1
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Zhen X, Zhang M, Hao S, Sun J. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and transketolase: Key factors in breast cancer progression and therapy. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 176:116935. [PMID: 38876050 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in women and is a serious threat to women's health. The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is a mode of oxidative breakdown of glucose that can be divided into oxidative (oxPPP) and non-oxidative (non-oxPPP) stages and is necessary for cell and body survival. However, abnormal activation of PPP often leads to proliferation, migration, invasion, and chemotherapy resistance in breast cancer. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is the rate-limiting enzyme in PPP oxidation. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogen (NADPH) produced by G6PD is the raw material for cholesterol and lipid synthesis and can resist the production of oxygen species (ROS) and reduce oxidative stress damage to tumor cells. Transketolase (TKT) is a key enzyme in non-oxPPP. Ribose 5-phosphate (R5P), produced by TKT, is a raw material for DNA and RNA synthesis, and is essential for tumor cell proliferation and DNA damage repair. In this review, we describe the role and specific mechanism of the PPP and the two most important enzymes of the PPP, G6PD and TKT, in the malignant progression of breast cancer, providing strategies for future clinical treatment of breast cancer and a theoretical basis for breast cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhen
- Department of Physical examination center, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, 126 Xiantai Blvd, Changchun 130033, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingyu Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, 126 Xiantai Blvd, Changchun 130033, People's Republic of China
| | - Shiming Hao
- Department of Pathology, Norman Bethune College of Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jing Sun
- Department of Physical examination center, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, 126 Xiantai Blvd, Changchun 130033, People's Republic of China.
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2
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Chen H, Hou S, Zhang H, Zhou B, Xi H, Li X, Lufeng Z, Guo Q. MiR-375 impairs breast cancer cell stemness by targeting the KLF5/G6PD signaling axis. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38470012 DOI: 10.1002/tox.24204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Recurrence of breast cancer may be due to the presence of breast cancer stem cells (BCSC). Abnormal tumor cell growth is closely associated with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and disruption of redox homeostasis, and BCSCs exhibit low levels of ROS. The detailed mechanism between the low levels of ROS in BCSCs and their maintenance of stemness characteristics has not been reported. A growing number of studies have shown that tumor development is often accompanied by metabolic reprogramming, which is an important hallmark of tumor cells. As the first rate-limiting enzyme of pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), the expression of G6PD is precisely regulated in tumor cells, and there is a certain correlation between PPP and BCSCs. MiR-375 has been shown to inhibit stem cell-like properties in breast cancer, but the exact mechanism is not clear. Here, KLF5, as a transcription factor, was identified to bind to the promoter of G6PD to promote its expression, whereas miR-375 inhibited the expression of KLF5 by binding to the 3'UTR region of KLF5 mRNA and thus reduced the expression of G6PD expression, inhibits PPP to reduce NADPH, and increases ROS levels in breast cancer cells, thereby weakening breast cancer cell stemness. Our study reveals the specific mechanism by which miR-375 targets the KLF5/G6PD signaling axis to diminish the stemness of breast cancer cells, providing a therapeutic strategy against BCSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haitao Chen
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shanshan Hou
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Pharmaceutical University, Ningbo, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongwei Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Hepatobiliary Surgery, Neonatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Wei Hui, China
| | - Bing Zhou
- Department of Anesthesiology, Hepatobiliary Surgery, Neonatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Wei Hui, China
| | - Huifang Xi
- Department of Anesthesiology, Hepatobiliary Surgery, Neonatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Wei Hui, China
| | - Xiaofang Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Hepatobiliary Surgery, Neonatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Wei Hui, China
| | - Zheng Lufeng
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qianqian Guo
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China
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3
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Hecht F, Zocchi M, Alimohammadi F, Harris IS. Regulation of antioxidants in cancer. Mol Cell 2024; 84:23-33. [PMID: 38029751 PMCID: PMC10843710 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Scientists in this field often joke, "If you don't have a mechanism, say it's ROS." Seemingly connected to every biological process ever described, reactive oxygen species (ROS) have numerous pleiotropic roles in physiology and disease. In some contexts, ROS act as secondary messengers, controlling a variety of signaling cascades. In other scenarios, they initiate damage to macromolecules. Finally, in their worst form, ROS are deadly to cells and surrounding tissues. A set of molecules with detoxifying abilities, termed antioxidants, is the direct counterpart to ROS. Notably, antioxidants exist in the public domain, touted as a "cure-all" for diseases. Research has disproved many of these claims and, in some cases, shown the opposite. Of all the diseases, cancer stands out in its paradoxical relationship with antioxidants. Although the field has made numerous strides in understanding the roles of antioxidants in cancer, many questions remain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Hecht
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Marco Zocchi
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Fatemeh Alimohammadi
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Isaac S Harris
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
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4
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Zhang X, Song W, Gao Y, Zhang Y, Zhao Y, Hao S, Ni T. The Role of Tumor Metabolic Reprogramming in Tumor Immunity. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17422. [PMID: 38139250 PMCID: PMC10743965 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The occurrence and development of tumors require the metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells, namely the alteration of flux in an autonomous manner via various metabolic pathways to meet increased bioenergetic and biosynthetic demands. Tumor cells consume large quantities of nutrients and produce related metabolites via their metabolism; this leads to the remodeling of the tumor microenvironment (TME) to better support tumor growth. During TME remodeling, the immune cell metabolism and antitumor immune activity are affected. This further leads to the escape of tumor cells from immune surveillance and therefore to abnormal proliferation. This review summarizes the regulatory functions associated with the abnormal biosynthesis and activity of metabolic signaling molecules during the process of tumor metabolic reprogramming. In addition, we provide a comprehensive description of the competition between immune cells and tumor cells for nutrients in the TME, as well as the metabolites required for tumor metabolism, the metabolic signaling pathways involved, and the functionality of the immune cells. Finally, we summarize current research targeted at the development of tumor immunotherapy. We aim to provide new concepts for future investigations of the mechanisms underlying the metabolic reprogramming of tumors and explore the association of these mechanisms with tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Shuailin Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010070, China; (X.Z.); (W.S.); (Y.G.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.)
| | - Ting Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010070, China; (X.Z.); (W.S.); (Y.G.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.)
