Abstract A58: Temporal dynamics underpin metabolism-driven cancer therapy cross-resistance

Abstract

Abstract The acquisition of resistance to chemotherapy is the underlying cause of relapse leading to metastasis and mortality. It is clear that the metabolic states of cancer cells contribute to cancer therapy failure. However, the inherent plasticity of cancer cells and the complexity of intratumoral heterogeneity have obscured a clear understanding for the role of metabolism in the development of resistance. Here, we used a computational biology approach in-tandem with functional assays at the single cell level to build a mechanistic understanding of an adaptive, metabolic cell-state-switch which leads to cross-therapy resistance of chemotherapies in cancer. We show that cytotoxic chemotherapies induce a temporally-dependent cell behavior via 1. induction of cell surface scaffold-kinase interactions 2. mitochondrial-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are then requisite to drive 3. redox stress-mediated glucose uptake. Interestingly, we identified that the early-enhanced mitochondrial ROS promotes a delayed glucose shunt towards the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) which was mediating cross-drug resistance. Using pharmacologic inhibitors of proteins in the PPP as well as inhibitors of upstream glycolysis intermediates, we were able to restore cancer cell sensitivity to combination therapies producing robust tumor responses in otherwise resistant cancer cells. These findings unveil a systems analysis of metabolic plasticity leading to therapy failure and provide novel strategies for treatment. Citation Format: Aaron Goldman, Andrew Dhawan, Ragini Medhi, Mohammad Kohandel, Shiladitya Sengupta. Temporal dynamics underpin metabolism-driven cancer therapy cross-resistance. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Metabolism and Cancer; Jun 7-10, 2015; Bellevue, WA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2016;14(1_Suppl):Abstract nr A58.