Proline metabolism supports metastasis formation and could be inhibited to selectively target metastasizing cancer cells

Ilaria Elia, Dorien Broekaert, Stefan Christen, Ruben Boon, Enrico Radaelli, Martin F. Orth, Catherine Verfaillie, Thomas G. P. Grünewald and Sarah-Maria Fendt ()
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Ilaria Elia: Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB Center for Cancer Biology
Dorien Broekaert: Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB Center for Cancer Biology
Stefan Christen: Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB Center for Cancer Biology
Ruben Boon: Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven
Enrico Radaelli: Center for the Biology of Disease, VIB Leuven and Center for Human Genetics, KU Leuven
Martin F. Orth: Max-Eder Research Group for Pediatric Sarcoma Biology, Institute of Pathology
Catherine Verfaillie: Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven
Thomas G. P. Grünewald: Max-Eder Research Group for Pediatric Sarcoma Biology, Institute of Pathology
Sarah-Maria Fendt: Laboratory of Cellular Metabolism and Metabolic Regulation, VIB Center for Cancer Biology

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Metastases are the leading cause of mortality in patients with cancer. Metastasis formation requires cancer cells to adapt their cellular phenotype. However, how metabolism supports this adaptation of cancer cells is poorly defined. We use 2D versus 3D cultivation to induce a shift in the cellular phenotype of breast cancer cells. We discover that proline catabolism via proline dehydrogenase (Prodh) supports growth of breast cancer cells in 3D culture. Subsequently, we link proline catabolism to in vivo metastasis formation. In particular, we find that PRODH expression and proline catabolism is increased in metastases compared to primary breast cancers of patients and mice. Moreover, inhibiting Prodh is sufficient to impair formation of lung metastases in the orthotopic 4T1 and EMT6.5 mouse models, without adverse effects on healthy tissue and organ function. In conclusion, we discover that Prodh is a potential drug target for inhibiting metastasis formation.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15267

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