Increased Cholesterol Biosynthesis Is a Key Characteristic of Breast Cancer Stem Cells Influencing Patient Outcome.

Cell Rep

Department of Molecular Medicine, Cancer, and Inflammation Research Unit, University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense, Denmark; Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, 5000 Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense, Denmark; Academy of Geriatric Cancer Research (AgeCare), Odense University Hospital, 5000 Odense, Denmark. Electronic address:

Published: June 2019

Tumor eradication may be greatly improved by targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs), as they exhibit resistance to conventional therapy. To gain insight into the unique biology of CSCs, we developed patient-derived xenograft tumors (PDXs) from ER breast cancers from which we isolated mammospheres that are enriched for CSCs. Comparative global proteomic analysis was performed on patient tumor tissues and corresponding PDXs and mammospheres. Mammospheres exhibited increased expression of proteins associated with de novo cholesterol synthesis. The clinical relevance of increased cholesterol biosynthesis was verified in a large breast cancer cohort showing correlation with shorter relapse-free survival. RNAi and chemical inhibition of the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway reduced mammosphere formation, which could be rescued by a downstream metabolite. Our findings identify the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway as central for CSC propagation and a potential therapeutic target, as well as providing a mechanistic explanation for the therapeutic benefit of statins in breast cancer.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2019.05.104DOI Listing

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