HOUSTON ― Cancer cells often delete genes that normally suppress tumor formation. These deletions also may extend to neighboring genes, an event known as “collateral lethality,” which may create new options for development of therapies for several cancers.

Scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered that during early cancer development when a common tumor suppressor known as SMAD4 is deleted, a nearby metabolic enzyme gene called malic enzyme 2 (ME2) also is eradicated, suggesting the possibility of malic enzyme inhibitors as a novel therapy approach. Study findings were published in the Jan. 18 online issue of Nature.

“In an effort to expand therapeutic strategies beyond oncogenic targets to those not directly linked to cancer development, we have identified collateral lethal vulnerability in pancreatic cancers that can be targeted pharmacologically in certain patient populations,” said Prasenjit Dey, Ph.D., postdoctoral fellow in Cancer Biology and co-author of the Nature article. “Genomic data across several cancers further suggest this therapeutic strategy may aid many cancer patients, including those with stomach and colon cancers.”

Collateral lethality occurs when tumor suppressor genes are deleted, a nearly universal occurrence in cancer. Correspondingly, a large number of genes with no direct role in tumor progression also are deleted as a result of their proximity to tumor suppressor genes.

SMAD4 is deleted in one-third of pancreatic cancers. The research team found that when the SMAD4 gene is eradicated in mice, it also results in depletion of ME2 levels. The genetic depletion of ME3, a sister gene to ME2, sets off a complex chain of events that ultimately regulates an amino acid group called branched chain amino acid (BCAA), which are crucial to cancer’s ability to thrive. Thus, if a therapy could be developed that inhibits ME3, it might prevent ME2-deleted tumor growth.

“Our work suggests a mechanism for cell lethality involving the regulation of BCAAs as crucial elements in pancreatic cancer by regulating ME3,” said Ronald DePinho, M.D., professor of Cancer Biology, senior author of the Nature paper and president of MD Anderson. “We propose that highly specific ME3 inhibitors could provide an effective therapy for many cancer patients, but more research must be done.”

MD Anderson research team participants included Wen-Ting Liao, Ph.D., Zangdao Lan, M.D., Alina Chen, and Y. Alan Wang, Ph.D., Cancer Biology; Florian Muller, Ph.D., and Nikunj Santani, M.D., Cancer Systems Imaging; Chia Chin Wu, Ph.D., Tony Gutschner, Ph.D., Edward Chang, M.D., Giannicola Genovese, M.D.; Andrea Viale, M.D., Ph.D.; and Giulio Draetta, M.D., Ph.D., Genomic Medicine, and Huamin Wang, M.D., Ph.D., Pathology; Haoqiang Ying, M.D., Ph.D., Molecular and Cellular Oncology; Anirban Maitra, M.B.B.S., Translational Molecular Pathology; and Yaan Kang, M.D., Ph.D., and Jason Fleming, M.D., Surgical Oncology. Rice University, Houston, also participated in the study.

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (P30 CA16672 and NCI P01 CA117969); the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (RP140612); the Department of Defense (W81XWH-14-1-0429); the MD Anderson Bridge Fund; the St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness Research Grant; and Odyssey Fellowships at MD Anderson.

About MD Anderson

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world's most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. The institution’s sole mission is to end cancer for patients and their families around the world. MD Anderson is one of only 45 comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). MD Anderson is ranked No. 1 for cancer care in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” survey. It has ranked as one of the nation’s top two hospitals since the survey began in 1990, and has ranked first for nine of the past 10 years. MD Anderson receives a cancer center support grant from the NCI of the National Institutes of Health (P30 CA016672).