It has long been recognized that cancer cells and normal cells have different energy metabolic patterns. One longstanding and prominent observation is that cancer cells show increased glycolysis even in the presence of the adequate oxygen supply, a phenomenon known as Warburg effect. Although the increased dependency on glycolysis for ATP supply has been observed consistently in a wide spectrum of human cancers, the biochemical and molecular mechanisms responsible for this metabolic alteration and its therapeutic implications remain to be elucidated. Recent studies by several groups, including our laboratory, showed that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is frequently mutated in human cancer cells, associated with alterations in drug sensitivity. Because mitochondria play essential roles both in ATP production and apoptosis, we hypothesize that mitochondrial DNA mutations and the consequent malfunction of the mitochondrial respiratory chain lead to a decrease in ATP production through oxidative phosphorylation, forcing the malignant cells to increased glycolysis to maintain energy supply, and induce alterations in cell survival signaling and drug sensitivity. We will use biochemical and molecular biology methods to investigate the following specific aims: (1) Investigate mtDNA mutations as a genetic basis for alteration of energy metabolism. We will establish innovative experimental systems to test the hypothesis that mtDNA mutations, caused by both endogenous ROS stress and exogenous DNA-damaging agents, lead to malfunction of mitochondrial respiration, increased dependency on glycolysis, and increased superoxide generation. Primary cancer cells from patients will be used to test the clinical relevance of this hypothesis. (2) Investigate the role of mtDNA mutations in altering cell survival and drug sensitivity. We will characterize the profile of drug response in cells with mitochondrial mutations, and identify anticancer agents that are either effective or ineffective in killing cancer cells with mitochondrial respiration defects. Defined experimental model systems with cells containing normal or mutated mitochondria will be established to further test the cause-effect relationship between mtDNA mutations and drug sensitivity, and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. (3) Design and test novel strategies to target the metabolic defects in cancer cells and the associated survival mechanisms to preferentially kill the malignant cells. We will test the ability of novel agents to inhibit glycolysis, preferentially deplete ATP supply in cancer cells, and cause cell death. We will also develop strategies to inhibit cell survival pathways in cancer cells, and explore the possibility of using ROS-mediated mechanism to preferentially kill cancer cells based on their increased oxidative stress associated with mtDNA mutations. We hope that this research will provide new mechanistic insights into the fundamental metabolic alterations in cancer cells, and offer new therapeutic strategies to selectively and effectively kill cancer cells.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01CA109041-01
Application #
6814022
Study Section
Developmental Therapeutics Study Section (DT)
Program Officer
Okano, Paul
Project Start
2004-07-07
Project End
2009-06-30
Budget Start
2004-07-07
Budget End
2005-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$309,550
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Other Domestic Higher Education
DUNS #
800772139
City
Houston
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
77030
Garcia-Prieto, Celia; Riaz Ahmed, Kausar Begam; Chen, Zhao et al. (2013) Effective killing of leukemia cells by the natural product OSW-1 through disruption of cellular calcium homeostasis. J Biol Chem 288:3240-50
Lu, W; Chen, Z; Zhang, H et al. (2012) ZNF143 transcription factor mediates cell survival through upregulation of the GPX1 activity in the mitochondrial respiratory dysfunction. Cell Death Dis 3:e422
Lu, Weiqin; Hu, Yumin; Chen, Gang et al. (2012) Novel role of NOX in supporting aerobic glycolysis in cancer cells with mitochondrial dysfunction and as a potential target for cancer therapy. PLoS Biol 10:e1001326
Hu, Yumin; Lu, Weiqin; Chen, Gang et al. (2012) K-ras(G12V) transformation leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and a metabolic switch from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis. Cell Res 22:399-412
Zhou, Yunfei; Zhou, Yan; Shingu, Takashi et al. (2011) Metabolic alterations in highly tumorigenic glioblastoma cells: preference for hypoxia and high dependency on glycolysis. J Biol Chem 286:32843-53
Chen, Gang; Chen, Zhao; Hu, Yumin et al. (2011) Inhibition of mitochondrial respiration and rapid depletion of mitochondrial glutathione by ýý-phenethyl isothiocyanate: mechanisms for anti-leukemia activity. Antioxid Redox Signal 15:2911-21
Wang, Feng; Ogasawara, Marcia A; Huang, Peng (2010) Small mitochondria-targeting molecules as anti-cancer agents. Mol Aspects Med 31:75-92
Chen, Gang; Wang, Feng; Trachootham, Dunyaporn et al. (2010) Preferential killing of cancer cells with mitochondrial dysfunction by natural compounds. Mitochondrion 10:614-25
Lu, Weiqin; Pelicano, Helene; Huang, Peng (2010) Cancer metabolism: is glutamine sweeter than glucose? Cancer Cell 18:199-200
Pelicano, Helene; Lu, Weiqin; Zhou, Yan et al. (2009) Mitochondrial dysfunction and reactive oxygen species imbalance promote breast cancer cell motility through a CXCL14-mediated mechanism. Cancer Res 69:2375-83

Showing the most recent 10 out of 29 publications