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5
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Peng Y, Liu QZ, Xu D, Fu JY, Zhang LX, Qiu L, Lin JG. M 4IDP stimulates ROS elevation through inhibition of mevalonate pathway and pentose phosphate pathway to inhibit colon cancer cells. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 217:115856. [PMID: 37838274 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
Maintaining redox homeostasis is an essential feature of cancer cells, and disrupting this homeostasis to cause oxidative stress and induce cell death is an important strategy in cancer therapy. M4IDP, a zoledronic acid derivative, can cause the death of human colorectal cancer cells by increasing the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, its potential molecular mechanism is unclear. Our in vitro studies showed that treatment with M4IDP promoted oxidative stress in HCT116 cells, as measured by the decreased ratios of GSH/GSSG and NADPH/NADP+ and increased level of MDA. M4IDP could cause the decrease of GSH content, the increase of GSSG content, the decrease of NADPH content and pentose phosphate pathway flux, the downregulation of G6PD expression, the upregulation of unprenylated Rap1A and total expression of RhoA and CDC42. The increase of ROS and cytotoxicity induced by M4IDP could be reversed by the supplementation of NADPH, the overexpression of G6PD and the supplementation of GGOH. In vivo studies showed that M4IDP inhibited tumor growth in the human colorectal cancer xenograft mouse model, which was accompanied with a decreased [18F]FDG uptake. Collectively, these results provide evidence that M4IDP can promote oxidation in colon cancer cells by inhibiting mevalonate pathway and pentose phosphate pathway and produce therapeutic effect. This study revealed for the first time a possible mechanism of bisphosphonate-induced increase of ROS in malignant tumor cells. This is helpful for the development of new molecular therapeutic targets and can provide new ideas for the combined therapy of bisphosphonates in tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Peng
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214063, China; Department of Radiopharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China
| | - Qing-Zhu Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214063, China
| | - Dong Xu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214063, China
| | - Jia-Yu Fu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214063, China; Department of Radiopharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China
| | - Li-Xia Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214063, China
| | - Ling Qiu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214063, China; Department of Radiopharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China
| | - Jian-Guo Lin
- NHC Key Laboratory of Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Nuclear Medicine, Jiangsu Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214063, China; Department of Radiopharmaceuticals, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China.
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6
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Cui C, Huo Q, Xiong X, Li K, Fishel ML, Li B, Yokota H. Anticancer Peptides Derived from Aldolase A and Induced Tumor-Suppressing Cells Inhibit Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cells. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2447. [PMID: 37896207 PMCID: PMC10610494 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15102447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
PDAC (pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma) is a highly aggressive malignant tumor. We have previously developed induced tumor-suppressing cells (iTSCs) that secrete a group of tumor-suppressing proteins. Here, we examined a unique procedure to identify anticancer peptides (ACPs), using trypsin-digested iTSCs-derived protein fragments. Among the 10 ACP candidates, P04 (IGEHTPSALAIMENANVLAR) presented the most efficient anti-PDAC activities. P04 was derived from aldolase A (ALDOA), a glycolytic enzyme. Extracellular ALDOA, as well as P04, was predicted to interact with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and P04 downregulated oncoproteins such as Snail and Src. Importantly, P04 has no inhibitory effect on mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). We also generated iTSCs by overexpressing ALDOA in MSCs and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). iTSC-derived conditioned medium (CM) inhibited the progression of PDAC cells as well as PDAC tissue fragments. The inhibitory effect of P04 was additive to that of CM and chemotherapeutic drugs such as 5-Flu and gemcitabine. Notably, applying mechanical vibration to PBMCs elevated ALDOA and converted PBMCs into iTSCs. Collectively, this study presented a unique procedure for selecting anticancer P04 from ALDOA in an iTSCs-derived proteome for the treatment of PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changpeng Cui
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China; (C.C.); (Q.H.); (X.X.); (K.L.)
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Qingji Huo
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China; (C.C.); (Q.H.); (X.X.); (K.L.)
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Xue Xiong
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China; (C.C.); (Q.H.); (X.X.); (K.L.)
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Kexin Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China; (C.C.); (Q.H.); (X.X.); (K.L.)
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Melissa L. Fishel
- Department of Pediatrics, Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA;
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Baiyan Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China; (C.C.); (Q.H.); (X.X.); (K.L.)
| | - Hiroki Yokota
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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7
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Lan T, Arastu S, Wang S, Lam J, Wang W, Bhatt V, Lopes EC, Hu Z, Sun M, Luo X, Ghergurovich JM, Li C, Su X, Rabinowitz JD, White E, Guo JY. G6PD Maintains Redox Homeostasis and Biosynthesis in LKB1-Deficient KRAS-Driven Lung Cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.06.561131. [PMID: 37873106 PMCID: PMC10592603 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.06.561131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Cancer cells depend on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) to combat oxidative stress and support reductive biosynthesis. One major NAPDH production route is the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (committed step: glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, G6PD). Alternatives exist and can compensate in some tumors. Here, using genetically-engineered lung cancer model, we show that ablation of G6PD significantly suppresses KrasG12D/+;Lkb1-/- (KL) but not KrasG12D/+;p53-/- (KP) lung tumorigenesis. In vivo isotope tracing and metabolomics revealed that G6PD ablation significantly impaired NADPH generation, redox balance and de novo lipogenesis in KL but not KP lung tumors. Mechanistically, in KL tumors, G6PD ablation caused p53 activation that suppressed tumor growth. As tumor progressed, G6PD-deficient KL tumors increased an alternative NADPH source, serine-driven one carbon metabolism, rendering associated tumor-derived cell lines sensitive to serine/glycine depletion. Thus, oncogenic driver mutations determine lung cancer dependence on G6PD, whose targeting is a potential therapeutic strategy for tumors harboring KRAS and LKB1 co-mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taijin Lan
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Sara Arastu
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA
| | - Samuel Wang
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA
| | - Jarrick Lam
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA
| | - Wenping Wang
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA
| | - Vrushank Bhatt
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA
| | - Eduardo Cararo Lopes
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Zhixian Hu
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA
| | - Michael Sun
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA
| | - Xuefei Luo
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA
| | | | - Changlong Li
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xiaoyang Su
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA
- Department of Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA
| | - Joshua D. Rabinowitz
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
- Ludwig Princeton Branch, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA
| | - Eileen White
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA
- Ludwig Princeton Branch, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
| | - Jessie Yanxiang Guo
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA
- Ludwig Princeton Branch, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, USA
- Department of Chemical Biology, Rutgers Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA
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8
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TeSlaa T, Ralser M, Fan J, Rabinowitz JD. The pentose phosphate pathway in health and disease. Nat Metab 2023; 5:1275-1289. [PMID: 37612403 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-023-00863-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is a glucose-oxidizing pathway that runs in parallel to upper glycolysis to produce ribose 5-phosphate and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). Ribose 5-phosphate is used for nucleotide synthesis, while NADPH is involved in redox homoeostasis as well as in promoting biosynthetic processes, such as the synthesis of tetrahydrofolate, deoxyribonucleotides, proline, fatty acids and cholesterol. Through NADPH, the PPP plays a critical role in suppressing oxidative stress, including in certain cancers, in which PPP inhibition may be therapeutically useful. Conversely, PPP-derived NADPH also supports purposeful cellular generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) for signalling and pathogen killing. Genetic deficiencies in the PPP occur relatively commonly in the committed pathway enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD). G6PD deficiency typically manifests as haemolytic anaemia due to red cell oxidative damage but, in severe cases, also results in infections due to lack of leucocyte oxidative burst, highlighting the dual redox roles of the pathway in free radical production and detoxification. This Review discusses the PPP in mammals, covering its roles in biochemistry, physiology and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara TeSlaa
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Markus Ralser
- Department of Biochemistry, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
- The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jing Fan
- Morgride Institute for Research, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Joshua D Rabinowitz
- Lewis Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Princeton Branch, Princeton, NJ, USA.
