Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Diversity Shapes Tumor Metabolism in Pancreatic CancerCancer-Associated Fibroblast Diversity Shapes Tumor Metabolism in Pancreatic Cancer

in Cancers (2023)

Despite extensive research, the 5-year survival rate of pancreatic cancer (PDAC) patients remains at only 9%. Patients often show poor treatment response, due partly to a highly complex tumor ... [more ▼]

Despite extensive research, the 5-year survival rate of pancreatic cancer (PDAC) patients remains at only 9%. Patients often show poor treatment response, due partly to a highly complex tumor microenvironment (TME). Cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) heterogeneity is characteristic of the pancreatic TME, where several CAF subpopulations have been identified, such as myofibroblastic CAFs (myCAFs), inflammatory CAFs (iCAFs), and antigen presenting CAFs (apCAFs). In PDAC, cancer cells continuously adapt their metabolism (metabolic switch) to environmental changes in pH, oxygenation, and nutrient availability. Recent advances show that these environmental alterations are all heavily driven by stromal CAFs. CAFs and cancer cells exchange cytokines and metabolites, engaging in a tight bidirectional crosstalk, which promotes tumor aggressiveness and allows constant adaptation to external stress, such as chemotherapy. In this review, we summarize CAF diversity and CAF-mediated metabolic rewiring, in a PDAC-specific context. First, we recapitulate the most recently identified CAF subtypes, focusing on the cell of origin, activation mechanism, species-dependent markers, and functions. Next, we describe in detail the metabolic crosstalk between CAFs and tumor cells. Additionally, we elucidate how CAF-driven paracrine signaling, desmoplasia, and acidosis orchestrate cancer cell metabolism. Finally, we highlight how the CAF/cancer cell crosstalk could pave the way for new therapeutic strategies. [less ▲]

Evolution of the murine gut resistome following broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment.

in Nature communications (2022), 13(1), 2296

The emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represent an ever-growing healthcare challenge worldwide. Nevertheless, the mechanisms and timescales shaping this resistome remain elusive ... [more ▼]

The emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represent an ever-growing healthcare challenge worldwide. Nevertheless, the mechanisms and timescales shaping this resistome remain elusive. Using an antibiotic cocktail administered to a murine model along with a longitudinal sampling strategy, we identify the mechanisms by which gut commensals acquire antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) after a single antibiotic course. While most of the resident bacterial populations are depleted due to the treatment, Akkermansia muciniphila and members of the Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcaceae, and Lactobacillaceae families acquire resistance and remain recalcitrant. We identify specific genes conferring resistance against the antibiotics in the corresponding metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) and trace their origins within each genome. Here we show that, while mobile genetic elements (MGEs), including bacteriophages and plasmids, contribute to the spread of ARGs, integrons represent key factors mediating AMR in the antibiotic-treated mice. Our findings suggest that a single course of antibiotics alone may act as the selective sweep driving ARG acquisition and incidence in gut commensals over a single mammalian lifespan. [less ▲]

Mitochondria preserve an autarkic one-carbon cycle to confer growth-independent cancer cell migration and metastasis

in Nature Communications (2022)

Metastasis is the most common cause of death in cancer patients. Canonical drugs target mainly the proliferative capacity of cancer cells, which leaves slow-proliferating, persistent cancer cells ... [more ▼]

Metastasis is the most common cause of death in cancer patients. Canonical drugs target mainly the proliferative capacity of cancer cells, which leaves slow-proliferating, persistent cancer cells unaffected. Metabolic determinants that contribute to growth-independent functions are still poorly understood. Here we show that antifolate treatment results in an uncoupled and autarkic mitochondrial one-carbon (1C) metabolism during cytosolic 1C metabolism impairment. Interestingly, antifolate dependent growth-arrest does not correlate with decreased migration capacity. Therefore, using methotrexate as a tool compound allows us to disentangle proliferation and migration to profile the metabolic phenotype of migrating cells. We observe that increased serine de novo synthesis (SSP) supports mitochondrial serine catabolism and inhibition of SSP using the competitive PHGDH-inhibitor BI-4916 reduces cancer cell migration. Furthermore, we show that sole inhibition of mitochondrial serine catabolism does not affect primary breast tumor growth but strongly inhibits pulmonary metastasis. We conclude that mitochondrial 1C metabolism, despite being dispensable for proliferative capacities, confers an advantage to cancer cells by supporting their motility potential. [less ▲]

Mapping the Metabolic Networks of Tumor Cells and Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts

in Cells (2021)

Metabolism is considered to be the core of all cellular activity. Thus, extensive studies of metabolic processes are ongoing in various fields of biology, including cancer research. Cancer cells are known ... [more ▼]

