Hassan A Ali, Joanna M Karasinska, James T Topham, Danisha Johal, Steve Kalloger, Andrew Metcalfe, Cassia S Warren, Anthony Miyagi, Lan V Tao, Maya Kevorkova, Shawn C Chafe, Paul C McDonald, Shoukat Dedhar, Seth J Parker, Daniel J Renouf, David F Schaeffer
{"title":"Pancreatic cancer tumor organoids exhibit subtype-specific differences in metabolic profiles.","authors":"Hassan A Ali, Joanna M Karasinska, James T Topham, Danisha Johal, Steve Kalloger, Andrew Metcalfe, Cassia S Warren, Anthony Miyagi, Lan V Tao, Maya Kevorkova, Shawn C Chafe, Paul C McDonald, Shoukat Dedhar, Seth J Parker, Daniel J Renouf, David F Schaeffer","doi":"10.1186/s40170-024-00357-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40170-024-00357-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive disease characterized by complex metabolic rewiring that enables growth in changing nutrient availability and oxygen conditions. Transcriptome-based prognostic PDAC tumor subtypes, known as 'basal-like' and 'classical' subtypes are associated with differences in metabolic gene expression including genes involved in glycolysis. Tumor subtype-specific metabolism phenotypes may provide new targets for treatment development in PDAC, but their functional relevance has not been fully elucidated. We aimed to investigate differences in metabolic profiles and transcriptomes in tumor models derived from patients with basal-like and classical tumors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) were established from tumor biopsies collected from patients with metastatic PDAC, including three PDOs from basal-like and five PDOs from classical tumors. Metabolic analyses included assessment of differences in metabolic activity using Seahorse Glycolysis and Mito Stress tests and <sup>13</sup>C-glucose metabolites tracing analysis. In order to investigate the influence of mitochondrial pyruvate transport on metabolic differences, PDOs were treated with the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier 1 (MPC1) inhibitor UK-5099. Prognostic relevance of MPC1 was determined using a tumor tissue microarray (TMA) in resectable, and proteomics profiling in metastatic PDAC datasets. Whole genome and transcriptome sequencing, differential gene expression and gene set enrichment analyses were performed in PDOs.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Metastatic PDAC PDOs showed subtype-specific differences in glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Basal-like tumor-derived PDOs had a lower baseline extracellular acidification rate, but higher glycolytic reserves and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) than classical tumor-derived PDOs. OCR difference was eliminated following treatment with UK-5099. In the <sup>13</sup>C-glucose metabolites tracing experiment, a basal-like tumor PDO showed lower fractions of some M + 2 metabolites but higher sensitivity to UK-5099 mediated reduction in M + 2 metabolites than a classical tumor PDO. Protein level analyses revealed lower MPC1 protein levels in basal-like PDAC cases and association of low MPC1 levels with clinicopathologic parameters of tumor aggressiveness in PDAC. PDO differential gene expression analyses identified additional subtype-specific cellular pathways and potential disease outcome biomarkers.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings point to distinct metabolic profiles in PDAC subtypes with basal-like tumor PDOs showing higher OXPHOS and sensitivity to MPC1 inhibition. Subtypes-specific metabolic vulnerabilities may be exploited for selective therapeutic targeting.</p>","PeriodicalId":9418,"journal":{"name":"Cancer & Metabolism","volume":"12 1","pages":"28"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11448267/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142370977","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Daniela Šimčíková, Dominik Gardáš, Tomáš Pelikán, Lukáš Moráň, Martin Hruda, Kateřina Hložková, Tiziana Pivetta, Michal Hendrych, Júlia Starková, Lukáš Rob, Petr Vaňhara, Petr Heneberg
{"title":"Metabolism of primary high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) cells under limited glutamine or glucose availability","authors":"Daniela Šimčíková, Dominik Gardáš, Tomáš Pelikán, Lukáš Moráň, Martin Hruda, Kateřina Hložková, Tiziana Pivetta, Michal Hendrych, Júlia Starková, Lukáš Rob, Petr Vaňhara, Petr Heneberg","doi":"10.1186/s40170-024-00355-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40170-024-00355-1","url":null,"abstract":"High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) is the most common and aggressive subtype of epithelial ovarian carcinoma. It is primarily diagnosed at stage III or IV when the 5-year survival rate ranges between 20% and 40%. Here, we aimed to validate the hypothesis, based on HGSOC cell lines, that proposed the existence of two distinct groups of HGSOC cells with high and low oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) metabolism, respectively, which are associated with their responses to glucose and glutamine withdrawal. We isolated