Fatty acids synthesis occurs at very high rates in tumor tissues, as first demonstrated more than half a century ago. Importantly, 14C glucose incorporation studies have shown that in tumor cells almost all fatty acids derive from de novo synthesis despite adequate nutritional supply. Prostate adenocarcinomas (PCa) overexpressing FAS display aggressive biologic behavior, suggesting that FAS overexpression confers a selective growth advantage. We have demonstrated that deregulated FAS expression in immortalized human prostate epithelial cells and as a transgene directed to the murine prostate results in invasive adenocarcinoma and prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, respectively. The metabolic syndrome (MS), characterized by insulin resistance, central obesity and hypertension, is associated with inactivation of the master energy-sensor kinase AMPK and has recently been related to higher PCa incidence in large epidemiological studies. AMPK, when activated, inhibits FAS activity abolishing its oncogenic properties. Our preliminary data demonstrate that low serum levels of adiponectin, an endogenous activator of AMPK, significantly predict poor PCa survival. Taken together, these results strongly suggest a biological link between the metabolic syndrome, AMPK, FAS and PCa. The overarching hypothesis of this proposal is that FAS overexpression is the effector tumorigenic pathway of sustained AMPK inhibition. To validate this hypothesis, we will utilize a multidisciplinary approach that combines cell biology, animal model studies, tissue-based approaches and germline polymorphism correlations with PCa progression in large, annotated cohorts of PCa patients. Specifically, we will a) determine whether AMP kinase is a molecular target for inhibiting FAS activity;b) assess selected potential mechanisms of FAS mediated oncogenicity in PCa such as activation of pathways by palmitoylation of key regulatory genes c) assess whether genetic variations in the loci encoding AMPK, FAS, and their regulatory genes are predictors of prostate cancer progression and survival using haplotype tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs);and d) relate the functional status of the FAS/AMPK axis to the metabolic syndrome in tissues from the same cohorts. The experiments proposed will establish FAS as a metabolic oncogene in prostate cancer, will solidify the link between the metabolic syndrome, obesity and prostate cancer through the master energy regulator kinase AMPK and establish FAS, and its regulators/effectors, as therapeutic targets in PCa.

Public Health Relevance

In this proposal we are studying the role of key metabolic enzymes in prostate cancer. We are specifically focusing on a metabolic enzyme which is central to the control of obesity and blood glucose control in humans. The data resulting from this proposal, which includes epidemiologic, mouse model and human tumor analyses, will provide the long sought molecular link between diet, obesity and prostate cancer. In addition, this research that will likely results in novel therapeutic approaches in this disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA131945-02
Application #
7694289
Study Section
Tumor Cell Biology Study Section (TCB)
Program Officer
Mohla, Suresh
Project Start
2008-09-26
Project End
2013-07-31
Budget Start
2009-08-01
Budget End
2010-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$350,303
Indirect Cost
Name
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
076580745
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02215
Elfandy, Habiba; Armenia, Joshua; Pederzoli, Filippo et al. (2018) Genetic and Epigenetic Determinants of Aggressiveness in Cribriform Carcinoma of the Prostate. Mol Cancer Res :
Pettersson, Andreas; Gerke, Travis; Penney, Kathryn L et al. (2018) MYC Overexpression at the Protein and mRNA Level and Cancer Outcomes among Men Treated with Radical Prostatectomy for Prostate Cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 27:201-207
Graff, Rebecca E; Ahearn, Thomas U; Pettersson, Andreas et al. (2018) Height, Obesity, and the Risk of TMPRSS2:ERG-Defined Prostate Cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 27:193-200
Tyekucheva, Svitlana; Bowden, Michaela; Bango, Clyde et al. (2017) Stromal and epithelial transcriptional map of initiation progression and metastatic potential of human prostate cancer. Nat Commun 8:420
Crawley, Danielle; Chandra, Ashish; Loda, Massimo et al. (2017) Metformin and longevity (METAL): a window of opportunity study investigating the biological effects of metformin in localised prostate cancer. BMC Cancer 17:494
Ebot, Ericka M; Gerke, Travis; Labbé, David P et al. (2017) Gene expression profiling of prostate tissue identifies chromatin regulation as a potential link between obesity and lethal prostate cancer. Cancer 123:4130-4138
Sinnott, Jennifer A; Peisch, Sam F; Tyekucheva, Svitlana et al. (2017) Prognostic Utility of a New mRNA Expression Signature of Gleason Score. Clin Cancer Res 23:81-87
Cacciatore, Stefano; Zadra, Giorgia; Bango, Clyde et al. (2017) Metabolic Profiling in Formalin-Fixed and Paraffin-Embedded Prostate Cancer Tissues. Mol Cancer Res 15:439-447
Loda, Massimo (2016) Challenging Roadblocks to Cancer Cure. Cancer Res 76:4924-30
Kenfield, Stacey A; Batista, Julie L; Jahn, Jaquelyn L et al. (2016) Development and Application of a Lifestyle Score for Prevention of Lethal Prostate Cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 108:

Showing the most recent 10 out of 56 publications