Metabolic remodeling by TIGAR overexpression is a therapeutic target in esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma

Chu, Jiahui; Niu, Xiangjie; Chang, Jiang; Shao, Mingming; Peng, Linna; Xi, Yiyi; Lin, Ai; Wang, Chengcheng; Cui, Qionghua; Luo, Yingying; Fan, Wenyi; Chen, Yamei; Sun, Yanxia; Guo, Wenjia; Tan, Wen; Lin, Dongxin; Wu, Chen

doi:10.7150/thno.41427

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Theranostics 2020; 10(8):3488-3502. doi:10.7150/thno.41427 This issue Cite

Research Paper

Metabolic remodeling by TIGAR overexpression is a therapeutic target in esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma

Jiahui Chu^1*, Xiangjie Niu^1*, Jiang Chang², Mingming Shao¹, Linna Peng¹, Yiyi Xi¹, Ai Lin¹, Chengcheng Wang¹, Qionghua Cui¹, Yingying Luo¹, Wenyi Fan¹, Yamei Chen¹, Yanxia Sun¹, Wenjia Guo¹, Wen Tan¹, Dongxin Lin^1,3,4,5✉, Chen Wu^1,4,5✉

1. Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
2. Key Laboratory for Environment and Health (Ministry of Education), School of Public Health, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
3. Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, China.
4. Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
5. CAMS Key Laboratory of Genetics and Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
*These authors contributed equally to this work.

Citation:

Chu J, Niu X, Chang J, Shao M, Peng L, Xi Y, Lin A, Wang C, Cui Q, Luo Y, Fan W, Chen Y, Sun Y, Guo W, Tan W, Lin D, Wu C. Metabolic remodeling by TIGAR overexpression is a therapeutic target in esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma. Theranostics 2020; 10(8):3488-3502. doi:10.7150/thno.41427. https://www.thno.org/v10p3488.htm

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Abstract

Rationale: Whole-genome sequencing has identified many amplified genes in esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (ESCC). This study investigated the role and clinical relevance of these genes in ESCC.

Methods: We collected ESCC and non-tumor esophageal tissues from 225 individuals who underwent surgery. Clinical data were collected and survival time was measured from the date of diagnosis to the date of last follow-up or death. Patient survival was compared with immunohistochemical staining score using Kaplan-Meier methods and hazard ratios were calculated by Cox models. Cells with gene overexpression and knockout were analyzed in proliferation, migration and invasion assays. Cells were also analyzed for levels of intracellular lactate, NADPH, ATP and mRNA and protein expression patterns. Protein levels in cell line and tissue samples were measured by immunoblotting or immunohistochemistry. ESCC cell were grown as xenograft tumors in nude mice. Primary ESCC in genetically engineered mice and patient-derived xenograft mouse models were established for test of therapeutic effects.

Results: We show that TP53-induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator (TIGAR) is a major player in ESCC progression and chemoresistance. TIGAR reprograms glucose metabolism from glycolysis to the glutamine pathway through AMP-activated kinase, and its overexpression is correlated with poor disease outcomes. Tigar knockout mice have reduced ESCC tumor burden and growth rates. Treatment of TIGAR-overexpressing ESCC cell xenografts and patient-derived tumor xenografts in mice with combination of glutaminase inhibitor and chemotherapeutic agents achieves significant more efficacy than chemotherapy alone.

Conclusion: These findings shed light on an important role of TIGAR in ESCC and might provide evidence for targeted treatment of TIGAR-overexpressing ESCC.

Keywords: esophageal cancer, glycolysis, amplification, glutamine metabolism, chemotherapy

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APA

Chu, J., Niu, X., Chang, J., Shao, M., Peng, L., Xi, Y., Lin, A., Wang, C., Cui, Q., Luo, Y., Fan, W., Chen, Y., Sun, Y., Guo, W., Tan, W., Lin, D., Wu, C. (2020). Metabolic remodeling by TIGAR overexpression is a therapeutic target in esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma. Theranostics, 10(8), 3488-3502. https://doi.org/10.7150/thno.41427.

ACS

Chu, J.; Niu, X.; Chang, J.; Shao, M.; Peng, L.; Xi, Y.; Lin, A.; Wang, C.; Cui, Q.; Luo, Y.; Fan, W.; Chen, Y.; Sun, Y.; Guo, W.; Tan, W.; Lin, D.; Wu, C. Metabolic remodeling by TIGAR overexpression is a therapeutic target in esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma. Theranostics 2020, 10 (8), 3488-3502. DOI: 10.7150/thno.41427.

NLM

CSE

Chu J, Niu X, Chang J, Shao M, Peng L, Xi Y, Lin A, Wang C, Cui Q, Luo Y, Fan W, Chen Y, Sun Y, Guo W, Tan W, Lin D, Wu C. 2020. Metabolic remodeling by TIGAR overexpression is a therapeutic target in esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma. Theranostics. 10(8):3488-3502.

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