. Using genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 knockout library screening, this study identifies that pyruvate dehydrogenase α (PDHA), pyruvate dehydrogenase β (PDHB), and pyruvate carboxylase (PC) in pyruvate metabolism are crucial to the adaptation of glutamine depletion in HCC cells. Knockout of either PDHA, PDHB or PC induced metabolic reprogramming of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, disrupts mitochondrial function, leading to the suppression of HCC cell proliferation under glutamine depletion. Surprisingly, dietary glutamine restriction improves therapeutic responses of HCC to PDH or PC inhibitor in mouse HCC models. Stable isotope carbon tracing confirms that PDH or PC inhibitors further disrupt the metabolic rewiring of the TCA cycle induced by dietary glutamine depletion in HCC. In summary, the results demonstrate that pyruvate metabolism acts as novel targetable metabolic vulnerabilities for HCC treatment in combination with a glutamine-deficient diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunxue Yang
- Department of PathologyThe University of Hong KongHong KongP. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver ResearchThe University of Hong KongHong KongP. R. China
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen)Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhou510275P. R. China
| | - Derek Lee
- Department of PathologyThe University of Hong KongHong KongP. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver ResearchThe University of Hong KongHong KongP. R. China
- Centre for Oncology and ImmunologyHong Kong Science ParkHong KongP. R. China
| | - Misty Shuo Zhang
- Department of PathologyThe University of Hong KongHong KongP. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver ResearchThe University of Hong KongHong KongP. R. China
- Centre for Oncology and ImmunologyHong Kong Science ParkHong KongP. R. China
| | - Aki Pui‐Wah Tse
- Department of PathologyThe University of Hong KongHong KongP. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver ResearchThe University of Hong KongHong KongP. R. China
- Centre for Oncology and ImmunologyHong Kong Science ParkHong KongP. R. China
| | - Lai Wei
- Department of PathologyThe University of Hong KongHong KongP. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver ResearchThe University of Hong KongHong KongP. R. China
| | - Macus Hao‐Ran Bao
- Department of PathologyThe University of Hong KongHong KongP. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver ResearchThe University of Hong KongHong KongP. R. China
- Centre for Oncology and ImmunologyHong Kong Science ParkHong KongP. R. China
| | - Bowie Po‐Yee Wong
- Department of PathologyThe University of Hong KongHong KongP. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver ResearchThe University of Hong KongHong KongP. R. China
- Centre for Oncology and ImmunologyHong Kong Science ParkHong KongP. R. China
| | - Cerise Yuen‐Ki Chan
- Department of PathologyThe University of Hong KongHong KongP. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver ResearchThe University of Hong KongHong KongP. R. China
- Centre for Oncology and ImmunologyHong Kong Science ParkHong KongP. R. China
| | - Vincent Wai‐Hin Yuen
- Department of PathologyThe University of Hong KongHong KongP. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver ResearchThe University of Hong KongHong KongP. R. China
- Centre for Oncology and ImmunologyHong Kong Science ParkHong KongP. R. China
| | - Yiling Chen
- Department of PathologyThe University of Hong KongHong KongP. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver ResearchThe University of Hong KongHong KongP. R. China
- Centre for Oncology and ImmunologyHong Kong Science ParkHong KongP. R. China
| | - Carmen Chak‐Lui Wong
- Department of PathologyThe University of Hong KongHong KongP. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver ResearchThe University of Hong KongHong KongP. R. China
- Centre for Oncology and ImmunologyHong Kong Science ParkHong KongP. R. China
- Guangdong‐Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA MedicineSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhou510120P. R. China
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Parma B, Wurdak H, Ceppi P. Harnessing mitochondrial metabolism and drug resistance in non-small cell lung cancer and beyond by blocking heat-shock proteins. Drug Resist Updat 2022; 65:100888. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2022.100888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Dai Z, Zheng W, Locasale JW. Amino acid variability, tradeoffs and optimality in human diet. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6683. [PMID: 36335142 PMCID: PMC9637229 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34486-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies at the molecular level demonstrate that dietary amino acid intake produces substantial effects on health and disease by modulating metabolism. However, how these effects may manifest in human food consumption and dietary patterns is unknown. Here, we develop a series of algorithms to map, characterize and model the landscape of amino acid content in human food, dietary patterns, and individual consumption including relations to health status, covering over 2,000 foods, ten dietary patterns, and over 30,000 dietary profiles. We find that the type of amino acids contained in foods and human consumption is highly dynamic with variability far exceeding that of fat and carbohydrate. Some amino acids positively associate with conditions such as obesity while others contained in the same food negatively link to disease. Using linear programming and machine learning, we show that these health trade-offs can be accounted for to satisfy biochemical constraints in food and human eating patterns to construct a Pareto front in dietary practice, a means of achieving optimality in the face of trade-offs that are commonly considered in economic and evolutionary theories. Thus this study may enable the design of human protein quality intake guidelines based on a quantitative framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziwei Dai
- grid.26009.3d0000 0004 1936 7961Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710 USA ,grid.263817.90000 0004 1773 1790Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055 China
| | - Weiyan Zheng
- grid.263817.90000 0004 1773 1790Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055 China
| | - Jason W. Locasale
- grid.26009.3d0000 0004 1936 7961Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710 USA
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Lee J, Kim D, Le QV, Oh YK. Nanotherapeutics for immune network modulation in tumor microenvironments. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:1066-1087. [PMID: 34844846 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has shown promise in cancer treatment, and is thus drawing increasing interest in this field. While the standard chemotherapy- and/or radiotherapy-based cancer treatments aim to directly kill cancer cells, immunotherapy uses host immune cell surveillance to fight cancer. In the tumor environment, there is a close relationship between tumor cells and the adjacent immune cells, which are largely suppressed by cancer-related regulation of immune checkpoints, immune-suppressive cytokines, and metabolic factors. The immune modulators currently approved for cancer treatment remain limited by issues with dose tolerance and insufficient efficacy. Researchers have developed and tested various nano-delivery systems with the goal of improving the treatment outcome of these drugs. By encapsulating immune modulators in particles and directing their tissue accumulation, some such systems have decreased immune-related toxicity while sharpening the antitumor response. Surface-ligand modification of nanoparticles has allowed drugs to be delivered to specific immune cells types. Researchers have also studied strategies for depleting or reprogramming the immune-suppressive cells to recover the immune environment. Combining a nanomaterial with an external stimulus has been used to induce immunogenic cell death; this favors the inflammatory environment found in tumor tissues to promote antitumor immunity. The present review covers the most recent strategies aimed at modulating the tumor immune environment, and discusses the challenges and future perspectives in developing nanoparticles for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaiwoo Lee
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Dongyoon Kim
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Quoc-Viet Le
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yu-Kyoung Oh
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
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35
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Yang D, Liu H, Cai Y, Lu K, Zhong X, Xing S, Song W, Zhang Y, Ye L, Zhu X, Wang T, Zhang P, Li ST, Feng J, Jia W, Zhang H, Gao P. Branched-chain amino acid catabolism breaks glutamine addiction to sustain hepatocellular carcinoma progression. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111691. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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36
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High Expression of ACOT2 Predicts Worse Overall Survival and Abnormal Lipid Metabolism: A Potential Target for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. JOURNAL OF HEALTHCARE ENGINEERING 2022; 2022:2669114. [PMID: 36193167 PMCID: PMC9525752 DOI: 10.1155/2022/2669114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Acyl-CoA thioesterase (ACOT) plays a considerable role in lipid metabolism, which is closely related to the occurrence and development of cancer, nevertheless, its role has not been fully elucidated in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). To explore the role of ACOT2 in AML and to provide a potential therapeutic target for AML, the expression pattern of ACOT was investigated based on the TNMplot, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), and Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) database, and diagnostic value, prognostic value, and clinical phenotype of ACOT were explored based on data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Functional annotation and enrichment analysis of the common targets between ACOT2 coexpressed and AML-related genes were further performed by Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) analyses. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of ACOT2 coexpressed genes and functional ACOT2-related metabolites association network were constructed based on GeneMANIA and Human Metabolome Database. Among ACOTs, ACOT2 was highly expressed in AML compared to normal control subjects according to TNMplot, GEPIA, and CCLE database, which was significantly associated with poor overall survival (OS) in AML (
). Moreover, ACOT2 exhibited excellent diagnostic efficiency for AML (AUC: 1.000) and related to French-American-British (FAB) classification and cytogenetics. GO, KEGG, and GSEA analyses of 71 common targets between ACOT2 coexpressed and AML-related genes revealed that ACOT2 is closely related to ACOT1, ACOT4, enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase, mitochondrial (MECR), puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase (NPEPPS), SWI/SNF-related matrix-associated actin-dependent regulator of chromatin subfamily B member 1 (SMARCB1), and long-chain fatty acid-CoA ligase 1 (ACSL1) in PPI network, and plays a significant role in lipid metabolism, that is, involved in fatty acid elongation and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids. Collectively, the increase of ACOT2 may be an important characteristic of worse OS and abnormal lipid metabolism, suggesting that ACOT2 may become a potential therapeutic target for AML.
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Li Y, Li B, Xu Y, Qian L, Xu T, Meng G, Li H, Wang Y, Zhang L, Jiang X, Liu Q, Xie Y, Cheng C, Sun B, Yu D. GOT2 Silencing Promotes Reprogramming of Glutamine Metabolism and Sensitizes Hepatocellular Carcinoma to Glutaminase Inhibitors. Cancer Res 2022; 82:3223-3235. [PMID: 35895805 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-0042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the primary liver malignancies with a poor prognosis. Glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase 2 (GOT2) is a highly tissue-specific gene in the liver, but the roles GOT2 plays in the progression of HCC remain unclear. Here, we report that GOT2 is downregulated in HCC tumor tissues and that low expression of GOT2 is associated with advanced progression and poor prognosis. In HCC cells, knockdown of GOT2 promoted proliferation, migration, and invasion. In mouse models of HCC, loss of GOT2 promoted tumor growth as well as hematogenous and intrahepatic metastasis. Mechanistically, silencing of GOT2 enhanced glutaminolysis, nucleotide synthesis, and glutathione synthesis by reprogramming glutamine metabolism to support the cellular antioxidant system, which activated the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway to contribute to HCC progression. Furthermore, HCC with low expression of GOT2 was highly dependent on glutamine metabolism and sensitive to the glutaminase inhibitor CB-839 in vitro and in vivo. Overall, GOT2 is involved in glutamine metabolic reprogramming to promote HCC progression and may serve as a therapeutic and diagnostic target for HCC. SIGNIFICANCE Altered glutamine metabolism induced by GOT2 loss supports HCC growth and metastasis but confers a targetable vulnerability to glutaminase inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunzheng Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Binghua Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanchao Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Jiangsu University, Nanjing, China
| | - Liyuan Qian
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Tiancheng Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Gang Meng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Huan Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ye Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Laizhu Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiang Jiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qi Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuanyuan Xie
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chunxiao Cheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Beicheng Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Decai Yu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Jiangsu University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
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Fets L, Bevan N, Nunes PM, Campos S, Dos Santos MS, Sherriff E, MacRae JI, House D, Anastasiou D. MOG analogues to explore the MCT2 pharmacophore, α-ketoglutarate biology and cellular effects of N-oxalylglycine. Commun Biol 2022; 5:877. [PMID: 36028752 PMCID: PMC9418262 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03805-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
α-ketoglutarate (αKG) is a central metabolic node with a broad influence on cellular physiology. The αKG analogue N-oxalylglycine (NOG) and its membrane-permeable pro-drug derivative dimethyl-oxalylglycine (DMOG) have been extensively used as tools to study prolyl hydroxylases (PHDs) and other αKG-dependent processes. In cell culture media, DMOG is rapidly converted to MOG, which enters cells through monocarboxylate transporter MCT2, leading to intracellular NOG concentrations that are sufficiently high to inhibit glutaminolysis enzymes and cause cytotoxicity. Therefore, the degree of (D)MOG instability together with MCT2 expression levels determine the intracellular targets NOG engages with and, ultimately, its effects on cell viability. Here we designed and characterised a series of MOG analogues with the aims of improving compound stability and exploring the functional requirements for interaction with MCT2, a relatively understudied member of the SLC16 family. We report MOG analogues that maintain ability to enter cells via MCT2, and identify compounds that do not inhibit glutaminolysis or cause cytotoxicity but can still inhibit PHDs. We use these analogues to show that, under our experimental conditions, glutaminolysis-induced activation of mTORC1 can be uncoupled from PHD activity. Therefore, these new compounds can help deconvolute cellular effects that result from the polypharmacological action of NOG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Fets
- Cancer Metabolism Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Drug Transport and Tumour Metabolism Lab, MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, UK
| | - Natalie Bevan
- Cancer Metabolism Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Patrícia M Nunes
- Cancer Metabolism Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | | | | | | | - James I MacRae
- Metabolomics Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
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Edwards-Hicks J, Su H, Mangolini M, Yoneten KK, Wills J, Rodriguez-Blanco G, Young C, Cho K, Barker H, Muir M, Guerrieri AN, Li XF, White R, Manasterski P, Mandrou E, Wills K, Chen J, Abraham E, Sateri K, Qian BZ, Bankhead P, Arends M, Gammoh N, von Kriegsheim A, Patti GJ, Sims AH, Acosta JC, Brunton V, Kranc KR, Christophorou M, Pearce EL, Ringshausen I, Finch AJ. MYC sensitises cells to apoptosis by driving energetic demand. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4674. [PMID: 35945217 PMCID: PMC9363429 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32368-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The MYC oncogene is a potent driver of growth and proliferation but also sensitises cells to apoptosis, which limits its oncogenic potential. MYC induces several biosynthetic programmes and primary cells overexpressing MYC are highly sensitive to glutamine withdrawal suggesting that MYC-induced sensitisation to apoptosis may be due to imbalance of metabolic/energetic supply and demand. Here we show that MYC elevates global transcription and translation, even in the absence of glutamine, revealing metabolic demand without corresponding supply. Glutamine withdrawal from MRC-5 fibroblasts depletes key tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle metabolites and, in combination with MYC activation, leads to AMP accumulation and nucleotide catabolism indicative of energetic stress. Further analyses reveal that glutamine supports viability through TCA cycle energetics rather than asparagine biosynthesis and that TCA cycle inhibition confers tumour suppression on MYC-driven lymphoma in vivo. In summary, glutamine supports the viability of MYC-overexpressing cells through an energetic rather than a biosynthetic mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy Edwards-Hicks
