Abstract 7585: Targeting of 7 or 24 dehydrocholesterol reductase decreases cancer progression in head and neck cancer

Abstract

Abstract The elevated expression of cholesterol metabolism has been associated with many cancer including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, the molecular mechanisms between cholesterol biosynthesis and head and neck cancer have not yet been studied. In this study, we identified upregulation of dehydrocholesterol reductase such as DHCR7 or DHCR24 in HNSCC compared with adjacent normal tissues from the same patients using RNA sequencing data. We observed protein expression level of DHCR7 or DHCR24 in head and neck cancer cell lines through Western blotting. We also checked high expression of DHCR7 or DHCR24 in HNSCC tissues from patients using immunohistochemistry assays. Yet, when DHCR7 or DHCR24 was knocked down using siRNA, the viability of HNSCC cells was decreased in MTT assays. In parallel, we adapted small inhibitory drugs; AY9944 for DHCR7 inhibition and Triparanol or SH-42 for DHCR24 inhibition. Treatment of AY9944, Triparanol, or SH-42 also resulted in decreased viability of HNSCC cells. Moreover, when we used a cholesterol blocker, MCD, the cell viability was decreased, whereas the cells overcame cell death by adding the combination of cholesterol and LDL. Taken together, we concluded that head and neck cancer requires DHCR7 and DHCR24 activity involved in cholesterol metabolism for cancer growth. Our data suggest that targeting DHCR7 or DHCR24 using AY9944, Triparanol or SH-42 is one of the potential strategies that will definitely help with cancer treatment for head and neck cancer. Citation Format: Bok-Soon Lee, Ji-Hye Choi, Hyo Jeong Kim, Jin Roh, Joselyn Padilla, Kennedy Davis Brock, Jeon Yeob Jang, Hyun Goo Woo, Chul-Ho Kim, Jiyoung Lee. Targeting of 7 or 24 dehydrocholesterol reductase decreases cancer progression in head and neck cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 7585.