Cancer cells deploy lipocalin-2 to collect limiting iron in leptomeningeal metastasis Journal Article


Authors: Chi, Y.; Remsik, J.; Kiseliovas, V.; Derderian, C.; Sener, U.; Alghader, M.; Saadeh, F.; Nikishina, K.; Bale, T.; Iacobuzio-Donahue, C.; Thomas, T.; Pe'er, D.; Mazutis, L.; Boire, A.
Article Title: Cancer cells deploy lipocalin-2 to collect limiting iron in leptomeningeal metastasis
Abstract: The tumor microenvironment plays a critical regulatory role in cancer progression, especially in central nervous system metastases. Cancer cells within the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-filled leptomeninges face substantial microenvironmental challenges, including inflammation and sparse micronutrients. To investigate the mechanism by which cancer cells in these leptomeningeal metastases (LM) overcome these constraints, we subjected CSF from five patients with LM to single-cell RNA sequencing. We found that cancer cells, but not macrophages, within the CSF express the iron-binding protein lipocalin-2 (LCN2) and its receptor SCL22A17. These macrophages generate inflammatory cytokines that induce cancer cell LCN2 expression but do not generate LCN2 themselves. In mouse models of LM, cancer cell growth is supported by the LCN2/SLC22A17 system and is inhibited by iron chelation therapy. Thus, cancer cells appear to survive in the CSF by outcompeting macrophages for iron. Copyright © 2020 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.
Journal Title: Science
Volume: 369
Issue: 6501
ISSN: 0036-8075
Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science  
Date Published: 2020-07-17
Start Page: 276
End Page: 282
Language: English
DOI: 10.1126/science.aaz2193
PUBMED: 32675368
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC7816199
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 3 August 2020 -- Source: Scopus
Altmetric
Citation Impact
BMJ Impact Analytics
MSK Authors
  1. Adrienne Boire
    106 Boire
  2. Dana Pe'er
    110 Pe'er
  3. Linas Mazutis
    34 Mazutis
  4. Tejus Bale
    122 Bale
  5. Ugur Sener
    16 Sener
  6. Yudan Chi
    6 Chi
  7. Jan Remsik
    25 Remsik
  8. Fadi Saadeh
    4 Saadeh