HSD17B4 methylation enhances glucose dependence of BT-474 breast cancer cells and increases lapatinib sensitivity

• Published in: Breast cancer research and treatment 2023-09, Vol.201 (2), p.317-328
• Main Authors: Arai, Nobuaki, Hattori, Naoko, Yamashita, Satoshi, Liu, Yu-Yu, Ebata, Takahiro, Takeuchi, Chihiro, Takeshima, Hideyuki, Fujii, Satoshi, Kondo, Haruhiko, Mukai, Hirofumi, Ushijima, Toshikazu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 17β-Estradiol; AKT protein; Analysis; Antibodies; Arachidonic acid; Automation; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; Breast Neoplasms - genetics; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Cancer cells; Cancer research; Cancer therapies; Cell Line, Tumor; Cells; Chemotherapy; Cloning; Dehydrogenases; Dextrose; DNA methylation; Docosahexaenoic acid; Electron transport chain; ErbB-2 protein; Estrogen; Estrogens; Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; Fatty acids; Female; Glucose; Glycolysis; Humans; Laboratories; Lapatinib - pharmacology; Medical research; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Methylation; Molecular modelling; Mutation; Omega-3 fatty acids; Oncology; Original Laboratory Investigation; Ovarian cancer; Oxidation; Oxidative phosphorylation; Peroxisomal Multifunctional Protein-2 - genetics; Peroxisomal Multifunctional Protein-2 - metabolism; Phosphorylation; Polyunsaturated fatty acids; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt - genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt - metabolism; Pyruvic acid; Receptor, ErbB-2 - genetics; Receptor, ErbB-2 - metabolism; Surgery; Unsaturated fatty acids
• ISSN: 0167-6806; 1573-7217
• DOI: 10.1007/s10549-023-07013-y

Purpose HER2-positive breast cancer has a high chance of achieving pathological complete response when HSD17B4 , responsible for peroxisomal β-oxidation of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFA) and estradiol, is methylation-silenced. Here, we aimed to identify the underlying molecular mechanism. Methods Using a HER2-positive breast cancer cell line, BT-474, control and knock-out (KO) clones were obtained. Metabolic characteristics were analyzed using a Seahorse Flux analyzer. Results HSD17B4 KO suppressed cellular proliferation, and enhanced sensitivity to lapatinib approximately tenfold. The KO led to accumulation of VLCFA and a decrease of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid. HSD17B4 KO increased Akt phosphorylation, possibly via decreased DHA, and genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) and electron transport chain (ETC) were upregulated. Increased mitochondrial ATP production in the KO cells was confirmed by extracellular flux analyzer. Increased OxPhos led to severe dependence of the KO cells on pyruvate from glycolysis. Suppression of glycolysis by lapatinib led to severe delayed suppression of OxPhos in KO cells. Conclusion HSD17B4 KO in BT-474 cells caused a decrease of PUFAs, increased Akt phosphorylation, enhanced glucose dependence of OxPhos, and increased sensitivity to inhibition of HER2, upstream of Akt. This mechanism may be applicable to other HER2-positive glucose-dependent breast cancer cells with HSD17B4 silencing.