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9
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Torres AJF, Duryea J, McDonald OG. Pancreatic cancer epigenetics: adaptive metabolism reprograms starving primary tumors for widespread metastatic outgrowth. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2023; 42:389-407. [PMID: 37316634 PMCID: PMC10591521 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10116-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a paradigm for adaptation to extreme stress. That is because genetic drivers are selected during tissue injury with epigenetic imprints encoding wound healing responses. Ironically, epigenetic memories of trauma that facilitate neoplasia can also recreate past stresses to restrain malignant progression through symbiotic tumor:stroma crosstalk. This is best exemplified by positive feedback between neoplastic chromatin outputs and fibroinflammatory stromal cues that encase malignant glands within a nutrient-deprived desmoplastic stroma. Because epigenetic imprints are chemically encoded by nutrient-derived metabolites bonded to chromatin, primary tumor metabolism adapts to preserve malignant epigenetic fidelity during starvation. Despite these adaptations, stromal stresses inevitably awaken primordial drives to seek more hospitable climates. The invasive migrations that ensue facilitate entry into the metastatic cascade. Metastatic routes present nutrient-replete reservoirs that accelerate malignant progression through adaptive metaboloepigenetics. This is best exemplified by positive feedback between biosynthetic enzymes and nutrient transporters that saturate malignant chromatin with pro-metastatic metabolite byproducts. Here we present a contemporary view of pancreatic cancer epigenetics: selection of neoplastic chromatin under fibroinflammatory pressures, preservation of malignant chromatin during starvation stresses, and saturation of metastatic chromatin by nutritional excesses that fuel lethal metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaldo J Franco Torres
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Rosenstiel Medical Sciences Building Room 4086A, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Jeffrey Duryea
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Rosenstiel Medical Sciences Building Room 4086A, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Oliver G McDonald
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Rosenstiel Medical Sciences Building Room 4086A, Miami, FL, USA.
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
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10
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The Role of Reprogrammed Glucose Metabolism in Cancer. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13030345. [PMID: 36984785 PMCID: PMC10051753 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13030345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells reprogram their metabolism to meet biosynthetic needs and to adapt to various microenvironments. Accelerated glycolysis offers proliferative benefits for malignant cells by generating glycolytic products that move into branched pathways to synthesize proteins, fatty acids, nucleotides, and lipids. Notably, reprogrammed glucose metabolism and its associated events support the hallmark features of cancer such as sustained cell proliferation, hijacked apoptosis, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis. Overproduced enzymes involved in the committed steps of glycolysis (hexokinase, phosphofructokinase-1, and pyruvate kinase) are promising pharmacological targets for cancer therapeutics. In this review, we summarize the role of reprogrammed glucose metabolism in cancer cells and how it can be manipulated for anti-cancer strategies.
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11
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Zhang J, Zou S, Fang L. Metabolic reprogramming in colorectal cancer: regulatory networks and therapy. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:25. [PMID: 36755301 PMCID: PMC9906896 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-00977-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
With high prevalence and mortality, together with metabolic reprogramming, colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death. Metabolic reprogramming gives tumors the capacity for long-term cell proliferation, making it a distinguishing feature of cancer. Energy and intermediate metabolites produced by metabolic reprogramming fuel the rapid growth of cancer cells. Aberrant metabolic enzyme-mediated tumor metabolism is regulated at multiple levels. Notably, tumor metabolism is affected by nutrient levels, cell interactions, and transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation. Understanding the crosstalk between metabolic enzymes and colorectal carcinogenesis factors is particularly important to advance research for targeted cancer therapy strategies via the investigation into the aberrant regulation of metabolic pathways. Hence, the abnormal roles and regulation of metabolic enzymes in recent years are reviewed in this paper, which provides an overview of targeted inhibitors for targeting metabolic enzymes in colorectal cancer that have been identified through tumor research or clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieping Zhang
- grid.12981.330000 0001 2360 039XDepartment of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 26 Yuanchun Er Heng Road, Guangzhou, 510655 Guangdong China ,Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou, 510655 China
| | - Shaomin Zou
- grid.12981.330000 0001 2360 039XDepartment of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 26 Yuanchun Er Heng Road, Guangzhou, 510655 Guangdong China ,Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou, 510655 China
| | - Lekun Fang
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 26 Yuanchun Er Heng Road, Guangzhou, 510655, Guangdong, China. .,Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, Guangzhou, 510655, China.
