Identification of FASN-Dependent Onco-Metabolic Regulation of the Pentose Phosphate Pathway (PPP) and Nucleotide Metabolism in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) (ASH 2019)
FASN small molecule inhibitors cerulenin, orlistat, TVB3657 and TVB3166 were evaluated using a diverse panel of B cell NHL lines and primary NHL cells for the impact on FASN inhibition signaling & induction of cell death (MTT, caspases & AnnexinV/PI)...All responses were sensitive to inhibition by PI3K inhibition (e.g., BKM120) with co-targeting via FASN & PI3K inhibition resulting in markedly increased oxidative stress, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential & synergistic cell death in NHL cell lines and primary NHL cells... Taken together, FASN oncogenic activity appears to extend beyond de novo fatty acid biosynthesis, serving as a central onco-metabolic regulator of malignant cell proliferation vis-à-vis integrating glucose, nucleotides, and antioxidant metabolic functions in NHL. In addition, co-targeting FASN and PI3K induced synergistic cell death. Altogether, blocking FASN and the dependent onco-metabolic functions represent highly novel targets for therapeutic strategies in NHL.