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Filippone MG, Gaglio D, Bonfanti R, Tucci FA, Ceccacci E, Pennisi R, Bonanomi M, Jodice G, Tillhon M, Montani F, Bertalot G, Freddi S, Vecchi M, Taglialatela A, Romanenghi M, Romeo F, Bianco N, Munzone E, Sanguedolce F, Vago G, Viale G, Di Fiore PP, Minucci S, Alberghina L, Colleoni M, Veronesi P, Tosoni D, Pece S. CDK12 promotes tumorigenesis but induces vulnerability to therapies inhibiting folate one-carbon metabolism in breast cancer. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2642. [PMID: 35550508 PMCID: PMC9098894 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30375-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) overexpression is implicated in breast cancer, but whether it has a primary or only a cooperative tumorigenic role is unclear. Here, we show that transgenic CDK12 overexpression in the mouse mammary gland per se is sufficient to drive the emergence of multiple and multifocal tumors, while, in cooperation with known oncogenes, it promotes earlier tumor onset and metastasis. Integrative transcriptomic, metabolomic and functional data reveal that hyperactivation of the serine-glycine-one-carbon network is a metabolic hallmark inherent to CDK12-induced tumorigenesis. Consistently, in retrospective patient cohort studies and in patient-derived xenografts, CDK12-overexpressing breast tumors show positive response to methotrexate-based chemotherapy targeting CDK12-induced metabolic alterations, while being intrinsically refractory to other types of chemotherapy. In a retrospective analysis of hormone receptor-negative and lymph node-positive breast cancer patients randomized in an adjuvant phase III trial to 1-year low-dose metronomic methotrexate-based chemotherapy or no maintenance chemotherapy, a high CDK12 status predicts a dramatic reduction in distant metastasis rate in the chemotherapy-treated vs. not-treated arm. Thus, by coupling tumor progression with metabolic reprogramming, CDK12 creates an actionable vulnerability for breast cancer therapy and might represent a suitable companion biomarker for targeted antimetabolite therapies in human breast cancers. Finding biomarkers for targeted therapy is a promising approach to treat cancer. Here, the authors show that in breast cancer preclinical models and patients, CDK12 promotes tumourigenesis but induces selective vulnerability to therapies that target folate one-carbon metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- M G Filippone
- European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy
| | - D Gaglio
- Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology (IBFM), National Research Council (CNR) Segrate, Milan, Italy.,ISBE.IT/Centre of Systems Biology, Piazza della Scienza 4, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - R Bonfanti
- European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy
| | - F A Tucci
- School of Pathology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - E Ceccacci
- European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy
| | - R Pennisi
- European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy
| | - M Bonanomi
- ISBE.IT/Centre of Systems Biology, Piazza della Scienza 4, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - G Jodice
- European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy
| | - M Tillhon
- European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy
| | - F Montani
- European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy
| | - G Bertalot
- European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy
| | - S Freddi
- European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy
| | - M Vecchi
- European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy.,IFOM, The FIRC Institute for Molecular Oncology Foundation, Via Adamello 16, 20139, Milan, Italy
| | - A Taglialatela
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - M Romanenghi
- European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy
| | - F Romeo
- European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy
| | - N Bianco
- European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy
| | - E Munzone
- European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy
| | - F Sanguedolce
- Department of Pathology, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - G Vago
- School of Pathology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142, Milano, Italy
| | - G Viale
- European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy.,Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142, Milano, Italy
| | - P P Di Fiore
- European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy.,Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142, Milano, Italy
| | - S Minucci
- European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy.,Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142, Milano, Italy
| | - L Alberghina
- ISBE.IT/Centre of Systems Biology, Piazza della Scienza 4, 20126, Milan, Italy.,Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - M Colleoni
- European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy
| | - P Veronesi
- European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy.,Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142, Milano, Italy
| | - D Tosoni
- European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy.
| | - S Pece
- European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan, Italy. .,Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142, Milano, Italy.
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Abstract
Glutamine utilization promotes enhanced growth of cancer cells. We propose a new concept map of cancer metabolism in which mitochondrial NADH and NADPH, in the presence of a dysfunctional electron transfer chain, promote reductive carboxylation from glutamine. We also discuss why nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT) is required in vivo for glutamine utilization by reductive carboxylation. Moreover, NADPH, generated by both the pentose phosphate pathway and the cancer-specific serine glycolytic diversion, appears to sustain glutamine utilization for amino-acid synthesis, lipid synthesis, and for ROS quenching. The fact that the supply of NAD+ precursors reduces tumor aggressiveness suggests experimental approaches to clarify the role of the NADH-driven redox network in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Alberghina
- 1] SYSBIO Center for Systems Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan and Rome, Italy [2] Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, Milan, Italy
| | - D Gaglio
- 1] SYSBIO Center for Systems Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan and Rome, Italy [2] Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology (IBFM), National Research Council (CNR), Via F.lli Cervi 93, Segrate, Milan, Italy
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