Metabolism is considered to be the core of all cellular activity. Thus, extensive studies of metabolic processes are ongoing in various fields of biology, including cancer research. Cancer cells are known to adapt their metabolism to sustain high proliferation rates and survive in unfavorable environments with low oxygen and nutrient concentrations. Hence, targeting cancer cell metabolism is a promising therapeutic strategy in cancer research. However, cancers consist not only of genetically altered tumor cells but are interwoven with endothelial cells, immune cells and fibroblasts, which together with the extracellular matrix (ECM) constitute the tumor microenvironment (TME). Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which are linked to poor prognosis in different cancer types, are one important component of the TME. CAFs play a significant role in reprogramming the metabolic landscape of tumor cells, but how, and in what manner, this interaction takes place remains rather unclear. This review aims to highlight the metabolic landscape of tumor cells and CAFs, including their recently identified subtypes, in different tumor types. In addition, we discuss various in vitro and in vivo metabolic techniques as well as different in silico computational tools that can be used to identify and characterize CAF–tumor cell interactions. Finally, we provide our view on how mapping the complex metabolic networks of stromal-tumor metabolism will help in finding novel metabolic targets for cancer treatment. [less ▲]

Understanding the role of Fusobacterium nucleatum metabolism in colon cancer initiation and progression

Poster (2020, February 22)

Accumulating evidence suggests that dysbiosis, a state of pathological imbalance in the human gut microbiome, is present in patients suffering from colorectal cancer (CRC). 16S rRNA gene sequencing, as ... [more ▼]

Accumulating evidence suggests that dysbiosis, a state of pathological imbalance in the human gut microbiome, is present in patients suffering from colorectal cancer (CRC). 16S rRNA gene sequencing, as well as metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses, identified specific bacteria being associated with CRC. Among others, Fusobacterium ssp. have been found to directly interact with cancer or immune cells of their host. However, only a limited number of CRC-associated microbes have been examined for host-microbial interactions and, as such, the role of bacteria in the etiology of the disease remains largely elusive. Our aim is the development of predictive and experimental models that allow to not only study the host-microbiota interactions but are also amenable to high-throughput experimentation and large-scale omics-data integration. Ultimately, such models should help to get from meta-omics to cellular mechanism and, moreover, serve as tools for reproducible analyses of host-microbial interaction mechanisms of on a transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic level. Our research proposes an integrative study approach allowing us to bridge meta-omics with functional mechanisms by focusing on the interaction taking place between F. nucleatum and patient-derived CRC cells. [less ▲]

Prognostic and Predictive Molecular Biomarkers for Colorectal Cancer: Updates and Challenges

in Cancers (2020)

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of death among cancer patients. This heterogeneous disease is characterized by alterations in multiple molecular pathways throughout its development. Mutations ... [more ▼]

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of death among cancer patients. This heterogeneous disease is characterized by alterations in multiple molecular pathways throughout its development. Mutations in RAS, along with the mismatch repair gene deficiency, are currently routinely tested in clinics. Such biomarkers provide information for patient risk stratification and for the choice of the best treatment options. Nevertheless, reliable and powerful prognostic markers that can identify “high-risk” CRC patients, who might benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy, in early stages, are currently missing. To bridge this gap, genomic information has increasingly gained interest as a potential method for determining the risk of recurrence. However, due to several limitations of gene-based signatures, these have not yet been clinically implemented. In this review, we describe the different molecular markers in clinical use for CRC, highlight new markers that might become indispensable over the next years, discuss recently developed gene expression-based tests and highlight the challenges in biomarker research. [less ▲]

Hypoxia-induced Autophagy Drives Colorectal Cancer Initiation and Progression by Activating the PRKC/PKC-EZR (Ezrin) Pathway

in Autophagy (2019)

In solid tumors, cancer stem cells (CSCs) or tumor-initiating cells (TICs) are often found in hypoxic niches. Nevertheless, the influence of hypoxia on TICs is poorly understood. Using previously ... [more ▼]

In solid tumors, cancer stem cells (CSCs) or tumor-initiating cells (TICs) are often found in hypoxic niches. Nevertheless, the influence of hypoxia on TICs is poorly understood. Using previously established, TIC-enriched patient-derived colorectal cancer (CRC) cultures, we show that hypoxia increases the self-renewal capacity of TICs while inducing proliferation arrest in their more differentiated counterpart cultures. Gene expression data revealed macroautophagy/autophagy as one of the major pathways induced by hypoxia in TICs. Interestingly, hypoxia-induced autophagy was found to induce phosphorylation of EZR (ezrin) at Thr567 residue, which could be reversed by knocking down ATG5, BNIP3, BNIP3L, or BECN1. Furthermore, we identified PRKCA/PKCα as a potential kinase involved in hypoxia-induced autophagy-mediated TIC self-renewal. Genetic targeting of autophagy or pharmacological inhibition of PRKC/PKC and EZR resulted in decreased tumor-initiating potential of TICs. In addition, we observed significantly reduced in vivo tumor initiation and growth after a stable knockdown of ATG5. Analysis of human CRC samples showed that p-EZR is often present in TICs located in the hypoxic and autophagic regions of the tumor. Altogether, our results establish the hypoxia-autophagy-PKC-EZR signaling axis as a novel regulatory mechanism of TIC self-renewal and CRC progression. Autophagy inhibition might thus represent a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer patients. [less ▲]

