Overcoming ATF4-driven metabolic adaptation via GLS1 and ASCT2 dual inhibition in pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer exhibits pronounced glutamine
dependency, but monotherapeutic use of the glutaminase inhibitor CB-839 faces
limitations due to adaptive metabolic reprogramming. This study demonstrates
that while CB-839 suppresses tumor cell proliferation, it concurrently
activates the GCN2-ATF4 signaling axis. ATF4 upregulates the glutamine
transporter ASCT2, facilitating nutrient uptake and stress survival. Combination
treatment with CB-839 and the ASCT2 inhibitor V-9302 disrupts this compensatory
mechanism, inducing apoptosis. The dual targeting strategy synergistically
reduces pancreatic cancer cell viability, underscoring GLS1 and ASCT2 as
pivotal therapeutic targets. These results suggest co-inhibition of GLS and
ASCT2 to counteract metabolic plasticity and improve clinical outcomes.
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