Data from MFF Regulation of Mitochondrial Cell Death Is a Therapeutic Target in Cancer

Abstract

<div>Abstract<p>The regulators of mitochondrial cell death in cancer have remained elusive, hampering the development of new therapies. Here, we showed that protein isoforms of mitochondrial fission factor (MFF1 and MFF2), a molecule that controls mitochondrial size and shape, that is, mitochondrial dynamics, were overexpressed in patients with non–small cell lung cancer and formed homo- and heterodimeric complexes with the voltage-dependent anion channel-1 (VDAC1), a key regulator of mitochondrial outer membrane permeability. MFF inserted into the interior hole of the VDAC1 ring using Arg225, Arg236, and Gln241 as key contact sites. A cell-permeable MFF Ser223-Leu243 d-enantiomeric peptidomimetic disrupted the MFF–VDAC1 complex, acutely depolarized mitochondria, and triggered cell death in heterogeneous tumor types, including drug-resistant melanoma, but had no effect on normal cells. In preclinical models, treatment with the MFF peptidomimetic was well-tolerated and demonstrated anticancer activity in patient-derived xenografts, primary breast and lung adenocarcinoma 3D organoids, and glioblastoma neurospheres. These data identify the MFF–VDAC1 complex as a novel regulator of mitochondrial cell death and an actionable therapeutic target in cancer.</p>Significance:<p>These findings describe mitochondrial fission regulation using a peptidomimetic agent that disturbs the MFF–VDAC complex and displays anticancer activity in multiple tumor models.</p><p><i>See related commentary by Rao, p. 6074</i></p></div>