Pacritinib inhibits glucose consumption in squamous cell lung cancer cells by targeting FLT3

Abstract Squamous cell lung cancer maintains its growth through elevated glucose consumption, but selective glucose consumption inhibitors are lacking. Here, we discovered using a high-throughput screen new compounds that block glucose consumption in three squamous cell lung cancer cell lines and id...

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Main Authors: Chiara Ghezzi, Bao Ying Chen, Robert Damoiseaux, Peter M. Clark
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2023-01-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-28576-2
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author Chiara Ghezzi
Bao Ying Chen
Robert Damoiseaux
Peter M. Clark
author_facet Chiara Ghezzi
Bao Ying Chen
Robert Damoiseaux
Peter M. Clark
author_sort Chiara Ghezzi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Squamous cell lung cancer maintains its growth through elevated glucose consumption, but selective glucose consumption inhibitors are lacking. Here, we discovered using a high-throughput screen new compounds that block glucose consumption in three squamous cell lung cancer cell lines and identified 79 compounds that block glucose consumption in one or more of these cell lines. Based on its ability to block glucose consumption in all three cell lines, pacritinib, an inhibitor of FMS Related Receptor Tyrosine Kinase 3 (FLT3) and Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2), was further studied. Pacritinib decreased glucose consumption in squamous cell lung cancer cells in cell culture and in vivo without affecting glucose consumption in healthy tissues. Pacritinib blocked hexokinase activity, and Hexokinase 1 and 2 mRNA and protein expression. Overexpression of Hexokinase 1 blocked the ability of pacritinib to inhibit glucose consumption in squamous cell lung cancer cells. Overexpression of FLT3 but not JAK2 significantly increased glucose consumption and blocked the ability of pacritinib to inhibit glucose consumption in squamous cell lung cancer cells. Additional FLT3 inhibitors blocked glucose consumption in squamous cell lung cancer cells. Our study identifies FLT3 inhibitors as a new class of inhibitors that can block glucose consumption in squamous cell lung cancer.
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spelling doaj.art-e4eaa138028548aaaa47529e8164835d2023-01-29T12:09:50ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-01-0113111210.1038/s41598-023-28576-2Pacritinib inhibits glucose consumption in squamous cell lung cancer cells by targeting FLT3Chiara Ghezzi0Bao Ying Chen1Robert Damoiseaux2Peter M. Clark3Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, University of California, Los AngelesCrump Institute for Molecular Imaging, University of California, Los AngelesCrump Institute for Molecular Imaging, University of California, Los AngelesCrump Institute for Molecular Imaging, University of California, Los AngelesAbstract Squamous cell lung cancer maintains its growth through elevated glucose consumption, but selective glucose consumption inhibitors are lacking. Here, we discovered using a high-throughput screen new compounds that block glucose consumption in three squamous cell lung cancer cell lines and identified 79 compounds that block glucose consumption in one or more of these cell lines. Based on its ability to block glucose consumption in all three cell lines, pacritinib, an inhibitor of FMS Related Receptor Tyrosine Kinase 3 (FLT3) and Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2), was further studied. Pacritinib decreased glucose consumption in squamous cell lung cancer cells in cell culture and in vivo without affecting glucose consumption in healthy tissues. Pacritinib blocked hexokinase activity, and Hexokinase 1 and 2 mRNA and protein expression. Overexpression of Hexokinase 1 blocked the ability of pacritinib to inhibit glucose consumption in squamous cell lung cancer cells. Overexpression of FLT3 but not JAK2 significantly increased glucose consumption and blocked the ability of pacritinib to inhibit glucose consumption in squamous cell lung cancer cells. Additional FLT3 inhibitors blocked glucose consumption in squamous cell lung cancer cells. Our study identifies FLT3 inhibitors as a new class of inhibitors that can block glucose consumption in squamous cell lung cancer.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-28576-2
spellingShingle Chiara Ghezzi
Bao Ying Chen
Robert Damoiseaux
Peter M. Clark
Pacritinib inhibits glucose consumption in squamous cell lung cancer cells by targeting FLT3
Scientific Reports
title Pacritinib inhibits glucose consumption in squamous cell lung cancer cells by targeting FLT3
title_full Pacritinib inhibits glucose consumption in squamous cell lung cancer cells by targeting FLT3
title_fullStr Pacritinib inhibits glucose consumption in squamous cell lung cancer cells by targeting FLT3
title_full_unstemmed Pacritinib inhibits glucose consumption in squamous cell lung cancer cells by targeting FLT3
title_short Pacritinib inhibits glucose consumption in squamous cell lung cancer cells by targeting FLT3
title_sort pacritinib inhibits glucose consumption in squamous cell lung cancer cells by targeting flt3
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-28576-2
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AT petermclark pacritinibinhibitsglucoseconsumptioninsquamouscelllungcancercellsbytargetingflt3