Inhibition of fatty acid synthase suppresses c-Met receptor kinase and induces apoptosis in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Mol Cancer Ther. 2010 May;9(5):1244-55. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-09-1061. Epub 2010 Apr 27.

Abstract

Fatty acid synthase (FASN), the enzyme responsible for de novo synthesis of fatty acids, has emerged as a potential therapeutic target for several cancers; however, its role in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the role of FASN in a large series of DLBCL tissues in a tissue microarray (TMA) format followed by in vitro studies using DLBCL cell lines. FASN was found to be expressed in 62.6% DLBCL samples and was seen in highly proliferative tumors, manifested by high Ki67 (P < 0.0001). Significant association was found between tumors expressing high FASN and c-Met tyrosine kinase (P < 0.0002), as well as p-AKT (P = 0.0309). In vitro, pharmacological FASN inhibition and small interference RNA (siRNA) targeted against FASN triggered caspase-dependent apoptosis and suppressed expression of c-Met kinase in DLBCL cell lines, which further highlighted the molecular link between FASN and c-Met kinase. Finally, simultaneous targeting of FASN and c-Met with specific chemical inhibitors induced a synergistically stimulated apoptotic response in DLBCL cell lines. These findings provide evidence that FASN, via c-Met tyrosine kinase, plays a critical role in the carcinogenesis of DLBCL and strongly suggest that targeting FASN may have therapeutic value in treatment of DLBCL.

MeSH terms

  • 4-Butyrolactone / analogs & derivatives*
  • 4-Butyrolactone / pharmacology
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Fatty Acid Synthases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Fatty Acid Synthases / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / metabolism
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / mortality
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacology*
  • Validation Studies as Topic

Substances

  • 4-methylene-2-octyl-5-oxofuran-3-carboxylic acid
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Fatty Acid Synthases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met
  • 4-Butyrolactone