Abstract 4454: Manipulation of the amino acid metabolism promotes therapeutic efficacy through targeting lysosome in glioblastoma

Abstract Nutrients are converted by the body to smaller molecules, which are utilized for both anabolic and catabolic reactions. Cooperative regulation of these metabolic processes is critical for maintaining tissue homeostasis. Based on these findings, our group has been focusing on how the regulation of nutrient-driven metabolism controls the malignancy of cancer cells. Metabolic regulation has been considered crucial for cellular adaptation to environmental changes and promoting survival and proliferation. Recent studies showed the successful applications of targeting specific nutrients for cancer therapy. In this study, we developed a new lysosome-targeting therapeutic strategy, centered around the manipulation of the amino acid metabolism for GBM. Using patient-derived GBM cells, we found that lysosomal proteolytic activity is a unique metabolic biomarker representing malignant phenotypes of GBM and that it is closely correlated with the efficacy of current conventional therapy for GBM patients. Furthermore, the MiT/TFE family members, TFEB and TFE3, which are the master regulators of lysosomal biogenesis, controlled malignant progression and therapeutic efficacy in vitro and vivo. Combinatory analyses with clinical patient samples and xenograft models demonstrated that the MiT/TFE family plays a crucial role as a regulator of malignant properties in GBM. Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) glioma dataset, which includes data from patients with Grade 2, 3, and 4 (GBM) gliomas, showed that higher expression of the MiT/TFE family was significantly associated with shorter survival. Interestingly, we discovered that an essential amino acid controls lysosomal biogenesis and membrane integrity by regulation of nitric oxide signaling pathway. Finally, we screened the potential anti-cancer drugs, including temozolomide, exhibiting the synergy effect in amino acid-restriction conditions by conducting a drug screening using a clinically available anti-cancer drug library. Our study demonstrated that lysosomal function, supported by amino acid metabolism, plays a critical role in the regulation of GBM malignant status and proposed precision nutrition as a promising therapeutic approach. Citation Format: Yongwei Jing, Masahiko Kobayashi, Atsushi Hirao. Manipulation of the amino acid metabolism promotes therapeutic efficacy through targeting lysosome in glioblastoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 4454.