and cultivated primary cancer cell cultures from HGSOC and nontransformed ovarian fibroblasts from the surrounding ovarium of 45 HGSOC patients. We tested the metabolic flexibility of the primary cells, particularly in response to glucose and glutamine depletion, analyzed and modulated endoplasmic reticulum stress, and searched for indices of the existence of previously reported groups of HGSOC cells with high and low OXPHOS metabolism. The primary HGSOC cells did not form two groups with high and low OXPHOS that responded differently to glucose and glutamine availabilities in the cell culture medium. Instead, they exhibited a continuum of OXPHOS phenotypes. In most tumor cell isolates, the responses to glucose or glutamine withdrawal were mild and surprisingly correlated with those of nontransformed ovarian fibroblasts from the same patients. The growth of tumor-derived cells in the absence of glucose was positively correlated with the lipid trafficking regulator FABP4 and was negatively correlated with the expression levels of HK2 and HK1. The correlations between the expression of electron transport chain (ETC) proteins and the oxygen consumption rates or extracellular acidification rates were weak. ER stress markers were strongly expressed in all the analyzed tumors. ER stress was further potentiated by tunicamycin but not by the recently proposed ER stress inducers based on copper(II)-phenanthroline complexes. ER stress modulation increased autophagy in tumor cell isolates but not in nontransformed ovarian fibroblasts. Analysis of the metabolism of primary HGSOC cells rejects the previously proposed hypothesis that there are distinct groups of HGSOC cells with high and low OXPHOS metabolism that respond differently to glutamine or glucose withdrawal and are characterized by ETC protein levels.","PeriodicalId":9418,"journal":{"name":"Cancer & Metabolism","volume":"206 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2024-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142253333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ayoola O Ogunleye, Neelanjana Gayen, Sanchita Rauth, Saravanakumar Marimuthu, Rama Krishna Nimmakayala, Zahraa W Alsafwani, Jesse L Cox, Surinder K Batra, Moorthy P Ponnusamy
{"title":"PAF1/HIF1α axis rewires the glycolytic metabolism to fuel aggressiveness of pancreatic cancer.","authors":"Ayoola O Ogunleye, Neelanjana Gayen, Sanchita Rauth, Saravanakumar Marimuthu, Rama Krishna Nimmakayala, Zahraa W Alsafwani, Jesse L Cox, Surinder K Batra, Moorthy P Ponnusamy","doi":"10.1186/s40170-024-00354-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40170-024-00354-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>PAF1/PD2 deregulation contributes to tumorigenesis, drug resistance, and cancer stem cell maintenance in Pancreatic Cancer (PC). Recent studies demonstrate that metabolic reprogramming plays a role in PC progression, but the mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we focused on examining the role of PAF1/PD2 in the metabolic rewiring of PC.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Cell lines were transfected with shRNAs to knockdown PAF1/PD2. Metabolic genes regulated by PAF1/PD2 were identified by qPCR/western blot, and metabolic assays were performed. Immunoprecipitations/ChIP were performed to identify PAF1/PD2 protein partners and confirm PAF1/HIF1α sub-complex binding to LDHA.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>PAF1 and LDHA showed progressively increased expression in human pancreatic tumor sections. Aerobic glycolysis genes were downregulated in PAF1-depleted PC cells. Metabolic assays indicated a decreased lactate production and glucose uptake in knockdown cells. Furthermore, PAF1/PD2 depletion showed a reduced glycolytic rate and increased oxidative phosphorylation by ECAR and OCR analysis. Interestingly, we identified that HIF1α interacts and co-localizes with PAF1, specifically in PC cells. We also observed that the PAF1/PD2-HIF1α complex binds to the LDHA promoter to regulate its expression, reprogramming the metabolism to utilize the aerobic glycolysis pathway preferentially.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Overall, the results indicate that PAF1/PD2 rewires PC metabolism by interacting with HIF1α to regulate the expression of LDHA.</p>","PeriodicalId":9418,"journal":{"name":"Cancer & Metabolism","volume":"12 1","pages":"26"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11380429/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142145258","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Eun Sol Chang, Kyoung Song, Ji-Young Song, Minjung Sung, Mi-Sook Lee, Jung Han Oh, Ji-Yeon Kim, Yeon Hee Park, Kyungsoo Jung, Yoon-La Choi