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12
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Mert-Ozupek N, Calibasi-Kocal G, Olgun N, Basbinar Y, Cavas L, Ellidokuz H. In-silico molecular interactions among the secondary metabolites of Caulerpa spp. and colorectal cancer targets. Front Chem 2022; 10:1046313. [PMID: 36561138 PMCID: PMC9763605 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.1046313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Caulerpa spp. secrete more than thirty different bioactive chemicals which have already been used in cancer treatment research since they play a pivotal role in cancer metabolism. Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancer types, thus using novel and effective chemicals for colorectal cancer treatment is crucial. In the cheminformatics pipeline of this study, ADME-Tox and drug-likeness tests were performed for filtering the secondary metabolites of Caulerpa spp. The ligands which were selected from the ADME test were used for in silico molecular docking studies against the enzymes of the oxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphoglutarate dehydrogenase), which is of great importance for colorectal cancer, by using AutoDock Vina. Pharmacophore modeling was carried out to align the molecules. Molecular dynamic simulations were performed for each target to validate the molecular docking studies and binding free energies were calculated. According to the ADME test results, 13 different secondary metabolites were selected as potential ligands. Molecular docking studies revealed that vina scores of caulerpin and monomethyl caulerpinate for G6PDH were found as -10.6 kcal mol-1, -10.5 kcal mol-1, respectively. Also, the vina score of caulersin for 6PGD was found as -10.7 kcal mol-1. The highest and the lowest binding free energies were calculated for monomethyl caulerpinate and caulersin, respectively. This in silico study showed that caulerpin, monomethyl caulerpinate, and caulersin could be evaluated as promising marine phytochemicals against pentose phosphate pathway enzymes and further studies are recommended to investigate the detailed activity of these secondary metabolites on these targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazli Mert-Ozupek
- Department of Basic Oncology, Institute of Health Sciences, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Türkiye
| | - Gizem Calibasi-Kocal
- Department of Translational Oncology, Institute of Oncology, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Türkiye
| | - Nur Olgun
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Institute of Oncology, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Türkiye
| | - Yasemin Basbinar
- Department of Translational Oncology, Institute of Oncology, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Türkiye
| | - Levent Cavas
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Türkiye
| | - Hulya Ellidokuz
- Department of Preventive Oncology, Institute of Oncology, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Türkiye,*Correspondence: Hulya Ellidokuz,
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13
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Wang G, Xiao R, Zhao S, Sun L, Guo J, Li W, Zhang Y, Bian X, Qiu W, Wang S. Cuproptosis regulator-mediated patterns associated with immune infiltration features and construction of cuproptosis-related signatures to guide immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:945516. [PMID: 36248857 PMCID: PMC9559227 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.945516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent cancer that lacks a sufficiently efficient approach to guide immunotherapy. Additionally, cuproptosis is a recently identified regulated cell death program that is triggered by copper ionophores. However, its possible significance in tumor immune cell infiltration is still unclear. Methods Cuproptosis subtypes in HCC were identified using unsupervised consensus cluster analysis based on 10 cuproptosis regulators expressions, and a cuproptosis-related risk signature was generated using univariate and LASSO Cox regression and validated using the ICGC data. Moreover, the relationship between signature and tumor immune microenvironment (TME) was studied through tumor immunotherapy responsiveness, immune cell infiltration, and tumor stem cell analysis. Finally, clinical specimens were analyzed using immunohistochemistry to verify the expression of the three genes in the signature. Results Two subtypes of cuproptosis regulation were observed in HCC, with different immune cell infiltration features. Genes expressed differentially between the two cuproptosis clusters in the TCGA were determined and used to construct a risk signature that was validated using the ICGC cohort. Greater immune and stromal cell infiltration were observed in the high-risk group and were associated with unfavorable prognosis. Elevated risk scores were linked with higher RNA stemness scores (RNAss) and tumor mutational burden (TMB), together with a greater likelihood of benefitting from immunotherapy. Conclusion It was found that cuproptosis regulatory patterns may play important roles in the heterogeneity of immune cell infiltration. The risk signature associated with cuproptosis can assess each patient's risk score, leading to more individualized and effective immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gongjun Wang
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China,Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Ruoxi Xiao
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Shufen Zhao
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Libin Sun
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jing Guo
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Wenqian Li
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yuqi Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaoqian Bian
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Wensheng Qiu
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China,*Correspondence: Wensheng Qiu, ; Shasha Wang,
| | - Shasha Wang
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China,*Correspondence: Wensheng Qiu, ; Shasha Wang,
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14
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He H, Liang L, Huang J, Jiang S, Liu Y, Sun X, Li Y, Cong L, Jiang Y. KIF20A is associated with clinical prognosis and synergistic effect of gemcitabine combined with ferroptosis inducer in lung adenocarcinoma. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1007429. [PMID: 36225575 PMCID: PMC9549118 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1007429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Gemcitabine (GEM), an antimetabolite that terminates DNA synthesis, is commonly used in the treatment of cancers including lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, downregulation of sensitivity limits the therapeutic effect. Ferroptosis as the new form of regulated cell death has been shown to have great potential for cancer treatment with chemoresistance. Here, three genes with both ferroptosis and GEM-response-associated features were screened from RNA sequencing and public data for constructing an independent risk model. LUAD patients with different risk scores had differences in mutational landscape, gene enrichment pathways, and drug sensitivity. By Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, flow cytometry, and colony forming assay, we demonstrate that GEM and ferroptosis inducer (FIN) imidazole Ketone Erastin had a synergistic combined anti-proliferative effect on LUAD cells and knockdown of KIF20A (the core gene of our model) further enhanced cell death in vitro by inducing ferroptosis. In conclusion, we identified a link between ferroptosis and GEM response in LUAD cells and developed a robust signature that can effectively classify LUAD patients into subgroups with different overall survival. For LUAD, the combined treatment modality of GEM and FIN is potentially effective and KIF20A may be a new therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua He
- The Key Laboratory of Model Animal and Stem Cell Biology in Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Lu Liang
- The Key Laboratory of Model Animal and Stem Cell Biology in Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jingjing Huang
- The Key Laboratory of Model Animal and Stem Cell Biology in Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Shiyao Jiang
- The Key Laboratory of Model Animal and Stem Cell Biology in Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yueying Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Model Animal and Stem Cell Biology in Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaoyan Sun
- The Key Laboratory of Model Animal and Stem Cell Biology in Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yi Li
- The Key Laboratory of Model Animal and Stem Cell Biology in Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Li Cong
- The Key Laboratory of Model Animal and Stem Cell Biology in Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yiqun Jiang
- The Key Laboratory of Model Animal and Stem Cell Biology in Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- *Correspondence: Yiqun Jiang,
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15
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Zhang Y, Xu Y, Lu W, Li J, Yu S, Brown EJ, Stanger BZ, Rabinowitz JD, Yang X. G6PD-mediated increase in de novo NADP + biosynthesis promotes antioxidant defense and tumor metastasis. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabo0404. [PMID: 35857842 PMCID: PMC9299539 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo0404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Metastasizing cancer cells are able to withstand high levels of oxidative stress through mechanisms that are poorly understood. Here, we show that under various oxidative stress conditions, pancreatic cancer cells markedly expand NADPH and NADP+ pools. This expansion is due to up-regulation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), which stimulates the cytoplasmic nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide kinase (NADK1) to produce NADP+ while converting NADP+ to NADPH. G6PD is activated by the transcription factor TAp73, which is, in turn, regulated by two pathways. Nuclear factor-erythroid 2 p45-related factor-2 suppresses expression of the ubiquitin ligase PIRH2, stabilizing the TAp73 protein. Checkpoint kinases 1/2 and E2F1 induce expression of the TAp73 gene. Levels of G6PD and its upstream activators are elevated in metastatic pancreatic cancer. Knocking down G6PD impedes pancreatic cancer metastasis, whereas forced G6PD expression promotes it. These findings reveal an intracellular network that maintains redox homeostasis through G6PD-mediated increase in de novo NADP+ biosynthesis, which may be co-opted by tumor cells to enable metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhang
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Yi Xu
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Wenyun Lu
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - Jinyang Li
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Sixiang Yu
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Eric J. Brown
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ben Z. Stanger
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Joshua D. Rabinowitz
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - Xiaolu Yang
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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16
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Abstract
Eukaryotic cells have developed complex systems to regulate the production and response to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Different ROS control diverse aspects of cell behaviour from signalling to death, and deregulation of ROS production and ROS limitation pathways are common features of cancer cells. ROS also function to modulate the tumour environment, affecting the various stromal cells that provide metabolic support, a blood supply and immune responses to the tumour. Although it is clear that ROS play important roles during tumorigenesis, it has been difficult to reliably predict the effect of ROS modulating therapies. We now understand that the responses to ROS are highly complex and dependent on multiple factors, including the types, levels, localization and persistence of ROS, as well as the origin, environment and stage of the tumours themselves. This increasing understanding of the complexity of ROS in malignancies will be key to unlocking the potential of ROS-targeting therapies for cancer treatment.
