G6PD inhibition sensitizes ovarian cancer cells to oxidative stress in the metastatic omental microenvironment

Cell Rep. 2022 Jun 28;39(13):111012. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111012.

Abstract

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most lethal gynecological malignancy, with aggressive metastatic disease responsible for the majority of OC-related deaths. In particular, OC tumors preferentially metastasize to and proliferate rapidly in the omentum. Here, we show that metastatic OC cells experience increased oxidative stress in the omental microenvironment. Metabolic reprogramming, including upregulation of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), a key cellular redox homeostasis mechanism, allows OC cells to compensate for this challenge. Inhibition of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), the rate-limiting enzyme of the PPP, reduces tumor burden in pre-clinical models of OC, suggesting that this adaptive metabolic dependency is important for OC omental metastasis.

Keywords: CP: Cancer; CP: Metabolism; metabolism; metastasis; ovarian cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial
  • Female
  • Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Omentum / metabolism
  • Ovarian Neoplasms*
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Pentose Phosphate Pathway
  • Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

  • Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase