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Sánchez-Castillo A, Heylen E, Hounjet J, Savelkouls KG, Lieuwes NG, Biemans R, Dubois LJ, Reynders K, Rouschop KM, Vaes RDW, De Keersmaecker K, Lambrecht M, Hendriks LEL, De Ruysscher DKM, Vooijs M, Kampen KR. Targeting serine/glycine metabolism improves radiotherapy response in non-small cell lung cancer. Br J Cancer 2024; 130:568-584. [PMID: 38160212 PMCID: PMC10876524 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02553-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lung cancer is the most lethal cancer, and 85% of cases are classified as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Metabolic rewiring is a cancer hallmark that causes treatment resistance, and lacks insights into serine/glycine pathway adaptations upon radiotherapy. METHODS We analyzed radiotherapy responses using mass-spectrometry-based metabolomics in NSCLC patient's plasma and cell lines. Efficacy of serine/glycine conversion inhibitor sertraline with radiotherapy was investigated by proliferation, clonogenic and spheroid assays, and in vivo using a serine/glycine dependent NSCLC mouse model by assessment of tumor growth, metabolite and cytokine levels, and immune signatures. RESULTS Serine/glycine pathway metabolites were significantly consumed in response to radiotherapy in NSCLC patients and cell models. Combining sertraline with radiotherapy impaired NSCLC proliferation, clonogenicity and stem cell self-renewal capacity. In vivo, NSCLC tumor growth was reduced solely in the sertraline plus radiotherapy combination treatment group. Tumor weights linked to systemic serine/glycine pathway metabolite levels, and were inhibited in the combination therapy group. Interestingly, combination therapy reshaped the tumor microenvironment via cytokines associated with natural killer cells, supported by eradication of immune checkpoint galectin-1 and elevated granzyme B levels. CONCLUSION Our findings highlight that targeting serine/glycine metabolism using sertraline restricts cancer cell recovery from radiotherapy and provides tumor control through immunomodulation in NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaís Sánchez-Castillo
- Department of Radiation Oncology (MAASTRO), GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Elien Heylen
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory for Disease Mechanisms in Cancer, KU Leuven, and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Judith Hounjet
- Department of Radiation Oncology (MAASTRO), GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Kim G Savelkouls
- Department of Radiation Oncology (MAASTRO), GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Natasja G Lieuwes
- Department of Precision Medicine, The M-Lab, GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Rianne Biemans
- Department of Precision Medicine, The M-Lab, GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Ludwig J Dubois
- Department of Precision Medicine, The M-Lab, GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Kobe Reynders
- Department of Radiation Oncology (MAASTRO), GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Oncology, Experimental Radiation Oncology, KU Leuven, and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kasper M Rouschop
- Department of Radiation Oncology (MAASTRO), GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Rianne D W Vaes
- Department of Radiation Oncology (MAASTRO), GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Kim De Keersmaecker
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory for Disease Mechanisms in Cancer, KU Leuven, and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maarten Lambrecht
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lizza E L Hendriks
- Department of Pulmonology, GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Dirk K M De Ruysscher
- Department of Radiation Oncology (MAASTRO), GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Marc Vooijs
- Department of Radiation Oncology (MAASTRO), GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Kim R Kampen
- Department of Radiation Oncology (MAASTRO), GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University Medical Center+, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory for Disease Mechanisms in Cancer, KU Leuven, and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
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Morgan AE, Salcedo-Sora JE, Mc Auley MT. A new mathematical model of folate homeostasis in E. coli highlights the potential importance of the folinic acid futile cycle in cell growth. Biosystems 2024; 235:105088. [PMID: 38000545 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2023.105088] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Folate (vitamin B9) plays a central role in one-carbon metabolism in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. This pathway mediates the transfer of one-carbon units, playing a crucial role in nucleotide synthesis, methylation, and amino acid homeostasis. The folinic acid futile cycle adds a layer of intrigue to this pathway, due to its associations with metabolism, cell growth, and dormancy. It also introduces additional complexity to folate metabolism. A logical way to deal with such complexity is to examine it by using mathematical modelling. This work describes the construction and analysis of a model of folate metabolism, which includes the folinic acid futile cycle. This model was tested under three in silico growth conditions. Model simulations revealed: 1) the folate cycle behaved as a stable biochemical system