Leff, C. L. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2025

Synergistic targeting of cancer cells through simultaneous inhibition of key metabolic enzymes

As cancer cell specific rewiring of metabolic networks creates potential therapeutic opportunities, we conducted a synthetic lethal screen utilizing inhibitors of metabolic pathways. Simultaneous administration of (R)-GNE-140 and BMS-986205 (Linrodostat) preferentially halted proliferation of ovarian cancer cells, but not of their non-oncogenically transformed progenitor cells. While (R)-GNE-140 inhibits lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)A/B and thus effective glycolysis, BMS-986205, in addition to its known inhibitory activity on Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1), also restricts oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), as revealed here. BMS-986205, which is being tested in multiple Phase III clinical trials, inhibits the ubiquinone reduction site of respiratory complex I and thus compromises mitochondrial ATP production. The energetic catastrophe caused by simultaneous interference with glycolysis and OXPHOS resulted in either cell death or the induction of senescence in tumor cells, with the latter being eliminated by senolytics. The frequent synergy observed with combined inhibitor treatment was comprehensively confirmed through testing on tumor cell lines from the DepMap panel and on human colorectal cancer organoids. These experiments revealed highly synergistic activity of the compounds in a third of the tested tumor cell lines, correlating with alterations in genes with known roles in metabolic regulation and demonstrating the therapeutic potential of metabolic intervention.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Sensing of extracellular ATP via P2RX7 drives lung tumor growth through regulatory T cell suppressive function

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and, despite treatment advances, immune suppression remains an obstacle to effective therapy. Effector CD4+ T cells (CD4+ Teffs) are critical for antitumor immunity, but their function is often inhibited by regulatory T cells (Tregs), which accumulate in lung tumors and perform suppressive functions through multiple mechanisms. This suppression leads to tumor progression and poor patient outcomes. However, the mechanisms underlying Treg-mediated suppression are not fully understood. Here, we identify the extracellular ATP receptor P2RX7 as a key regulator of Treg function in lung tumors. Using a murine lung cancer model induced by Lewis lung carcinoma cells, we demonstrate that P2RX7 enhances the suppressive capacity of tumor-infiltrating Tregs, promoting tumor growth. In T cell-specific P2RX7-KO mice, reduced Treg infiltration was accompanied by increased CD4+ Teff accumulation and improved tumor control. Treg-specific P2RX7-KO mice exhibit reduced tumor growth, confirming a cell-intrinsic role of P2RX7 in Tregs. Suppression assays revealed that tumor-infiltrating WT Tregs have greater suppressive activity compared to P2RX7-KO Tregs, which failed to inhibit type 1 and Tfh-like responses. This was associated with increased tumor-specific IgG production by lung B cells in P2RX7-KO mice. We also observed that WT Tregs express higher levels of the immunosuppressive surface molecule CTLA-4 when compared to P2RX7-KO Tregs. In summary, we show that P2RX7 expression on Tregs is essential for their suppressive function in lung cancer, and targeting of P2RX7 may constitute a novel strategy to improve lung cancer treatment by alleviating Treg-mediated immune suppression.

immunology↗