Metabolic plasticity of metastatic breast cancer cells: Adaptation to changes in the microenvironment Journal Article


Authors: Simões, R. V.; Serganova, I. S.; Kruchevsky, N.; Leftin, A.; Shestov, A. A.; Thaler, H. T.; Sukenick, G.; Locasale, J. W.; Blasberg, R. G.; Koutcher, J. A.; Ackerstaff, E.
Article Title: Metabolic plasticity of metastatic breast cancer cells: Adaptation to changes in the microenvironment
Abstract: Cancer cells adapt their metabolism during tumorigenesis. We studied two isogenic breast cancer cells lines (highly metastatic 4T1; nonmetastatic 67NR) to identify differences in their glucose and glutamine metabolism in response to metabolic and environmental stress. Dynamic magnetic resonance spectroscopy of 13C-isotopomers showed that 4T1 cells have higher glycolytic and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle flux than 67NR cells and readily switch between glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in response to different extracellular environments. OXPHOS activity increased with metastatic potential in isogenic cell lines derived from the same primary breast cancer: 4T1 > 4T07 and 168FARN (local micrometastasis only) > 67NR. We observed a restricted TCA cycle flux at the succinate dehydrogenase step in 67NR cells (but not in 4T1 cells), leading to succinate accumulation and hindering OXPHOS. In the four isogenic cell lines, environmental stresses modulated succinate dehydrogenase subunit A expression according to metastatic potential. Moreover, glucose-derived lactate production was more glutamine dependent in cell lines with higher metastatic potential. These studies show clear differences in TCA cycle metabolism between 4T1 and 67NR breast cancer cells. They indicate that metastases-forming 4T1 cells are more adept at adjusting their metabolism in response to environmental stress than isogenic, nonmetastatic 67NR cells. We suggest that the metabolic plasticity and adaptability are more important to the metastatic breast cancer phenotype than rapid cell proliferation alone, which could 1) provide a new biomarker for early detection of this phenotype, possibly at the time of diagnosis, and 2) lead to new treatment strategies of metastatic breast cancer by targeting mitochondrial metabolism. © 2015 The Authors..
Journal Title: NeoPlasia
Volume: 17
Issue: 8
ISSN: 1522-8002
Publisher: Elsevier Science Inc.  
Date Published: 2015-08-01
Start Page: 671
End Page: 684
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2015.08.005
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 26408259
PMCID: PMC4674487
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 2 May 2016 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Ronald G Blasberg
    272 Blasberg
  2. Rui Vasco Portas Ferreira Simoes
    6 Simoes
  3. Jason A Koutcher
    278 Koutcher
  4. Howard T Thaler
    245 Thaler
  5. Avigdor   Leftin
    12 Leftin