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
- Department of Immunometabolism, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Stübeweg 51, D-79108, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Huizhong Su
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Maurizio Mangolini
- Wellcome Trust/MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute & Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Kubra K Yoneten
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Jimi Wills
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Giovanny Rodriguez-Blanco
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Christine Young
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Kevin Cho
- Department of Chemistry and Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Heather Barker
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Morwenna Muir
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Ania Naila Guerrieri
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Xue-Feng Li
- MRC University of Edinburgh Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Rachel White
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Piotr Manasterski
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Elena Mandrou
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Karen Wills
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Jingyu Chen
- Wellcome Trust/MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute & Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Emily Abraham
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Kianoosh Sateri
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Bin-Zhi Qian
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
- MRC University of Edinburgh Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Peter Bankhead
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Mark Arends
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Noor Gammoh
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Alex von Kriegsheim
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Gary J Patti
- Department of Chemistry and Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Andrew H Sims
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Juan Carlos Acosta
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria, IBBTEC (CSIC, Universidad de Cantabria). C/ Albert Einstein 22, Santander, 39011, Spain
| | - Valerie Brunton
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK
| | - Kamil R Kranc
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
- MRC Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL, UK
| | - Maria Christophorou
- Wellcome Trust/MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute & Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Erika L Pearce
- Department of Immunometabolism, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Stübeweg 51, D-79108, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Oncology, The Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ingo Ringshausen
- Wellcome Trust/MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute & Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Andrew J Finch
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XR, UK.
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK.
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Quek LE, van Geldermalsen M, Guan YF, Wahi K, Mayoh C, Balaban S, Pang A, Wang Q, Cowley MJ, Brown KK, Turner N, Hoy AJ, Holst J. Glutamine addiction promotes glucose oxidation in triple-negative breast cancer. Oncogene 2022; 41:4066-4078. [PMID: 35851845 PMCID: PMC9391225 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02408-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Glutamine is a conditionally essential nutrient for many cancer cells, but it remains unclear how consuming glutamine in excess of growth requirements confers greater fitness to glutamine-addicted cancers. By contrasting two breast cancer subtypes with distinct glutamine dependencies, we show that glutamine-indispensable triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells rely on a non-canonical glutamine-to-glutamate overflow, with glutamine carbon routed once through the TCA cycle. Importantly, this single-pass glutaminolysis increases TCA cycle fluxes and replenishes TCA cycle intermediates in TNBC cells, a process that achieves net oxidation of glucose but not glutamine. The coupling of glucose and glutamine catabolism appears hard-wired via a distinct TNBC gene expression profile biased to strip and then sequester glutamine nitrogen, but hampers the ability of TNBC cells to oxidise glucose when glutamine is limiting. Our results provide a new understanding of how metabolically rigid TNBC cells are sensitive to glutamine deprivation and a way to select vulnerable TNBC subtypes that may be responsive to metabolic-targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lake-Ee Quek
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
| | - Michelle van Geldermalsen
- Origins of Cancer Program, Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Yi Fang Guan
- School of Medical Sciences and School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Kanu Wahi
- School of Medical Sciences and School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Chelsea Mayoh
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, Australia
- School of Women's and Children's Health, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Seher Balaban
- School of Medical Sciences, Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Angel Pang
- School of Medical Sciences and School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Qian Wang
- School of Medical Sciences and School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Mark J Cowley
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, Australia
- School of Women's and Children's Health, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Kristin K Brown
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Nigel Turner
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Andrew J Hoy
- School of Medical Sciences, Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Jeff Holst
- School of Medical Sciences and School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, Australia.
