A metabolic crosstalk between liposarcoma and muscle sustains tumor growth

Nat Commun. 2024 Sep 12;15(1):7940. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-51827-3.

Abstract

Dedifferentiated and Well-differentiated liposarcoma are characterized by a systematic amplification of the Murine Double Minute 2 (MDM2) oncogene. We demonstrate that p53-independent metabolic functions of chromatin-bound MDM2 are exacerbated in liposarcoma and mediate an addiction to serine metabolism to sustain tumor growth. However, the origin of exogenous serine remains unclear. Here, we show that elevated serine levels in mice harboring liposarcoma-patient derived xenograft, released by distant muscle is essential for liposarcoma cell survival. Repressing interleukine-6 expression, or treating liposarcoma cells with Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) approved anti-interleukine-6 monoclonal antibody, decreases de novo serine synthesis in muscle, impairs proliferation, and increases cell death in vitro and in vivo. This work reveals a metabolic crosstalk between muscle and liposarcoma tumor and identifies anti-interleukine-6 as a plausible treatment for liposarcoma patients.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liposarcoma* / genetics
  • Liposarcoma* / metabolism
  • Liposarcoma* / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2* / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2* / metabolism
  • Serine* / metabolism
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2
  • Serine
  • MDM2 protein, human
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53