in three growth states (slow, standard, and rapid); 2) the initial concentration of serine had the greatest impact on metabolite concentrations; 3) 5-formyltetrahydrofolate cyclo-ligase (5-FCL) activity had a significant impact on the levels of the 7 products that carry the one-carbon donated from folates, and the redox couple NADP/NADPH; this was particularly evident in the rapid growth state; 4) 5-FCL may be vital to the survival of the cells by maintaining low levels of homocysteine, as high levels can induce toxicity; and 5) the antifolate therapeutic trimethoprim had a greater impact on folate metabolism with higher nutrient availability. These results highlight the important role of 5-FCL in intracellular folate homeostasis and mass generation under different metabolic scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy E Morgan
- School of Health & Sport Sciences, Hope Park, Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool, L16 9JD, UK.
| | - J Enrique Salcedo-Sora
- Liverpool Shared Research Facilities, GeneMill, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Mark T Mc Auley
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Manchester, M5 4NT, UK
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Shi X, Pang Q, Nian X, Jiang A, Shi H, Liu W, Gan X, Gao Y, Yang Y, Ji J, Tan X, Xiao C, Zhang W. Integrative transcriptome and proteome analyses of clear cell renal cell carcinoma develop a prognostic classifier associated with thrombus. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9778. [PMID: 37328520 PMCID: PMC10276054 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36978-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) with venous tumor thrombus (VTT) is associated with poor prognosis. Our integrative analyses of transcriptome and proteome reveal distinctive molecular features of ccRCC with VTT, and yield the development of a prognostic classifier to facilitate ccRCC molecular subtyping and treatment. The RNA sequencing and mass spectrometry were performed in normal-tumor-thrombus tissue triples of five ccRCC patients. Statistical analysis, GO and KEGG enrichment analysis, and protein-protein interaction network construction were used to interpret the transcriptomic and proteomic data. A six-gene-based classifier was developed to predict patients' survival using Cox regression, which was validated in an independent cohort. Transcriptomic analysis identified 1131 tumorigenesis-associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 856 invasion-associated DEGs. Overexpression of transcription factor EGR2 in VTT indicated its important role in tumor invasion. Furthermore, proteomic analysis showed 597 tumorigenesis-associated differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and 452 invasion-associated DEPs. The invasion-associated DEPs showed unique enrichment in DNA replication, lysine degradation, and PPAR signaling pathway. Integration of transcriptome and proteome reveals 142 tumorigenesis-associated proteins and 84 invasion-associated proteins displaying changes consistent with corresponding genes in transcriptomic profiling. Based on their different expression patterns among normal-tumor-thrombus triples, RAB25 and GGT5 were supposed to play a consistent role in both tumorigenesis and invasion processes, while SHMT2 and CADM4 might play the opposite roles in tumorigenesis and thrombus invasion. A prognostic classifier consisting of six DEGs (DEPTOR, DPEP1, NAT8, PLOD2, SLC7A5, SUSD2) performed satisfactorily in predicting survival of ccRCC patients (HR = 4.41, P < 0.001), which was further validated in an independent cohort of 40 cases (HR = 5.52, P = 0.026). Our study revealed the transcriptomic and proteomic profiles of ccRCC patients with VTT, and identified the distinctive molecular features associated with VTT. The six-gene-based prognostic classifier developed by integrative analyses may facilitate ccRCC molecular subtyping and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolei Shi
- Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, 168 Changhai Rd, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Qingyang Pang
- Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, 168 Changhai Rd, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Xinwen Nian
- Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, 168 Changhai Rd, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Aimin Jiang
- Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, 168 Changhai Rd, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Haoqing Shi
- Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, 168 Changhai Rd, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Wenqiang Liu
- Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, 168 Changhai Rd, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Xinxin Gan
- Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, 168 Changhai Rd, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Yisha Gao
- Department of Pathology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, 168 Changhai Rd, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Yiren Yang
- Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, 168 Changhai Rd, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Jin Ji
- Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, 168 Changhai Rd, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Xiaojie Tan
- Department of Epidemiology, Naval Medical University, 800 Xiangyin Rd, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Chengwu Xiao
- Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, 168 Changhai Rd, Shanghai, 200433, China.