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[18F]-(2S,4R)4-Fluoroglutamine PET Imaging of Glutamine Metabolism in Murine Models of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Mol Imaging 2022; 2022:5185951. [PMID: 35967756 PMCID: PMC9351703 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5185951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Quantitative in vivo [18F]-(2S,4R)4-fluoroglutamine ([18F]4-FGln or more simply [18F]FGln) metabolic kinetic parameters are compared with activity levels of glutamine metabolism in different types of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods For this study, we used two transgenic mouse models of HCC induced by protooncogenes, MYC, and MET. Biochemical data have shown that tumors induced by MYC have increased levels of glutamine metabolism compared to those induced by MET. One-hour dynamic [18F]FGln PET data were acquired and reconstructed for fasted MYC mice (n = 11 tumors from 7 animals), fasted MET mice (n = 8 tumors from 6 animals), fasted FVBN controls (n = 8 normal liver regions from 6 animals), nonfasted MYC mice (n = 16 tumors from 6 animals), and nonfasted FVBN controls (n = 8 normal liver regions from 3 animals). The influx rate constants (K1) using the one-tissue compartment model were derived for each tumor with the left ventricular blood pool input function. Results Influx rate constants were significantly higher for MYC tumors (K1 = 0.374 ± 0.133) than for MET tumors (K1 = 0.141 ± 0.058) under fasting conditions (P = 0.0002). Rate constants were also significantly lower for MET tumors (K1 = 0.141 ± 0.135) than normal livers (K1 = 0.332 ± 0.179) under fasting conditions (P = 0.0123). Fasting conditions tested for MYC tumors and normal livers did not result in any significant difference with P values > 0.005. Conclusion Higher influx rate constants corresponded to elevated levels of glutamine metabolism as determined by biochemical assays. The data showed that there is a distinctive difference in glutamine metabolism between MYC and MET tumors. Our study has demonstrated the potential of [18F]FGln PET imaging as a tool to assess glutamine metabolism in HCC tumors in vivo with a caution that it may not be able to clearly distinguish HCC tumors from normal liver tissue.
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Jin P, Jiang J, Zhou L, Huang Z, Nice EC, Huang C, Fu L. Mitochondrial adaptation in cancer drug resistance: prevalence, mechanisms, and management. J Hematol Oncol 2022; 15:97. [PMID: 35851420 PMCID: PMC9290242 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-022-01313-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance represents a major obstacle in cancer management, and the mechanisms underlying stress adaptation of cancer cells in response to therapy-induced hostile environment are largely unknown. As the central organelle for cellular energy supply, mitochondria can rapidly undergo dynamic changes and integrate cellular signaling pathways to provide bioenergetic and biosynthetic flexibility for cancer cells, which contributes to multiple aspects of tumor characteristics, including drug resistance. Therefore, targeting mitochondria for cancer therapy and overcoming drug resistance has attracted increasing attention for various types of cancer. Multiple mitochondrial adaptation processes, including mitochondrial dynamics, mitochondrial metabolism, and mitochondrial apoptotic regulatory machinery, have been demonstrated to be potential targets. However, recent increasing insights into mitochondria have revealed the complexity of mitochondrial structure and functions, the elusive functions of mitochondria in tumor biology, and the targeting inaccessibility of mitochondria, which have posed challenges for the clinical application of mitochondrial-based cancer therapeutic strategies. Therefore, discovery of both novel mitochondria-targeting agents and innovative mitochondria-targeting approaches is urgently required. Here, we review the most recent literature to summarize the molecular mechanisms underlying mitochondrial stress adaptation and their intricate connection with cancer drug resistance. In addition, an overview of the emerging strategies to target mitochondria for effectively overcoming chemoresistance is highlighted, with an emphasis on drug repositioning and mitochondrial drug delivery approaches, which may accelerate the application of mitochondria-targeting compounds for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingwen Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhao Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Edouard C Nice
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Canhua Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, People's Republic of China.