{"title":"Real-time assessment of relative mitochondrial ATP synthesis response against inhibiting and stimulating substrates (MitoRAISE).","authors":"Eun Sol Chang, Kyoung Song, Ji-Young Song, Minjung Sung, Mi-Sook Lee, Jung Han Oh, Ji-Yeon Kim, Yeon Hee Park, Kyungsoo Jung, Yoon-La Choi","doi":"10.1186/s40170-024-00353-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40170-024-00353-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mitochondria are known to synthesize adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through oxidative phosphorylation. Understanding and accurately measuring mitochondrial ATP synthesis rate can provide insights into the functional status of mitochondria and how it contributes to overall cellular energy homeostasis. Traditional methods only estimate mitochondrial function by measuring ATP levels at a single point in time or through oxygen consumption rates. This study introduced the relative mitochondrial ATP synthesis response against inhibiting and stimulating substrates (MitoRAISE), designed to detect real-time changes in ATP levels as the cells respond to substrates.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The sensitivity and specificity of the MitoRAISE assay were verified under various conditions, including the isolation of mitochondria, variations in cell numbers, cells exhibiting mitochondrial damage, and heterogeneous mixtures. Using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), we analyzed MitoRAISE data from 19 patients with breast cancer and 23 healthy women.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The parameters observed in the MitoRAISE data increased depending on the quantity of isolated mitochondria and cell count, whereas it remained unmeasured in mitochondrial-damaged cell lines. Basal ATP, rotenone response, malonate response, and mitochondrial DNA copy numbers were lower in PBMCs from patients with breast cancer than in those from healthy women.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The MitoRAISE assay has demonstrated its sensitivity and specificity by measuring relative ATP synthesis rates under various conditions. We propose MitoRAISE assay as a potential tool for monitoring changes in the mitochondrial metabolic status associated with various diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":9418,"journal":{"name":"Cancer & Metabolism","volume":"12 1","pages":"25"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11363686/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142104582","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Guilherme Henrique Tamarindo, Caroline Fidalgo Ribeiro, Alana Della Torre Silva, Alex Castro, Ícaro Putinhon Caruso, Fátima Pereira Souza, Sebastião Roberto Taboga, Massimo Loda, Rejane Maira Góes
{"title":"The polyunsaturated fatty acid docosahexaenoic affects mitochondrial function in prostate cancer cells.","authors":"Guilherme Henrique Tamarindo, Caroline Fidalgo Ribeiro, Alana Della Torre Silva, Alex Castro, Ícaro Putinhon Caruso, Fátima Pereira Souza, Sebastião Roberto Taboga, Massimo Loda, Rejane Maira Góes","doi":"10.1186/s40170-024-00348-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40170-024-00348-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Prostate cancer (PCa) shows a rewired metabolism featuring increased fatty acid uptake and synthesis via de novo lipogenesis, both sharply related to mitochondrial physiology. The docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) that exerts its antitumoral properties via different mechanisms, but its specific action on mitochondria in PCa is not clear. Therefore, we investigated whether the DHA modulates mitochondrial function in PCa cell lines.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Here, we evaluated mitochondrial function of non-malignant PNT1A and the castration-resistant (CRPC) prostate 22Rv1 and PC3 cell lines in response to DHA incubation. For this purpose, we used Seahorse extracellular flux assay to assess mitochondria function, [<sup>14</sup>C]-glucose to evaluate its oxidation as well as its contribution to fatty acid synthesis, <sup>1</sup>H-NMR for metabolite profile determination, MitoSOX for superoxide anion production, JC-1 for mitochondrial membrane polarization, mass spectrometry for determination of phosphatidylglycerol levels and composition, staining with MitoTracker dye to assess mitochondrial morphology under super-resolution in addition to Transmission Electron Microscopy, In-Cell ELISA for COX-I and SDH-A protein expression and flow cytometry (Annexin V and 7-AAD) for cell death estimation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In all cell lines DHA decreased basal respiratory activity, ATP production, and the spare capacity in mitochondria. Also, the omega-3 induced mitochondrial hyperpolarization, ROS overproduction and changes in membrane phosphatidylglycerol composition. In PNT1A, DHA led to mitochondrial fragmentation and it increased glycolysis while in cancer cells it stimulated glucose oxidation, but decreased de novo lipogenesis specifically in 22Rv1, indicating a metabolic shift. In all cell lines, DHA modulated several metabolites related to energy metabolism and it was incorporated in phosphatidylglycerol, a precursor of cardiolipin, increasing the unsaturation index in the mitochondrial membrane. Accordingly, DHA triggered cell death mainly in PNT1A and 22Rv1.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In conclusion, mitochondrial metabolism is significantly affected by the PUFA supplementation to the point that cells are not able to proliferate or survive under DHA-enriched condition. Moreover, combination of DHA supplementation with inhibition of metabolism-related pathways, such as de novo lipogenesis, may be synergistic in castration-resistant prostate cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":9418,"journal":{"name":"Cancer & Metabolism","volume":"12 1","pages":"24"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11308158/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141901033","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Epigenetic repression of de novo cysteine synthetases induces intra-cellular accumulation of cysteine in hepatocarcinoma by up-regulating the cystine uptake transporter xCT.","authors":"Tomoaki Yamauchi, Yumi Okano, Daishu Terada, Sai Yasukochi, Akito Tsuruta, Yuya Tsurudome, Kentaro Ushijima, Naoya Matsunaga, Satoru Koyanagi, Shigehiro Ohdo","doi":"10.1186/s40170-024-00352-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40170-024-00352-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The metabolic reprogramming of amino acids is critical for cancer cell growth and survival. Notably, intracellular accumulation of cysteine is often observed in various cancers, suggesting its potential role in alleviating the oxidative stress associated with rapid proliferation. The liver is the primary organ for cysteine biosynthesis, but much remains unknown about the metabolic alterations of cysteine and their mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>RNA-seq data from patients with hepatocarcinoma were analyzed using the TNMplot database. The underlying mechanism of the oncogenic alteration of cysteine metabolism was studied in mice implanted with BNL 1ME A.7 R.1 hepatocarcinoma.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Database analysis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma revealed that the expression of enzymes involved in de novo cysteine synthesis was down-regulated accompanying with increased expression of the cystine uptake transporter xCT. Similar alterations in gene expression have also been observed in a syngeneic mouse model of hepatocarcinoma. The enhanced expression of DNA methyltransferase in murine hepatocarcinoma cells caused methylation of the upstream regions of cysteine synthesis genes, thereby repressing their expression. Conversely, suppression of de novo cysteine synthesis in healthy liver cells induced xCT expression by up-regulating the oxidative-stress response factor NRF2, indicating that reduced de novo cysteine synthesis repulsively increases cystine uptake via enhanced xCT expression, leading to intracellular cysteine accumulation. Furthermore, the pharmacological inhibition of xCT activity decreased intracellular cysteine levels and suppressed hepatocarcinoma tumor growth in mice.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings indicate an underlying mechanism of the oncogenic alteration of cysteine metabolism in hepatocarcinoma and highlight the efficacy of alteration of cysteine metabolism as a viable therapeutic target in cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":9418,"journal":{"name":"Cancer & Metabolism","volume":"12 1","pages":"23"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11304919/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141901032","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"METTL16 regulates the mRNA stability of FBXO5 via m6A modification to facilitate the malignant behavior of breast cancer.","authors":"Runying Wang, Xingjie Gao, Luhan Xie, Jiaqi Lin, Yanying Ren","doi":"10.1186/s40170-024-00351-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40170-024-00351-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>N6-methyladenosine (m6A) regulates the progression of breast cancer (BC). We aimed to investigate the action and mechanism involved of methyltransferase-like protein 16 (METTL16) in BC growth and metastasis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>RT-qPCR, immunoblotting, and IHC were performed to test the levels of gene expression. CCK-8, clone formation, wound healing, and transwell assays were applied to measure the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. m6A RNA methylation and MeRIP assay were utilized to confirm the m6A level of total RNA and FBXO5 mRNA. RIP was utilized to ascertain the interaction between METTL16 and FBXO5 mRNA. The in vivo murine subcutaneous tumor and metastasis model were constructed to further confirm the action of METTL16.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>METTL16 was overexpression in BC cells and tissues. Inhibition of METTL16 restrained the growth and metastasis of BC. Furthermore, the METTL16 level and FBXO5 level was positively correlated in BC tissues, and METTL16 aggrandized the stability of FBXO5 mRNA depending on the m6A modification. Overexpression of FBXO5 antagonized the restrained function of METTL16 knockdown on BC cells' proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>METTL16 boosts the mRNA stability of FBXO5 via m6A modification to facilitate the malignant action of BC in vitro and in vivo, offering new latent targets for cure of BC.</p>","PeriodicalId":9418,"journal":{"name":"Cancer & Metabolism","volume":"12 1","pages":"22"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11282785/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141765548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kelly Offermans, Nic G Reitsam, Colinda C J M Simons, Bianca Grosser, Jessica Zimmermann, Heike I Grabsch, Bruno Märkl, Piet A van den Brandt