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17
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Lu C, Yang D, Klement JD, Colson YL, Oberlies NH, Pearce CJ, Colby AH, Grinstaff MW, Liu Z, Shi H, Ding HF, Liu K. H3K9me3 represses G6PD expression to suppress the pentose phosphate pathway and ROS production to promote human mesothelioma growth. Oncogene 2022; 41:2651-2662. [PMID: 35351997 PMCID: PMC9058223 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02283-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The role of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) in human cancer is incompletely understood. In a metabolite screening, we observed that inhibition of H3K9 methylation suppressed aerobic glycolysis and enhances the PPP in human mesothelioma cells. Genome-wide screening identified G6PD as an H3K9me3 target gene whose expression is correlated with increased tumor cell apoptosis. Inhibition of aerobic glycolysis enzyme LDHA and G6PD had no significant effects on tumor cell survival. Ablation of G6PD had no significant effect on human mesothelioma and colon carcinoma xenograft growth in athymic mice. However, activation of G6PD with the G6PD-selective activator AG1 induced tumor cell death. AG1 increased tumor cell ROS production and the resultant extrinsic and intrinsic death pathways, mitochondrial processes, and unfolded protein response in tumor cells. Consistent with increased tumor cell death in vitro, AG1 suppressed human mesothelioma xenograft growth in a dose-dependent manner in vivo. Furthermore, AG1 treatment significantly increased tumor-bearing mouse survival in an intra-peritoneum xenograft athymic mouse model. Therefore, in human mesothelioma and colon carcinoma, G6PD is not essential for tumor growth. G6PD acts as a metabolic checkpoint to control metabolic flux towards the PPP to promote tumor cell apoptosis, and its expression is repressed by its promotor H3K9me3 deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunwan Lu
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA.
| | - Dafeng Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
- Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, 30904, USA
| | - John D Klement
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
- Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, 30904, USA
| | - Yolonda L Colson
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Nicholas H Oberlies
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, 27402, USA
| | | | - Aaron H Colby
- Ionic Pharmaceuticals, Brookline, MA, 02445, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Mark W Grinstaff
- Ionic Pharmaceuticals, Brookline, MA, 02445, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Zhuoqi Liu
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Huidong Shi
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Han-Fei Ding
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Kebin Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA.
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA.
- Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, 30904, USA.
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18
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Tőkés AM, Vári-Kakas S, Kulka J, Törőcsik B. Tumor Glucose and Fatty Acid Metabolism in the Context of Anthracycline and Taxane-Based (Neo)Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Carcinomas. Front Oncol 2022; 12:850401. [PMID: 35433453 PMCID: PMC9008716 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.850401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is characterized by considerable metabolic diversity. A relatively high percentage of patients diagnosed with breast carcinoma do not respond to standard-of-care treatment, and alteration in metabolic pathways nowadays is considered one of the major mechanisms responsible for therapeutic resistance. Consequently, there is an emerging need to understand how metabolism shapes therapy response, therapy resistance and not ultimately to analyze the metabolic changes occurring after different treatment regimens. The most commonly applied neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens in breast cancer contain an anthracycline (doxorubicin or epirubicin) in combination or sequentially administered with taxanes (paclitaxel or docetaxel). Despite several efforts, drug resistance is still frequent in many types of breast cancer, decreasing patients’ survival. Understanding how tumor cells rapidly rewire their signaling pathways to persist after neoadjuvant cancer treatment have to be analyzed in detail and in a more complex system to enable scientists to design novel treatment strategies that target different aspects of tumor cells and tumor resistance. Tumor heterogeneity, the rapidly changing environmental context, differences in nutrient use among different cell types, the cooperative or competitive relationships between cells pose additional challenges in profound analyzes of metabolic changes in different breast carcinoma subtypes and treatment protocols. Delineating the contribution of metabolic pathways to tumor differentiation, progression, and resistance to different drugs is also the focus of research. The present review discusses the changes in glucose and fatty acid pathways associated with the most frequently applied chemotherapeutic drugs in breast cancer, as well the underlying molecular mechanisms and corresponding novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Mária Tőkés
- 2nd Department of Pathology, Semmelweis University Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
- *Correspondence: Anna Mária Tőkés,
| | - Stefan Vári-Kakas
- Department of Computers and Information Technology, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University of Oradea, Oradea, Romania
| | - Janina Kulka
- 2nd Department of Pathology, Semmelweis University Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Beáta Törőcsik
- Department of Biochemistry, Semmelweis University Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
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19
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Loss of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase function increases oxidative stress and glutaminolysis in metastasizing melanoma cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:2120617119. [PMID: 35110412 PMCID: PMC8833200 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2120617119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma metastasis is limited by oxidative stress. Cells that enter the blood experience high levels of reactive oxygen species and usually die of ferroptosis. We found that melanoma cells become more dependent upon the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway to manage oxidative stress during metastasis. When pentose phosphate pathway function was impaired by reduced glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) function, melanoma cells increased malic enzyme activity and glutamine consumption. Melanoma cells thus have redundant and layered protection against oxidative stress. The pentose phosphate pathway is a major source of NADPH for oxidative stress resistance in cancer cells but there is limited insight into its role in metastasis, when some cancer cells experience high levels of oxidative stress. To address this, we mutated the substrate binding site of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), which catalyzes the first step of the pentose phosphate pathway, in patient-derived melanomas. G6PD mutant melanomas had significantly decreased G6PD enzymatic activity and depletion of intermediates in the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway. Reduced G6PD function had little effect on the formation of primary subcutaneous tumors, but when these tumors spontaneously metastasized, the frequency of circulating melanoma cells in the blood and metastatic disease burden were significantly reduced. G6PD mutant melanomas exhibited increased levels of reactive oxygen species, decreased NADPH levels, and depleted glutathione as compared to control melanomas. G6PD mutant melanomas compensated for this increase in oxidative stress by increasing malic enzyme activity and glutamine consumption. This generated a new metabolic vulnerability as G6PD mutant melanomas were more dependent upon glutaminase than control melanomas, both for oxidative stress management and anaplerosis. The oxidative pentose phosphate pathway, malic enzyme, and glutaminolysis thus confer layered protection against oxidative stress during metastasis.