| | - Li Fu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Department of Pharmacology and International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
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Krstic J, Schindlmaier K, Prokesch A. Combination strategies to target metabolic flexibility in cancer. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 373:159-197. [PMID: 36283766 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2022.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Therapeutically interfering with metabolic pathways has great merit to curtail tumor growth because the demand for copious amounts of energy for growth-supporting biomass production is common to all cancer entities. A major impediment to a straight implementation of metabolic cancer therapy is the metabolic flexibility and plasticity of cancer cells (and their microenvironment) resulting in therapy resistance and evasion. Metabolic combination therapies, therefore, are promising as they are designed to target several energetic routes simultaneously and thereby diminish the availability of alternative substrates. Thus, dietary restrictions, specific nutrient limitations, and/or pharmacological interventions impinging on metabolic pathways can be combined to improve cancer treatment efficacy, to overcome therapy resistance, or even act as a preventive measure. Here, we review the most recent developments in metabolic combination therapies particularly highlighting in vivo reports of synergistic effects and available clinical data. We close with identifying the challenges of the field (metabolic tumor heterogeneity, immune cell interactions, inter-patient variabilities) and suggest a "metabo-typing" strategy to tailor evidence-based metabolic combination therapies to the energetic requirements of the tumors and the patient's nutritional habits and status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Krstic
- Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism & Aging, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Katharina Schindlmaier
- Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Andreas Prokesch
- Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology, Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism & Aging, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria.
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He Y, Fang Y, Zhang M, Zhao Y, Tu B, Shi M, Muhitdinov B, Asrorov A, Xu Q, Huang Y. Remodeling “cold” tumor immune microenvironment via epigenetic-based therapy using targeted liposomes with in situ formed albumin corona. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 12:2057-2073. [PMID: 35847495 PMCID: PMC9279642 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a close connection between epigenetic regulation, cancer metabolism, and immunology. The combination of epigenetic therapy and immunotherapy provides a promising avenue for cancer management. As an epigenetic regulator of histone acetylation, panobinostat can induce histone acetylation and inhibit tumor cell proliferation, as well as regulate aerobic glycolysis and reprogram intratumoral immune cells. JQ1 is a BRD4 inhibitor that can suppress PD-L1 expression. Herein, we proposed a chemo-free, epigenetic-based combination therapy of panobinostat/JQ1 for metastatic colorectal cancer. A novel targeted binary-drug liposome was developed based on lactoferrin-mediated binding with the LRP-1 receptor. It was found that the tumor-targeted delivery was further enhanced by in situ formation of albumin corona. The lactoferrin modification and endogenous albumin adsorption contribute a dual-targeting effect on the receptors of both LRP-1 and SPARC that were overexpressed in tumor cells and immune cells (e.g., tumor-associated macrophages). The targeted liposomal therapy was effective to suppress the crosstalk between tumor metabolism and immune evasion via glycolysis inhibition and immune normalization. Consequently, lactic acid production was reduced and angiogenesis inhibited; TAM switched to an anti-tumor phenotype, and the anti-tumor function of the effector CD8+ T cells was reinforced. The strategy provides a potential method for remodeling the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME).
