Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Australia.
Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
Cancer Res. 2024 Jul 15;84(14):2313-2332. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-23-1489.
Solid tumors are highly reliant on lipids for energy, growth, and survival. In prostate cancer, the activity of the androgen receptor (AR) is associated with reprogramming of lipid metabolic processes. Here, we identified acyl-CoA synthetase medium chain family members 1 and 3 (ACSM1 and ACSM3) as AR-regulated mediators of prostate cancer metabolism and growth. ACSM1 and ACSM3 were upregulated in prostate tumors compared with nonmalignant tissues and other cancer types. Both enzymes enhanced proliferation and protected prostate cancer cells from death in vitro, whereas silencing ACSM3 led to reduced tumor growth in an orthotopic xenograft model. ACSM1 and ACSM3 were major regulators of the prostate cancer lipidome and enhanced energy production via fatty acid oxidation. Metabolic dysregulation caused by loss of ACSM1/3 led to mitochondrial oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and cell death by ferroptosis. Conversely, elevated ACSM1/3 activity enabled prostate cancer cells to survive toxic levels of medium chain fatty acids and promoted resistance to ferroptosis-inducing drugs and AR antagonists. Collectively, this study reveals a tumor-promoting function of medium chain acyl-CoA synthetases and positions ACSM1 and ACSM3 as key players in prostate cancer progression and therapy resistance. Significance: Androgen receptor-induced ACSM1 and ACSM3 mediate a metabolic pathway in prostate cancer that enables the utilization of medium chain fatty acids for energy production, blocks ferroptosis, and drives resistance to clinically approved antiandrogens.
实体瘤高度依赖脂质来提供能量、生长和存活。在前列腺癌中,雄激素受体 (AR) 的活性与脂质代谢过程的重编程有关。在这里,我们确定酰基辅酶 A 合成酶中链家族成员 1 和 3 (ACSM1 和 ACSM3) 为 AR 调节的前列腺癌代谢和生长的介质。与非恶性组织和其他癌症类型相比,ACSM1 和 ACSM3 在前列腺肿瘤中上调。两种酶都增强了前列腺癌细胞的增殖,并在体外保护其免于死亡,而沉默 ACSM3 导致原位异种移植模型中的肿瘤生长减少。ACSM1 和 ACSM3 是前列腺癌脂谱的主要调节剂,并通过脂肪酸氧化增强能量产生。ACSM1/3 缺失引起的代谢失调导致线粒体氧化应激、脂质过氧化和铁死亡引起的细胞死亡。相反,升高的 ACSM1/3 活性使前列腺癌细胞能够在中等链脂肪酸的毒性水平下存活,并促进对铁死亡诱导药物和 AR 拮抗剂的耐药性。总的来说,这项研究揭示了中链酰基辅酶 A 合成酶的促肿瘤功能,并将 ACSM1 和 ACSM3 定位为前列腺癌进展和治疗耐药性的关键参与者。意义:雄激素受体诱导的 ACSM1 和 ACSM3 在前列腺癌中介导一种代谢途径,使中链脂肪酸能够用于能量产生,阻止铁死亡,并促使对临床批准的抗雄激素药物产生耐药性。
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024-10
Cancer Res. 2021-4-1
Appl Biochem Biotechnol. 2025-9-2
Biomolecules. 2025-6-6