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20
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Lu C, Yang D, Klement JD, Colson YL, Oberlies NH, Pearce CJ, Colby AH, Grinstaff MW, Ding HF, Shi H, Liu K. G6PD functions as a metabolic checkpoint to regulate granzyme B expression in tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2021-003543. [PMID: 35017152 PMCID: PMC8753452 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Granzyme B is a key effector of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), and its expression level positively correlates with the response of patients with mesothelioma to immune checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy. Whether metabolic pathways regulate Gzmb expression in CTLs is incompletely understood. Methods A tumor-specific CTL and tumor coculture model and a tumor-bearing mouse model were used to determine the role of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) in CTL function and tumor immune evasion. A link between granzyme B expression and patient survival was analyzed in human patients with epithelioid mesothelioma. Results Mesothelioma cells alone are sufficient to activate tumor-specific CTLs and to enhance aerobic glycolysis to induce a PD-1hi Gzmblo CTL phenotype. However, inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase A, the key enzyme of the aerobic glycolysis pathway, has no significant effect on tumor-induced CTL activation. Tumor cells induce H3K9me3 deposition at the promoter of G6pd, the gene that encodes the rate-limiting enzyme G6PD in the pentose phosphate pathway, to downregulate G6pd expression in tumor-specific CTLs. G6PD activation increases acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) production to increase H3K9ac deposition at the Gzmb promoter and to increase Gzmb expression in tumor-specific CTLs converting them from a Gzmblo to a Gzmbhi phenotype, thus increasing CTL tumor lytic activity. Activation of G6PD increases Gzmb+ tumor-specific CTLs and suppresses tumor growth in tumor-bearing mice. Consistent with these findings, GZMB expression level was found to correlate with increased survival in patients with epithelioid mesothelioma. Conclusion G6PD is a metabolic checkpoint in tumor-activated CTLs. The H3K9me3/G6PD/acetyl-CoA/H3K9ac/Gzmb pathway is particularly important in CTL activation and immune evasion in epithelioid mesothelioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunwan Lu
- School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China .,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Dafeng Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA.,Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA.,Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - John D Klement
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA.,Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA.,Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Yolonda L Colson
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicholas H Oberlies
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA
| | | | - Aaron H Colby
- Ionic Pharmaceuticals, Brookline, MA, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark W Grinstaff
- Ionic Pharmaceuticals, Brookline, MA, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Han-Fei Ding
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Huidong Shi
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Kebin Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA .,Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA.,Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA, USA
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21
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Meskers CJW, Franczak M, Smolenski RT, Giovannetti E, Peters GJ. Are we still on the right path(way)?: the altered expression of the pentose phosphate pathway in solid tumors and the potential of its inhibition in combination therapy. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2022; 18:61-83. [PMID: 35238253 DOI: 10.1080/17425255.2022.2049234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) branches from glycolysis and is crucial for cell growth, since it provides necessary compounds for anabolic reactions, nucleotide synthesis, and detoxification of reactive-oxygen-species (ROS). Overexpression of PPP enzymes has been reported in multiple cancer types and linked to therapy resistance, making their inhibition interesting targets for anti-cancer therapies. AREAS COVERED This review summarizes the extent of PPP upregulation across different cancer types, and the non-metabolic functions that PPP-enzymes might contribute to cancer initiation and maintenance. The effects of PPP-inhibition and their combinations with chemotherapeutics are summarized. We searched the databases provided by the University of Amsterdam to characterize the altered expression of the PPP across different cancer types, and to identify the effects of PPP-inhibition. EXPERT OPINION It can be concluded that there are synergistic and additive effects of PPP-inhibition and various classes of chemotherapeutics. These effects may be attributed to the increased susceptibility to ROS. However, the toxicity, low efficacy, and off-target effects of PPP-inhibitors make application in clinical practice challenging. Novel inhibitors are currently being developed, which could make PPP-inhibition a potential therapeutic strategy in the future, especially in combination with conventional chemotherapeutics and the inhibition of other metabolic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline J W Meskers
- Amsterdam University College, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Laboratory Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam location VUMC, Cancer Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marika Franczak
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland
| | | | - Elisa Giovannetti
- Laboratory Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam location VUMC, Cancer Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Cancer Pharmacology Lab, AIRC Start Up Unit, Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, Pisa, Italy
| | - Godefridus J Peters
- Laboratory Medical Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam location VUMC, Cancer Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland
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22
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Parkinson EK, Adamski J, Zahn G, Gaumann A, Flores-Borja F, Ziegler C, Mycielska ME. Extracellular citrate and metabolic adaptations of cancer cells. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2021; 40:1073-1091. [PMID: 34932167 PMCID: PMC8825388 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-021-10007-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
It is well established that cancer cells acquire energy via the Warburg effect and oxidative phosphorylation. Citrate is considered to play a crucial role in cancer metabolism by virtue of its production in the reverse Krebs cycle from glutamine. Here, we review the evidence that extracellular citrate is one of the key metabolites of the metabolic pathways present in cancer cells. We review the different mechanisms by which pathways involved in keeping redox balance respond to the need of intracellular citrate synthesis under different extracellular metabolic conditions. In this context, we further discuss the hypothesis that extracellular citrate plays a role in switching between oxidative phosphorylation and the Warburg effect while citrate uptake enhances metastatic activities and therapy resistance. We also present the possibility that organs rich in citrate such as the liver, brain and bones might form a perfect niche for the secondary tumour growth and improve survival of colonising cancer cells. Consistently, metabolic support provided by cancer-associated and senescent cells is also discussed. Finally, we highlight evidence on the role of citrate on immune cells and its potential to modulate the biological functions of pro- and anti-tumour immune cells in the tumour microenvironment. Collectively, we review intriguing evidence supporting the potential role of extracellular citrate in the regulation of the overall cancer metabolism and metastatic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Kenneth Parkinson
- Centre for Oral Immunobiology and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Dentistry, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Turner Street, London, E1 2AD, UK.