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Connolly-Schoonen J, Biamonte SF, Danowski L, Montrose DC. Modifying dietary amino acids in cancer patients. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 373:1-36. [PMID: 36283763 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2022.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Limiting nutrient utilization by cancer cells in order to disrupt their metabolism and suppress their growth represents a promising approach for anti-cancer therapy. Recently, studies demonstrating the anti-neoplastic effects of lowering amino acid (AA) availability have opened up an exciting and quickly growing field of study. Although intracellular synthesis can often provide the AAs necessary to support cancer cells, diet and the tumor microenvironment can also be important sources. In fact, studies carried out in vitro and in animal tumor models have supported the anti-cancer potential of restricting exogenous sources of AAs. However the potential benefit of reducing AA intake in cancer patients requires further investigation. Furthermore, implementation of such an approach clinically, even if proven useful, could be challenging. In the enclosed review, we (1) summarize the pre-clinical studies showing the anti-tumorigenic effects of restricting exogenously available AAs, including through reducing dietary protein, (2) consider the role of microbiota in this process, (3) report on current recommendations for protein intake in cancer patients and studies that applied these guidelines, and (4) propose considerations for studies to test the potential therapeutic benefit of reducing protein/AA consumption in patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine Connolly-Schoonen
- Department of Family, Population & Preventive Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Steven F Biamonte
- Department of Family, Population & Preventive Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Lorraine Danowski
- Department of Family, Population & Preventive Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - David C Montrose
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States; Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook, NY, United States.
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Simões RV, Henriques RN, Cardoso BM, Fernandes FF, Carvalho T, Shemesh N. Glucose fluxes in glycolytic and oxidative pathways detected in vivo by deuterium magnetic resonance spectroscopy reflect proliferation in mouse glioblastoma. Neuroimage Clin 2022; 33:102932. [PMID: 35026626 PMCID: PMC8760481 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2021.102932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
We performed dynamic glucose enhanced (DGE) 2H-MRS in mouse GBM tumors. Marchenko-Pastur PCA denoising of 2H-MRS spectra improved kinetic quantification. Metabolic kinetics revealed differential glucose pathway fluxes in non-necrotic tumors. Modulation of glucose metabolism reflected tumor heterogeneity (proliferation).
Objectives Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most aggressive glial brain tumors, can metabolize glucose through glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidation pathways. While specific dependencies on those pathways are increasingly associated with treatment response, detecting such GBM subtypes in vivo remains elusive. Here, we develop a dynamic glucose-enhanced deuterium spectroscopy (DGE 2H-MRS) approach for differentially assessing glucose turnover rates through glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidation in mouse GBM and explore their association with histologic features of the tumor and its microenvironment. Materials and methods GL261 and CT2A glioma allografts were induced in immunocompetent mice and scanned in vivo at 9.4 Tesla, harnessing DGE 2H-MRS with volume selection and Marchenko-Pastur PCA (MP-PCA) denoising to achieve high temporal resolution. Each tumor was also classified by histopathologic analysis and assessed for cell proliferation (Ki67 immunostaining), while the respective cell lines underwent in situ extracellular flux analysis to assess mitochondrial function. Results MP-PCA denoising of in vivo DGE 2H-MRS data significantly improved the time-course detection (~2-fold increased Signal-to-Noise Ratio) and fitting precision (−19 ± 1 % Cramér-Rao Lower Bounds) of 2H-labelled glucose, and glucose-derived glutamate-glutamine (Glx) and lactate pools in GL261 and CT2A orthotopic tumors. Kinetic modeling further indicated inter-tumor heterogeneity of glucose consumption rate for glycolysis and oxidation during a defined epoch of active proliferation in both cohorts (19 ± 1 days post-induction), with consistent volumes (38.3 ± 3.4 mm3) and perfusion properties prior to marked necrosis. Histopathologic analysis of these tumors revealed clear differences in tumor heterogeneity between the two GBM models, aligned with metabolic differences of the respective cell lines monitored in situ. Importantly, glucose oxidation (i.e. Glx synthesis and elimination rates: 0.40 ± 0.08 and 0.12 ± 0.03 mM min−1, respectively) strongly correlated with cell proliferation across the pooled cohorts (R = 0.82, p = 0.001; and R = 0.80, p = 0.002, respectively), regardless of tumor morphologic features or in situ metabolic characteristics of each GBM model. Conclusions Our fast DGE 2H-MRS enables the quantification of glucose consumption rates through glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidation in mouse GBM, which is relevant for assessing their modulation in vivo according to tumor microenvironment features such as cell proliferation. This novel application augurs well for non-invasive metabolic characterization of glioma or other cancers with mitochondrial oxidation dependencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui V Simões
- Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Rafael N Henriques
- Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Beatriz M Cardoso
- Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Tânia Carvalho
- Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Noam Shemesh
- Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal.
