Abstract 1144: Antioxidant enzyme-mediated survival of ECM-detached breast cancer cells requires AMPK activation

Abstract

Abstract Normal epithelial cells require attachment to the extracellular matrix (ECM) for proper maintenance of metabolic function and survival. However, it has recently become clear that cancer cells must alter their metabolism during times of ECM-detachment in a fashion that promotes their survival. We have discovered that breast cancer cells utilize the activity of antioxidant enzymes to eliminate the detachment-induced elevation in reactive oxygen species (ROS). This decrease in ROS relieves the inhibitory effects that ROS have on fatty acid oxidation (FAO) which in turn facilitates ATP production during times of energy deprivation. Interestingly, this critical role of antioxidant enzymes is not evident in ECM-attached cells suggesting that targeting antioxidant enzymes may be an effective strategy to eliminate ECM-detached cells. Furthermore, our studies have revealed that the molecular mechanisms controlling the regulation of FAO by antioxidant enzymes involve modulation of AMPK protein levels. Thus, our data reveal that antioxidant enzymes and AMPK signaling may be attractive targets for the design of novel therapeutics aimed at eliminating ECM-detached cancer cells. Citation Format: Sienna M. Durbin, Calli Versagli, Daniel Pape, Zachary Schafer. Antioxidant enzyme-mediated survival of ECM-detached breast cancer cells requires AMPK activation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 1144. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-1144