Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase is overexpressed in colorectal cancer onset

Background Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) is an essential regulator of glycolysis used as a housekeeping marker for gene/protein normalisation. Given the pivotal role of GAPDH in tumour metabolism, our aim was to correlate its protein expression with tumour staging and prognosis of colorectal cancer. Methods GAPDH expression was immunohistochemically analysed in tumour tissues from 62 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, and validated at mRNA level in an independent dataset comprising 98 paired stage II CRC and normal samples. Staining quantification was performed by computational image analysis, and correlations between GAPDH expression and tumour progression stage were assessed. Gene expression profiling was performed using Affymetrix microarrays. Probability of patient survival and disease-free survival were analysed by the univariate product-limit method of Kaplan-Meier. Groups were compared using Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results Overexpression of GAPDH is positively associated with early stage tumours without regional lymph node and distant metastases involved. These results were reinforced by those obtained at mRNA level. Conclusion Studying the role of GAPDH in malignant transformation can shed new light on the understanding of tumour onset and lead to the design of more efficient personalised therapies

Integrating systemic and molecular levels to infer key drivers sustaining metabolic adaptations

Metabolic adaptations to complex perturbations, like the response to pharmacological treatments in multifactorial diseases such as cancer, can be described through measurements of part of the fluxes and concentrations at the systemic level and individual transporter and enzyme activities at the molecular level. In the framework of Metabolic Control Analysis (MCA), ensembles of linear constraints can be built integrating these measurements at both systemic and molecular levels, which are expressed as relative differences or changes produced in the metabolic adaptation. Here, combining MCA with Linear Programming, an efficient computational strategy is developed to infer additional non-measured changes at the molecular level that are required to satisfy these constraints. An application of this strategy is illustrated by using a set of fluxes, concentrations, and differentially expressed genes that characterize the response to cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 inhibition in colon cancer cells. Decreases and increases in transporter and enzyme individual activities required to reprogram the measured changes in fluxes and concentrations are compared with down-regulated and up-regulated metabolic genes to unveil those that are key molecular drivers of the metabolic response

Cysteine and Folate metabolism are targetable vulnerabilities of metastatic colorectal cancer

With most cancer-related deaths resulting from metastasis, the development of new therapeutic approaches against metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is essential to increasing patient survival. The metabolic adaptations that support mCRC remain undefined and their elucidation is crucial to identify potential therapeutic targets. Here, we employed a strategy for the rational identification of targetable metabolic vulnerabilities. This strategy involved first a thorough metabolic characterisation of same-patient-derived cell lines from primary colon adenocarcinoma (SW480), its lymph node metastasis (SW620) and a liver metastatic derivative (SW620-LiM2), and second, using a novel multi-omics integration workflow, identification of metabolic vulnerabilities specific to the metastatic cell lines. We discovered that the metastatic cell lines are selectively vulnerable to the inhibition of cystine import and folate metabolism, two key pathways in redox homeostasis. Specifically, we identified the system xCT and MTHFD1 genes as potential therapeutic targets, both individually and combined, for combating mCRC

Methylseleninic acid promotes antitumour effects via nuclear FOXO3a translocation through Akt inhibition

Selenium supplement has been shown in clinical trials to reduce the risk of different cancers including lung carcinoma. Previous studies reported that the antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic activities of methylseleninic acid (MSA) in cancer cells could be mediated by inhibition of the PI3K pathway. A better understanding of the downstream cellular targets of MSA will provide information on its mechanism of action and will help to optimize its use in combination therapies with PI3K inhibitors. For this study, the effects of MSA on viability, cell cycle, metabolism, apoptosis, protein and mRNA expression, and reactive oxygen species production were analysed in A549 cells. FOXO3a subcellular localization was examined in A549 cells and in stably transfected human osteosarcoma U2foxRELOC cells. Our results demonstrate that MSA induces FOXO3a nuclear translocation in A549 cells and in U2OS cells that stably express GFP-FOXO3a. Interestingly, sodium selenite, another selenium compound, did not induce any significant effects on FOXO3a translocation despite inducing apoptosis. Single strand break of DNA, disruption of tumour cell metabolic adaptations, decrease in ROS production, and cell cycle arrest in G1 accompanied by induction of apoptosis are late events occurring after 24h of MSA treatment in A549 cells. Our findings suggest that FOXO3a is a relevant mediator of the antiproliferative effects of MSA. This new evidence on the mechanistic action of MSA can open new avenues in exploiting its antitumour properties and in the optimal design of novel combination therapies. We present MSA as a promising chemotherapeutic agent with synergistic antiproliferative effects with cisplatin. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion, Spain [SAF2011-25726]; Agencia de Gestio d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR)-Generalitat de Catalunya [2014SGR1017]; Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, Spain [SAF2014-56059-R]; Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT) Research Center [UID/BIM/04773/2013CBMR 1334]; National Institute of Health, USA [1R01CA118434-01A2, 1P01CA163223-01A1]; National Science Foundation, USA [EPS-0447479]; FCT [SFRH/BPD/84634/2012]; prize ICREA Academia for excellence in research; ICREA Foundation-Generalitat de Cataluny

Targeting metabolic reprogramming associated to cancer cells: search of novel targets and combined therapies in cancer treatment