Identifying and targeting cancer-specific metabolism with network-based drug target prediction

in EBioMedicine (2019), 43(May 2019), 98-106

Background Metabolic rewiring allows cancer cells to sustain high proliferation rates. Thus, targeting only the cancer-specific cellular metabolism will safeguard healthy tissues. Methods We developed the ... [more ▼]

Background Metabolic rewiring allows cancer cells to sustain high proliferation rates. Thus, targeting only the cancer-specific cellular metabolism will safeguard healthy tissues. Methods We developed the very efficient FASTCORMICS RNA-seq workflow (rFASTCORMICS) to build 10,005 high-resolution metabolic models from the TCGA dataset to capture metabolic rewiring strategies in cancer cells. Colorectal cancer (CRC) was used as a test case for a repurposing workflow based on rFASTCORMICS. Findings Alternative pathways that are not required for proliferation or survival tend to be shut down and, therefore, tumours display cancer-specific essential genes that are significantly enriched for known drug targets. We identified naftifine, ketoconazole, and mimosine as new potential CRC drugs, which were experimentally validated. Interpretation The here presented rFASTCORMICS workflow successfully reconstructs a metabolic model based on RNA-seq data and successfully predicted drug targets and drugs not yet indicted for colorectal cancer. [less ▲]

Integrated In Vitro and In Silico Modeling Delineates the Molecular Effects of a Synbiotic Regimen on Colorectal-Cancer-Derived Cells

in Cell Reports (2019), 27

By modulating the human gut microbiome, prebiotics and probiotics (combinations of which are called synbiotics) may be used to treat diseases such as colorectal cancer (CRC). Methodological limitations ... [more ▼]

By modulating the human gut microbiome, prebiotics and probiotics (combinations of which are called synbiotics) may be used to treat diseases such as colorectal cancer (CRC). Methodological limitations have prevented determining the potential combina- torial mechanisms of action of such regimens. We expanded our HuMiX gut-on-a-chip model to co-culture CRC-derived epithelial cells with a model probiotic under a simulated prebiotic regimen, and we integrated the multi-omic results with in silico metabolic modeling. In contrast to individual prebi- otic or probiotic treatments, the synbiotic regimen caused downregulation of genes involved in procarci- nogenic pathways and drug resistance, and reduced levels of the oncometabolite lactate. Distinct ratios of organic and short-chain fatty acids were produced during the simulated regimens. Treatment of primary CRC-derived cells with a molecular cocktail reflecting the synbiotic regimen attenuated self-renewal ca- pacity. Our integrated approach demonstrates the potential of modeling for rationally formulating synbi- otics-based treatments in the future. [less ▲]

Kinase inhibitor library screening identifies synergistic drug combinations effective in sensitive and resistant melanoma cells

in Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cancer Research (2019), 38(1),

Background: Melanoma is the most aggressive and deadly form of skin cancer with increasing case numbers worldwide. The development of inhibitors targeting mutated BRAF (found in around 60% of melanoma ... [more ▼]

Background: Melanoma is the most aggressive and deadly form of skin cancer with increasing case numbers worldwide. The development of inhibitors targeting mutated BRAF (found in around 60% of melanoma patients) has markedly improved overall survival of patients with late-stage tumors, even more so when combined with MEK inhibitors targeting the same signaling pathway. However, invariably patients become resistant to this targeted therapy resulting in rapid progression with treatment-refractory disease. The purpose of this study was the identification of new kinase inhibitors that do not lead to the development of resistance in combination with BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi), or that could be of clinical benefit as a 2nd line treatment for late-stage melanoma patients that have already developed resistance. Methods: We have screened a 274-compound kinase inhibitor library in 3 BRAF mutant melanoma cell lines (each one sensitive or made resistant to 2 distinct BRAFi). The screening results were validated by dose-response studies and confirmed the killing efficacies of many kinase inhibitors. Two different tools were applied to investigate and quantify potential synergistic effects of drug combinations: the Chou-Talalay method and the Synergyfinder application. In order to exclude that resistance to the new treatments might occur at later time points, synergistic combinations were administered to fluorescently labelled parental and resistant cells over a period of > 10 weeks. Results: Eight inhibitors targeting Wee1, Checkpoint kinase 1/2, Aurora kinase, MEK, Polo-like kinase, PI3K and Focal adhesion kinase killed melanoma cells synergistically when combined with a BRAFi. Additionally, combination of a Wee1 and Chk inhibitor showed synergistic killing effects not only on sensitive cell lines, but also on intrinsically BRAFi- and treatment induced-resistant melanoma cells. First in vivo studies confirmed these observations. Interestingly, continuous treatment with several of these drugs, alone or in combination, did not lead to emergence of resistance. Conclusions: Here, we have identified new, previously unexplored (in the framework of BRAFi resistance) inhibitors that have an effect not only on sensitive but also on BRAFi-resistant cells. These promising combinations together with the new immunotherapies could be an important step towards improved 1st and 2nd line treatments for late-stage melanoma patients. [less ▲]