{"title":"The relationship between Stroma AReactive Invasion Front Areas (SARIFA), Warburg-subtype and survival: results from a large prospective series of colorectal cancer patients.","authors":"Kelly Offermans, Nic G Reitsam, Colinda C J M Simons, Bianca Grosser, Jessica Zimmermann, Heike I Grabsch, Bruno Märkl, Piet A van den Brandt","doi":"10.1186/s40170-024-00349-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40170-024-00349-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Stroma AReactive Invasion Front Areas (SARIFA) is a recently identified haematoxylin & eosin (H&E)based histopathologic biomarker in gastrointestinal cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC), defined as direct contact between tumour cells and adipocytes at the tumour invasion front. The current study aimed at validating the prognostic relevance of SARIFA in a large population-based CRC series as well as at investigating the relationship between SARIFA-status and previously established Warburg-subtypes, both surrogates of the metabolic state of the tumour cells.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>SARIFA-status (positive versus negative) was determined on H&E slides of 1,727 CRC specimens. Warburg-subtype (high versus moderate versus low) data was available from our previous study. The associations between SARIFA-status, Warburg-subtype, clinicopathological characteristics and CRC-specific as well as overall survival were investigated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>28.7% (n=496) CRC were SARIFA-positive. SARIFA-positivity was associated with more advanced disease stage, higher pT category, and more frequent lymph node involvement (all p<0.001). SARIFA-positivity was more common in Warburg-high CRC. 44.2% (n=219) of SARIFA-positive CRCs were Warburg-high compared to 22.8% (n=113) being Warburg-low and 33.1% (n=164) being Warburg-moderate (p<0.001). In multivariable-adjusted analysis, patients with SARIFA-positive CRCs had significantly poorer CRC-specific (HR<sub>CRC-specific</sub> 1.65; 95% CI 1.41-1.93) and overall survival (HR<sub>overall survival</sub> 1.46; 95% CI 1.28-1.67) independent of clinically known risk factors and independent of Warburg-subtype. Combining the SARIFA-status and the Warburg-subtype to a combination score (SARIFA-negative/Warburg-high versus SARIFA-positive/Warburg-low versus SARIFA-positive/Warburg-high, and so on) did not improve the survival prediction compared to the use of SARIFA-status alone (SARIFA-negative + Warburg-high: HR<sub>CRC-specific</sub> 1.08; 95% CI 0.84-1.38; SARIFA-positive + Warburg-low: HR<sub>CRC-specific</sub> 1.79; 95% CI 1.32-2.41; SARIFA-positive + Warburg-high: HR<sub>CRC-specific</sub> 1.58; 95% CI 1.23-2.04).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our current study is the by far largest external validation of SARIFA-positivity as a novel independent negative prognostic H&E-based biomarker in CRC. In addition, our study shows that SARIFA-positivity is associated with the Warburg-high subtype. Further research is warranted to provide a more mechanistic understanding of the underlying tumour biology. Based on our data, we conclude SARIFA-status should be implemented in pathologic routine practice to stratify CRC patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":9418,"journal":{"name":"Cancer & Metabolism","volume":"12 1","pages":"21"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11241902/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141589649","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Justin D Rondeau, Justine A Van de Velde, Yasmine Bouidida, Pierre Sonveaux
