In:
Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), Vol. 20, No. 2 ( 2021-02-01), p. 274-283
Abstract:
Liver kinase B1 (LKB1)–inactivated tumors are vulnerable to the disruption of pyrimidine metabolism, and leflunomide emerges as a therapeutic candidate because its active metabolite, A77–1726, inhibits dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, which is essential for de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis. However, it is unclear whether leflunomide inhibits LKB1-inactivated tumors in vivo, and whether its inhibitory effect on the immune system will promote tumor growth. Here, we carried out a comprehensive analysis of leflunomide treatment in various LKB1-inactivated murine xenografts, patient-derived xenografts, and genetically engineered mouse models. We also generated a mouse tumor–derived cancer cell line, WRJ388, that could metastasize to the lung within a month after subcutaneous implantation in all animals. This model was used to assess the ability of leflunomide to control distant metastasis. Leflunomide treatment shrank a HeLa xenograft and attenuated the growth of an H460 xenograft, a patient-derived xenograft, and lung adenocarcinoma in the immune-competent genetically engineered mouse models. Interestingly, leflunomide suppressed tumor growth through at least three different mechanisms. It caused apoptosis in HeLa cells, induced G1 cell-cycle arrest in H460 cells, and promoted S-phase cell-cycle arrest in WRJ388 cells. Finally, leflunomide treatment prevented lung metastasis in 78% of the animals in our novel lung cancer metastasis model. In combination, these results demonstrated that leflunomide utilizes different pathways to suppress the growth of LKB1-inactivated tumors, and it also prevents cancer metastasis at distant sites. Therefore, leflunomide should be evaluated as a therapeutic agent for tumors with LKB1 inactivation.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1535-7163
,
1538-8514
DOI:
10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-20-0567
Language:
English
Publisher:
American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Publication Date:
2021
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2062135-8
SSG:
12
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