Liaño-Pons Judit, Garde-Lapido Elisa, Fahrig Fenja L, Jäckering Merle, Yuan Ye, Andersson Stina, Schort Lea, Esteve Maria, Mohlin Sofie, Bedoya-Reina Oscar C, Arsenian-Henriksson Marie
Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm SE-171 65, Sweden.
Division of Pediatrics, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund SE-221 45, Sweden.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Jun 24;122(25):e2427211122. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2427211122. Epub 2025 Jun 18.
Neuroblastoma (NB) is a heterogeneous childhood cancer, characterized by the amplification of the oncogene in 40% of the high-risk cases. Our previous work demonstrated that MYCN drives metabolic reprogramming in NB, including upregulation of antioxidant enzymes. Here, we identify peroxiredoxin 6 (PRDX6) as a promising therapeutic target in NB. Pharmacological inhibition of PRDX6 reduces MYCN levels, induces apoptosis, and promotes neuronal differentiation accompanied by lipid droplet accumulation, essential for the phenotypic reprogramming. Moreover, combined inhibition of PRDX6 and glutathione S-transferase Pi 1 (GSTP1), a key antioxidant enzyme needed for PRDX6 activation, demonstrated synergistic effects both in vitro and in vivo. This strategy results in neuronal maturation as well as activity and initiates downstream pathways distinct from the ones triggered by retinoic acid, the differentiation-inducing agent currently used in clinical practice for NB. Notably, both and are highly expressed in the developing murine adrenal gland, as well as in high-risk, -amplified NB, correlating with an undifferentiated state and poor prognosis. Together, our results provide insights into the potential of PRDX6 and GSTP1 as therapeutic targets for differentiation induction for children with NB.
神经母细胞瘤(NB)是一种异质性儿童癌症,在40%的高危病例中其特征为致癌基因的扩增。我们之前的研究表明,MYCN驱动NB中的代谢重编程,包括抗氧化酶的上调。在此,我们确定过氧化物还原酶6(PRDX6)是NB中有前景的治疗靶点。对PRDX6的药理学抑制可降低MYCN水平、诱导凋亡,并促进神经元分化,同时伴有脂滴积累,这对表型重编程至关重要。此外,联合抑制PRDX6和谷胱甘肽S-转移酶Pi 1(GSTP1)(PRDX6激活所需的关键抗氧化酶)在体外和体内均显示出协同效应。该策略导致神经元成熟以及活性,并启动与目前临床实践中用于NB的分化诱导剂视黄酸所触发的下游途径不同的下游途径。值得注意的是,PRDX6和GSTP1在发育中的小鼠肾上腺以及高危、MYCN扩增的NB中均高度表达,这与未分化状态和不良预后相关。总之,我们的结果为PRDX6和GSTP1作为NB患儿分化诱导治疗靶点的潜力提供了见解。