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, 168 Changhai Rd, Shanghai, 200433, China.
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Sun W, Liu R, Gao X, Lin Z, Tang H, Cui H, Zhao E. Targeting serine-glycine-one-carbon metabolism as a vulnerability in cancers. Biomark Res 2023; 11:48. [PMID: 37147729 PMCID: PMC10161514 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-023-00487-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The serine-glycine-one-carbon (SGOC) metabolic pathway is critical for DNA methylation, histone methylation, and redox homeostasis, in addition to protein, lipid, and nucleotide biosynthesis. The SGOC pathway is a crucial metabolic network in tumorigenesis, wherein the outputs are required for cell survival and proliferation and are particularly likely to be co-opted by aggressive cancers. SGOC metabolism provides an integration point in cell metabolism and is of crucial clinical significance. The mechanism of how this network is regulated is the key to understanding tumor heterogeneity and overcoming the potential mechanism of tumor recurrence. Herein, we review the role of SGOC metabolism in cancer by focusing on key enzymes with tumor-promoting functions and important products with physiological significance in tumorigenesis. In addition, we introduce the ways in which cancer cells acquire and use one-carbon unit, and discuss the recently clarified role of SGOC metabolic enzymes in tumorigenesis and development, as well as their relationship with cancer immunotherapy and ferroptosis. The targeting of SGOC metabolism may be a potential therapeutic strategy to improve clinical outcomes in cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, No.2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei District, 400716, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Silk Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Engineering Research Center for Cancer Biomedical and Translational Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Ruochen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, No.2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei District, 400716, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Silk Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Engineering Research Center for Cancer Biomedical and Translational Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
| | - Xinyue Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, No.2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei District, 400716, Chongqing, China
| | - Zini Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, No.2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei District, 400716, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongao Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, No.2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei District, 400716, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongjuan Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, No.2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei District, 400716, Chongqing, China.
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Silk Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Chongqing, 400716, China.
- Engineering Research Center for Cancer Biomedical and Translational Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China.
| | - Erhu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, No.2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei District, 400716, Chongqing, China.
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Silk Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Chongqing, 400716, China.
- Engineering Research Center for Cancer Biomedical and Translational Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China.
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Zhou X, Tian C, Cao Y, Zhao M, Wang K. The role of serine metabolism in lung cancer: From oncogenesis to tumor treatment. Front Genet 2023; 13:1084609. [PMID: 36699468 PMCID: PMC9868472 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1084609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming is an important hallmark of malignant tumors. Serine is a non-essential amino acid involved in cell proliferation. Serine metabolism, especially the de novo serine synthesis pathway, forms a metabolic network with glycolysis, folate cycle, and one-carbon metabolism, which is essential for rapidly proliferating cells. Owing to the rapid development in metabolomics, abnormal serine metabolism may serve as a biomarker for the early diagnosis and pathological typing of tumors. Targeting serine metabolism also plays an essential role in precision and personalized cancer therapy. This article is a systematic review of de novo serine biosynthesis and the link between serine and folate metabolism in tumorigenesis, particularly in lung cancer. In addition, we discuss the potential of serine metabolism to improve tumor treatment.
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