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High-resolution structures of mitochondrial glutaminase C tetramers indicate conformational changes upon phosphate binding. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:101564. [PMID: 34999118 PMCID: PMC8800119 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.101564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The mitochondrial enzyme glutaminase C (GAC) is upregulated in many cancer cells to catalyze the first step in glutamine metabolism, the hydrolysis of glutamine to glutamate. The dependence of cancer cells on this transformed metabolic pathway highlights GAC as a potentially important therapeutic target. GAC acquires maximal catalytic activity upon binding to anionic activators such as inorganic phosphate. To delineate the mechanism of GAC activation, we used the tryptophan substitution of tyrosine 466 in the catalytic site of the enzyme as a fluorescent reporter for glutamine binding in the presence and absence of phosphate. We show that in the absence of phosphate, glutamine binding to the Y466W GAC tetramer exhibits positive cooperativity. A high-resolution X-ray structure of tetrameric Y466W GAC bound to glutamine suggests that cooperativity in substrate binding is coupled to tyrosine 249, located at the edge of the catalytic site (i.e., the “lid”), adopting two distinct conformations. In one dimer within the GAC tetramer, the lids are open and glutamine binds weakly, whereas, in the adjoining dimer, the lids are closed over the substrates, resulting in higher affinity interactions. When crystallized in the presence of glutamine and phosphate, all four subunits of the Y466W GAC tetramer exhibited bound glutamine with closed lids. Glutamine can bind with high affinity to each subunit, which subsequently undergo simultaneous catalysis. These findings explain how the regulated transitioning of GAC between different conformational states ensures that maximal catalytic activity is reached in cancer cells only when an allosteric activator is available.
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Managing GSH elevation and hypoxia to overcome resistance of cancer therapies using functionalized nanocarriers. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2021.103022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Whole-exome sequencing in eccrine porocarcinoma indicates promising therapeutic strategies. Cancer Gene Ther 2022; 29:697-708. [PMID: 34045664 PMCID: PMC9209330 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-021-00347-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Malignant sweat gland tumours are rare, with the most common form being Eccrine porocarcinoma (EP). To investigate the mutational landscape of EP, we performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) on 14 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples of matched primary EP and healthy surrounding tissue. Mutational profiling revealed a high overall median mutation rate. This was attributed to signatures of mutational processes related to ultraviolet (UV) exposure, APOBEC enzyme dysregulation, and defective homologous double-strand break repair. All of these processes cause genomic instability and are implicated in carcinogenesis. Recurrent driving somatic alterations were detected in the EP candidate drivers TP53, FAT2, CACNA1S, and KMT2D. The analyses also identified copy number alterations and recurrent gains and losses in several chromosomal regions including that containing BRCA2, as well as deleterious alterations in multiple HRR components. In accordance with this reduced or even a complete loss of BRCA2 protein expression was detected in 50% of the investigated EP tumours. Our results implicate crucial oncogenic driver pathways and suggest that defective homologous double-strand break repair and the p53 pathway are involved in EP aetiology. Targeting of the p53 axis and PARP inhibition, and/or immunotherapy may represent promising treatment strategies.
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Lineage-specific silencing of PSAT1 induces serine auxotrophy and sensitivity to dietary serine starvation in luminal breast tumors. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110278. [PMID: 35045283 PMCID: PMC8845302 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
A major challenge of targeting metabolism for cancer therapy is pathway redundancy, in which multiple sources of critical nutrients can limit the effectiveness of some metabolism-targeted therapies. Here, we analyze lineage-dependent gene expression in human breast tumors to identify differences in metabolic gene expression that may limit pathway redundancy and create therapeutic vulnerabilities. We find that the serine synthesis pathway gene PSAT1 is the most depleted metabolic gene in luminal breast tumors relative to basal tumors. Low PSAT1 prevents de novo serine biosynthesis and sensitizes luminal breast cancer cells to serine and glycine starvation in vitro and in vivo. This PSAT1 expression disparity preexists in the putative cells of origin of basal and luminal tumors and is due to luminal-specific hypermethylation of the PSAT1 gene. Our data demonstrate that luminal breast tumors are auxotrophic for serine and may be uniquely sensitive to therapies targeting serine availability. Many cancer types can synthesize serine de novo, which limits the effectiveness of dietary serine starvation. Choi et al. demonstrate that luminal breast tumors are auxotrophic for serine due to lineage-specific hypermethylation of the PSAT1 gene. This serine auxotrophy may be a targetable vulnerability of luminal breast tumors.
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