[eng] Cancer is characterised by the lost of physiological control and the malignant transformation of cells that acquire functional and genetic abnormalities, leading to tumour development and progression. Colon and lung cancer are two of the most common cancers worldwide. In early stages of the disease, surgery is the common choice while chemotherapy is the main treatment for advanced stage cancer. However, the currently available chemotherapeutic treatments exhibit modest efficacy due to their side effects and drug resistance. Therefore, the search for combined chemotherapies with low systemic toxicity and high efficiency holds great promise to decrease the morbidity and mortality of cancer. Tumour cells present common biological capabilities sequentially acquired during the development of cancer that are considered essential to drive malignancy. In particular, tumour cells switch their core metabolism to meet the increased requirements of cell growth and division. Indeed, oncogenic signals converge to reprogram tumour metabolism by enhancing key metabolic pathways such as glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), glutaminolysis and lipid, nucleic acid and amino acid metabolism. Several oncogenes including c-MYC, hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF1), phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (PBK or Akt) and the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), have been known to be involved in the regulation of tumour metabolic reprogramming. Then, the study of the tumour metabolic reprogramming and its connection with oncogenic signalling is an essential strategy to identify new targets for cancer therapy. Thus, the main objective of this thesis was to explore new possibilities for cancer treatment and diagnosis. To this end, we have analysed the links between metabolism and tumour progression, the tumour metabolic reprogramming associated to the dysregulation of cell cycle, and the use of combination therapies for cancer treatment. In order to accomplish our main objective, the results of this thesis are divided in three chapters: 1. We have identified glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) as a potential predictive biomarker for tumour staging and prognosis of human colorectal cancer. In addition, our results clearly discourage the use of GAPDH as a housekeeping marker in colorectal cancer. 2. We have characterised the metabolic reprogramming associated to the inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) in colon cancer cells. CDK4/6 inhibition causes a shift towards enhanced metabolism of glucose, glutamine and amino acids by increasing mitochondrial metabolism and function as well as glycolytic flux. Fluxomics and transcriptomics integrated data analysis revealed that this metabolic reprogramming is directed by MYC, which is accumulated when CDK4/6 are inhibited. In fact, the identification of the tumour metabolic adaptations associated to CDK4/6 inhibition reveals potential metabolic vulnerabilities that can be exploited in combination therapies with CDK4/6 inhibitors. Accordingly, we have obtained synergistic and selective antiproliferative effects in vitro by inhibiting mTOR, PI3K/Akt axis or MYC target genes in combination with CDK4/6 inhibitors. Therefore, we propose new combination therapies that simultaneously target cell cycle and metabolism of cancer cells. 3. We have determined the molecular mechanism of action of the selenium compound methylseleninic acid (MSA) in cancer cells. MSA effects are associated with the inhibition of the Akt pathway, leading to dephosphorylation of FOXO transcription factors and their nuclear translocation which, in turn, activate the expression of FOXO target genes. By targeting the PI3K/Akt/FOXO pathway, MSA synergises with cisplatin in combination therapies to reduce the commonly observed toxicity and overcome the resistance of cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The completion of these objectives has shed new light on the understanding of tumour metabolic reprogramming as well as the mechanisms of action of compounds potentially useful as antitumour agents. We have used this information to develop new strategies complementing conventional and existing chemotherapies, providing new approaches for cancer treatment and diagnosis

Transketolase-like 1 expression is modulated during Colorectal cancer progression and metastasis formation

Background Transketolase-like 1 (TKTL1) induces glucose degradation through anaerobic pathways, even in presence of oxygen, favoring the malignant aerobic glycolytic phenotype characteristic of tumor cells. As TKTL1 appears to be a valid biomarker for cancer prognosis, the aim of the current study was to correlate its expression with tumor stage, probability of tumor recurrence and survival, in a series of colorectal cancer patients. Methodolody/Principal Findings Tumor tissues from 63 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer at different stages of progression were analyzed for TKTL1 by immunohistochemistry. Staining was quantified by computational image analysis, and correlations between enzyme expression, local growth, lymph-node involvement and metastasis were assessed. The highest values for TKTL1 expression were detected in the group of stage III tumors, which showed significant differences from the other groups (Kruskal-Wallis test, P = 0.000008). Deeper analyses of T, N and M classifications revealed a weak correlation between local tumor growth and enzyme expression (Mann-Whitney test, P = 0.029), a significant association of the enzyme expression with lymph-node involvement (Mann-Whitney test, P = 0.0014) and a significant decrease in TKTL1 expression associated with metastasis (Mann-Whitney test, P = 0.0004). Conclusions/Significance To our knowledge, few studies have explored the association between variations in TKTL1 expression in the primary tumor and metastasis formation. Here we report downregulation of enzyme expression when metastasis appears, and a correlation between enzyme expression and regional lymph-node involvement in colon cancer. This finding may improve our understanding of metastasis and lead to new and more efficient therapies against cancer

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase is overexpressed in colorectal cancer onset

Abstract Background Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) is an essential regulator of glycolysis used as a housekeeping marker for gene/protein normalisation. Given the pivotal role of GAPDH in tumour metabolism, our aim was to correlate its protein expression with tumour staging and prognosis of colorectal cancer. Methods GAPDH expression was immunohistochemically analysed in tumour tissues from 62 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, and validated at mRNA level in an independent dataset comprising 98 paired stage II CRC and normal samples. Staining quantification was performed by computational image analysis, and correlations between GAPDH expression and tumour progression stage were assessed. Gene expression profiling was performed using Affymetrix microarrays. Probability of patient survival and disease-free survival were analysed by the univariate product-limit method of Kaplan-Meier. Groups were compared using Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results Overexpression of GAPDH is positively associated with early stage tumours without regional lymph node and distant metastases involved. These results were reinforced by those obtained at mRNA level. Conclusion Studying the role of GAPDH in malignant transformation can shed new light on the understanding of tumour onset and lead to the design of more efficient personalised therapies