{"title":"Subclinical dose irradiation triggers human breast cancer migration via mitochondrial reactive oxygen species.","authors":"Justin D Rondeau, Justine A Van de Velde, Yasmine Bouidida, Pierre Sonveaux","doi":"10.1186/s40170-024-00347-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40170-024-00347-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Despite technological advances in radiotherapy, cancer cells at the tumor margin and in diffusive infiltrates can receive subcytotoxic doses of photons. Even if only a minority of cancer cells are concerned, phenotypic consequences could be important considering that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a primary target of radiation and that damage to mtDNA can persist. In turn, mitochondrial dysfunction associated with enhanced mitochondrial ROS (mtROS) production could promote cancer cell migration out of the irradiation field in a natural attempt to escape therapy. In this study, using MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells as models, we aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms supporting a mitochondrial contribution to cancer cell migration induced by subclinical doses of irradiation (< 2 Gy).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Mitochondrial dysfunction was tested using mtDNA multiplex PCR, oximetry, and ROS-sensitive fluorescent reporters. Migration was tested in transwells 48 h after irradiation in the presence or absence of inhibitors targeting specific ROS or downstream effectors. Among tested inhibitors, we designed a mitochondria-targeted version of human catalase (mtCAT) to selectively inactivate mitochondrial H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Photon irradiation at subclinical doses (0.5 Gy for MCF7 and 0.125 Gy for MDA-MB-231 cells) sequentially affected mtDNA levels and/or integrity, increased mtROS production, increased MAP2K1/MEK1 gene expression, activated ROS-sensitive transcription factors NF-κB and AP1 and stimulated breast cancer cell migration. Targeting mtROS pharmacologically by MitoQ or genetically by mtCAT expression mitigated migration induced by a subclinical dose of irradiation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Subclinical doses of photon irradiation promote human breast cancer migration, which can be countered by selectively targeting mtROS.</p>","PeriodicalId":9418,"journal":{"name":"Cancer & Metabolism","volume":"12 1","pages":"20"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11229245/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141558155","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dominique Bollino, Kanwal Hameed, Anusha Bhat, Arveen Zarrabi, Andrea Casildo, Xinrong Ma, Kayla M Tighe, Brandon Carter-Cooper, Erin T Strovel, Rena G Lapidus, Ashkan Emadi
{"title":"Long-acting Erwinia chrysanthemi, Pegcrisantaspase, induces alternate amino acid biosynthetic pathways in a preclinical model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.","authors":"Dominique Bollino, Kanwal Hameed, Anusha Bhat, Arveen Zarrabi, Andrea Casildo, Xinrong Ma, Kayla M Tighe, Brandon Carter-Cooper, Erin T Strovel, Rena G Lapidus, Ashkan Emadi","doi":"10.1186/s40170-024-00346-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40170-024-00346-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive disease without meaningful therapeutic options beyond the first salvage therapy. Targeting PDAC metabolism through amino acid restriction has emerged as a promising new strategy, with asparaginases, enzymes that deplete plasma glutamine and asparagine, reaching clinical trials. In this study, we investigated the anti-PDAC activity of the asparaginase formulation Pegcrisantaspase (PegC) alone and in combination with standard-of-care chemotherapeutics.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using mouse and human PDAC cell lines, we assessed the impact of PegC on cell proliferation, cell death, and cell cycle progression. We further characterized the in vitro effect of PegC on protein synthesis as well as the generation of reactive oxygen species and levels of glutathione, a major cellular antioxidant. Additional cell line studies examined the effect of the combination of PegC with standard-of-care chemotherapeutics. In vivo, the tolerability and efficacy of PegC, as well as the impact on plasma amino acid levels, was assessed using the C57BL/6-derived KPC syngeneic mouse model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Here we report that PegC demonstrated potent anti-proliferative activity in a panel of human and murine PDAC cell lines. This decrease in proliferation was accompanied by inhibited protein synthesis and decreased levels of glutathione. In vivo, PegC was tolerable and effectively reduced plasma levels of glutamine and asparagine, leading to a statistically significant inhibition of tumor growth in a syngeneic mouse model of PDAC. There was no observable in vitro or in vivo benefit to combining PegC with standard-of-care chemotherapeutics, including oxaliplatin, irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil, paclitaxel, and gemcitabine. Notably, PegC treatment increased tumor expression of asparagine and serine biosynthetic enzymes.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Taken together, our results demonstrate the potential therapeutic use of PegC in PDAC and highlight the importance of identifying candidates for combination regimens that could improve cytotoxicity and/or reduce the induction of resistance pathways.</p>","PeriodicalId":9418,"journal":{"name":"Cancer & Metabolism","volume":"12 1","pages":"19"},"PeriodicalIF":6.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11218198/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141476008","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}