[PDF][PDF] Inhibition of the glycolytic activator PFKFB3 in endothelium induces tumor vessel normalization, impairs metastasis, and improves chemotherapy

AR Cantelmo, LC Conradi, A Brajic, J Goveia… - Cancer cell, 2016 - cell.com
AR Cantelmo, LC Conradi, A Brajic, J Goveia, J Kalucka, A Pircher, P Chaturvedi, J Hol
Cancer cell, 2016cell.com
Abnormal tumor vessels promote metastasis and impair chemotherapy. Hence, tumor vessel
normalization (TVN) is emerging as an anti-cancer treatment. Here, we show that tumor
endothelial cells (ECs) have a hyper-glycolytic metabolism, shunting intermediates to
nucleotide synthesis. EC haplo-deficiency or blockade of the glycolytic activator PFKFB3 did
not affect tumor growth, but reduced cancer cell invasion, intravasation, and metastasis by
normalizing tumor vessels, which improved vessel maturation and perfusion …
Summary
Abnormal tumor vessels promote metastasis and impair chemotherapy. Hence, tumor vessel normalization (TVN) is emerging as an anti-cancer treatment. Here, we show that tumor endothelial cells (ECs) have a hyper-glycolytic metabolism, shunting intermediates to nucleotide synthesis. EC haplo-deficiency or blockade of the glycolytic activator PFKFB3 did not affect tumor growth, but reduced cancer cell invasion, intravasation, and metastasis by normalizing tumor vessels, which improved vessel maturation and perfusion. Mechanistically, PFKFB3 inhibition tightened the vascular barrier by reducing VE-cadherin endocytosis in ECs, and rendering pericytes more quiescent and adhesive (via upregulation of N-cadherin) through glycolysis reduction; it also lowered the expression of cancer cell adhesion molecules in ECs by decreasing NF-κB signaling. PFKFB3-blockade treatment also improved chemotherapy of primary and metastatic tumors.
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