| | - Jerzy Adamski
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.,Department of Experimental Genetics, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Andreas Gaumann
- Institute of Pathology Kaufbeuren-Ravensburg, 87600, Kaufbeuren, Germany
| | - Fabian Flores-Borja
- Centre for Oral Immunobiology and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Dentistry, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Turner Street, London, E1 2AD, UK
| | - Christine Ziegler
- Department of Structural Biology, Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Maria E Mycielska
- Department of Structural Biology, Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
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23
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Zhang Z, TeSlaa T, Xu X, Zeng X, Yang L, Xing G, Tesz GJ, Clasquin MF, Rabinowitz JD. Serine catabolism generates liver NADPH and supports hepatic lipogenesis. Nat Metab 2021; 3:1608-1620. [PMID: 34845393 PMCID: PMC8721747 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-021-00487-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Carbohydrate can be converted into fat by de novo lipogenesis, a process upregulated in fatty liver disease. Chemically, de novo lipogenesis involves polymerization and reduction of acetyl-CoA, using NADPH as the electron donor. The feedstocks used to generate acetyl-CoA and NADPH in lipogenic tissues remain, however, unclear. Here we show using stable isotope tracing in mice that de novo lipogenesis in adipose is supported by glucose and its catabolism via the pentose phosphate pathway to make NADPH. The liver, in contrast, derives acetyl-CoA for lipogenesis from acetate and lactate, and NADPH from folate-mediated serine catabolism. Such NADPH generation involves the cytosolic serine pathway in liver running in the opposite direction to that observed in most tissues and tumours, with NADPH made by the SHMT1-MTHFD1-ALDH1L1 reaction sequence. SHMT inhibition decreases hepatic lipogenesis. Thus, liver folate metabolism is distinctively wired to support cytosolic NADPH production and lipogenesis. More generally, while the same enzymes are involved in fat synthesis in liver and adipose, different substrates are used, opening the door to tissue-specific pharmacological interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoyue Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Tara TeSlaa
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Xincheng Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Xianfeng Zeng
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Lifeng Yang
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Gang Xing
- Pfizer Inc. Internal Medicine, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Joshua D Rabinowitz
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Princeton Branch, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
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24
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Mast Cells Resting-Related Prognostic Signature in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2021; 2021:4614257. [PMID: 34840569 PMCID: PMC8616659 DOI: 10.1155/2021/4614257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The immune microenvironment of liver cancer is of great significance for the treatment of liver cancer. After evaluating the content of mast cells resting in the transcriptome data of The Cancer Genome Atlas database by CIBERSORT analysis, this study aimed to group the samples according to the content of mast cells resting in different samples to find the differentially expressed genes in the two groups. Significant prognostic differences were found between high and low mast cells resting infiltration groups. The prognostic model was constructed according to the differentially expressed genes. The model was validated using external independent datasets. The results revealed that the constructed model was reliable. It could well distinguish the prognostic differences of patients in different characteristic groups. The high-risk group was mainly concentrated in metabolic pathways. The risk score of this model was closely related to some immune cells, immune function, and immune checkpoints. Therefore, this model may provide new ideas for immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma.
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25
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Xu D, Wang Y, Wu J, Lin S, Chen Y, Zheng J. Identification and clinical validation of EMT-associated prognostic features based on hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Cell Int 2021; 21:621. [PMID: 34819088 PMCID: PMC8613962 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-021-02326-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to construct a model based on the prognostic features associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to explore the various mechanisms and therapeutic strategies available for the treatment of metastasis and invasion by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. METHODS EMT-associated genes were identified, and their molecular subtypes were determined by consistent clustering analysis. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) among the molecular subtypes were ascertained using the limma package and they were subjected to functional enrichment analysis. The immune cell scores of the molecular subtypes were evaluated using ESTIMATE, MCPcounter, and GSCA packages of R. A multi-gene prognostic model was constructed using lasso regression, and the immunotherapeutic effects of the model were analyzed using the Imvigor210 cohort. In addition, immunohistochemical analysis was performed on a cohort of HCC tissue to validate gene expression. RESULTS Based on the 59 EMT-associated genes identified, the 365-liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) samples were divided into two subtypes, C1 and C2. The C1 subtype mostly showed poor prognosis, had higher immune scores compared to the C2 subtype, and showed greater correlation with pathways of tumor progression. A four-gene signature construct was fabricated based on the 1130 DEGs among the subtypes. The construct was highly robust and showed stable predictive efficacy when validated using datasets from different platforms (HCCDB18 and GSE14520). Additionally, compared to currently existing models, our model demonstrated better performance. The results of the immunotherapy cohort showed that patients in the low-risk group have a better immune response, leading to a better patient's prognosis. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the expression levels of the FTCD, PON1, and TMEM45A were significantly over-expressed in 41 normal samples compared to HCC samples, while that of the G6PD was significantly over-expressed in cancerous tissues. CONCLUSIONS The four-gene signature construct fabricated based on the EMT-associated genes provides valuable information to further study the pathogenesis and clinical management of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dafeng Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Geriatric Medicine Center, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Jincai Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Shixun Lin
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Yonghai Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Jinfang Zheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, China.
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26
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Ding H, Chen Z, Wu K, Huang SM, Wu WL, LeBoeuf SE, Pillai RG, Rabinowitz JD, Papagiannakopoulos T. Activation of the NRF2 antioxidant program sensitizes tumors to G6PD inhibition. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabk1023. [PMID: 34788087 PMCID: PMC8598006 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abk1023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The KEAP1/NRF2 pathway promotes metabolic rewiring to support redox homeostasis. Activation of NRF2 occurs in many cancers, often due to KEAP1 mutations, and is associated with more aggressive disease and treatment resistance. To identify metabolic dependencies in cancers with NRF2 activation, we performed a metabolism-focused CRISPR screen. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), which was recently shown to be dispensable in Ras-driven tumors, was a top dependency. G6PD catalyzes the committed step of the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway that produces NADPH and nucleotide precursors, but neither antioxidants nor nucleosides rescued. Instead, G6PD loss triggered tricarboxylic acid (TCA) intermediate depletion because of up-regulation of the alternative NADPH-producing enzymes malic enzyme and isocitrate dehydrogenase. In vivo, G6PD impairment markedly suppressed KEAP1 mutant tumor growth, and this suppression was further augmented by TCA depletion by glutaminase inhibition. Thus, G6PD inhibition–induced TCA depletion is a therapeutic vulnerability of NRF2-activated cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Ding
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Zihong Chen
- Lewis Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Princeton Branch, Princeton University, 91 Prospect Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Katherine Wu
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Shih Ming Huang
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Warren L. Wu
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Sarah E. LeBoeuf
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Ray G. Pillai
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, VA New York Harbor Healthcare System, 423 East 23rd Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Joshua D. Rabinowitz
- Lewis Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Washington Road, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Princeton Branch, Princeton University, 91 Prospect Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Thales Papagiannakopoulos
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
- Perlmutter NYU Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
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27
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Polat IH, Tarrado-Castellarnau M, Benito A, Hernandez-Carro C, Centelles J, Marin S, Cascante M. Glutamine Modulates Expression and Function of Glucose 6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase via NRF2 in Colon Cancer Cells. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10091349. [PMID: 34572981 PMCID: PMC8472416 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10091349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Nucleotide pools need to be constantly replenished in cancer cells to support cell proliferation. The synthesis of nucleotides requires glutamine and 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate produced from ribose-5-phosphate via the oxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway (ox-PPP). Both PPP and glutamine also play a key role in maintaining the redox status of cancer cells. Enhanced glutamine metabolism and increased glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) expression have been related to a malignant phenotype in tumors. However, the association between G6PD overexpression and glutamine consumption in cancer cell proliferation is still incompletely understood. In this study, we demonstrated that both inhibition of G6PD and glutamine deprivation decrease the proliferation of colon cancer cells and induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Moreover, we unveiled that glutamine deprivation induce an increase of G6PD expression that is mediated through the activation of the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF2). This crosstalk between G6PD and glutamine points out the potential of combined therapies targeting oxidative PPP enzymes and glutamine catabolism to combat colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim H. Polat
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Av Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (I.H.P.); (M.T.-C.); (A.B.); (C.H.-C.); (J.C.)
- Institute of Biomedicine, Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Equipe Environnement et Prédiction de la Santé des Populations, Laboratoire TIMC (UMR 5525), CHU de Grenoble, Université Grenoble Alpes, CEDEX, 38700 La Tronche, France
| | - Míriam Tarrado-Castellarnau
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Av Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (I.H.P.); (M.T.-C.); (A.B.); (C.H.-C.); (J.C.)
- Institute of Biomedicine, Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER of Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Adrian Benito
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Av Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (I.H.P.); (M.T.-C.); (A.B.); (C.H.-C.); (J.C.)
- Institute of Biomedicine, Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Claudia Hernandez-Carro
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Av Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (I.H.P.); (M.T.-C.); (A.B.); (C.H.-C.); (J.C.)
- Institute of Biomedicine, Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Centelles
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Av Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (I.H.P.); (M.T.-C.); (A.B.); (C.H.-C.); (J.C.)
- Institute of Biomedicine, Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER of Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia Marin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Av Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (I.H.P.); (M.T.-C.); (A.B.); (C.H.-C.); (J.C.)
- Institute of Biomedicine, Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER of Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (S.M.); (M.C.)
| | - Marta Cascante
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Av Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (I.H.P.); (M.T.-C.); (A.B.); (C.H.-C.); (J.C.)
- Institute of Biomedicine, Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER of Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (S.M.); (M.C.)
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28
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Kerk SA, Papagiannakopoulos T, Shah YM, Lyssiotis CA. Metabolic networks in mutant KRAS-driven tumours: tissue specificities and the microenvironment. Nat Rev Cancer 2021; 21:510-525. [PMID: 34244683 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-021-00375-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Oncogenic mutations in KRAS drive common metabolic programmes that facilitate tumour survival, growth and immune evasion in colorectal carcinoma, non-small-cell lung cancer and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. However, the impacts of mutant KRAS signalling on malignant cell programmes and tumour properties are also dictated by tumour suppressor losses and physiological features specific to the cell and tissue of origin. Here we review convergent and disparate metabolic networks regulated by oncogenic mutant KRAS in colon, lung and pancreas tumours, with an emphasis on co-occurring mutations and the role of the tumour microenvironment. Furthermore, we explore how these networks can be exploited for therapeutic gain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel A Kerk
- Doctoral Program in Cancer Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Thales Papagiannakopoulos
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yatrik M Shah
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Costas A Lyssiotis
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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29
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Ying M, You D, Zhu X, Cai L, Zeng S, Hu X. Lactate and glutamine support NADPH generation in cancer cells under glucose deprived conditions. Redox Biol 2021; 46:102065. [PMID: 34293554 PMCID: PMC8321918 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2021.102065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Although glucose, through pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), is the main source to generate NADPH, solid tumors are often deprived of glucose, hence alternative metabolic pathways to maintain NADPH homeostasis in cancer cells are required. Here, we report that lactate and glutamine support NADPH production via isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) and malic enzyme 1 (ME1), respectively, under glucose-deprived conditions. Isotopic tracing demonstrates that lactate participates in the formation of isocitrate. Malate derived from glutamine in mitochondria shuttles to cytosol to produce NADPH. In cells cultured in the absence of glucose, knockout of IDH1 and ME1 decreases NADPH/NADP+ and GSH/GSSG, increases ROS level and facilitates cell necrosis. In 4T1 murine breast tumors, knockout of ME1 retards tumor growth in vivo, with combined ME1/IDH1 knockout more strongly suppressing tumor growth. Our findings reveal two alternative NADPH-producing pathways that cancer cells use to resist glucose starvation, reflecting the metabolic plasticity and flexibility of cancer cells adapting to nutrition stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minfeng Ying
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory for Cancer Intervention and Prevention, China National Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Duo You
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory for Cancer Intervention and Prevention, China National Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaobing Zhu
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory for Cancer Intervention and Prevention, China National Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Limeng Cai
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory for Cancer Intervention and Prevention, China National Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Siying Zeng
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory for Cancer Intervention and Prevention, China National Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xun Hu
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory for Cancer Intervention and Prevention, China National Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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30
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Esposito M, Ganesan S, Kang Y. Emerging strategies for treating metastasis. NATURE CANCER 2021; 2:258-270. [PMID: 33899000 PMCID: PMC8064405 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-021-00181-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The systemic spread of tumor cells is the ultimate cause of the majority of deaths from cancer, yet few successful therapeutic strategies have emerged to specifically target metastasis. Here we discuss recent advances in our understanding of tumor-intrinsic pathways driving metastatic colonization and therapeutic resistance, as well as immune activating strategies to target metastatic disease. We focus on therapeutically exploitable mechanisms, promising strategies in preclinical and clinical development, and emerging areas with potential to become innovative treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Esposito
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Shridar Ganesan
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Center for Systems and Computational Biology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Department of Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Yibin Kang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
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31
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Ryan K, Tekwani BL. Current investigations on clinical pharmacology and therapeutics of Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Pharmacol Ther 2020; 222:107788. [PMID: 33326820 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Glucose-6-phospate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is estimated to affect more than 400 million people world-wide. This X-linked genetic deficiency puts stress on red blood cells (RBC), which may be further augmented under certain pathophysiological conditions and drug treatments. These conditions can cause hemolytic anemia and eventually lead to multi-organ failure and mortality. G6PD is involved in the rate-limiting step of the pentose phosphate pathway, which generates reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). In RBCs, the NADPH/G6PD pathway is the only source for recycling reduced glutathione and provides protection from oxidative stress. Susceptibility of G6PD deficient populations to certain drug treatments and potential risks of hemolysis are important public health issues. A number of clinical trials are currently in progress investigating clinical factors associated with G6PD deficiency, validation of new diagnostic kits for G6PD deficiency, and evaluating drug safety, efficacy, and pathophysiology. More than 25 clinical studies in G6PD populations are currently in progress or have just been completed that have been examined for clinical pharmacology and potential therapeutic implications of G6PD deficiency. The information on clinical conditions, interventions, purpose, outcome, and status of these clinical trials has been studied. A critical review of ongoing clinical investigations on pharmacology and therapeutics of G6PD deficiency should be highly important for researchers, clinical pharmacologists, pharmaceutical companies, and global public health agencies. The information may be useful for developing strategies for treatment and control of hemolytic crisis and potential drug toxicities in G6PD deficient patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn Ryan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Division of Drug Discovery, Southern Research, 2000 9(th) Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35205, United States of America.
| | - Babu L Tekwani
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Division of Drug Discovery, Southern Research, 2000 9(th) Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35205, United States of America.
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