CSIG-02. NRF2-GUIDED GLUTATHIONE SYNTHESIS IS AN ESSENTIAL METABOLIC PATHWAY IN IN IDH1-MUTATED GLIOMA

Abstract BACKGROUND Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutations are common genetic abnormalities in WHO Grade II/III glioma, which result in the reprogramming of cellular metabolism and redox homeostasis. Many lines of evidence showed that IDH mutations are critical for glioma formation, whereas the therapeutic options for IDH-mutated cancers remain limited. METHODS In the present study, we used the patient-derived glioma cell lines to investigate the role of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) governed glutathione de novo synthesis. Further, we evaluated the therapeutic value of NRF2 inhibitors in IDH1-mutated cells and preclinical orthotopic models. RESULTS The neomorphic activity of mutant IDH reprogrammed the metabolic pathways involving enzyme cofactors such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP). The depletion of NAD(P) in IDH1-mutated cells resulted in elevated oxidative stress and constitutive activation of NRF2-governed cytoprotective pathways through the decoupling of NRF2 from its E3 ligase Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1). Activation of NRF2 enhanced glutathione synthesis by enhancing the gene transcription of GCLC, GCLM, and SLC7A11, which are the critical for glutathione de novo synthesis. Further, evidence from both in vitro assays and patient cohort indicated that NRF2 governed glutathione synthesis is important for maintaining the redox homeostasis and cell survival, especially in IDH1-mutated glioma. Finally, Blockade of the NRF2/glutathione metabolic pathway exhibited synergistic cytotoxicity with the metabolic stress in IDH1-mutated cells, which results in overwhelming oxidative damage, as well as a substantial reduction in tumor cell proliferation and xenograft expansion. CONCLUSION In this study, we highlighted that NRF2 plays critical roles in the disease progression of IDH1-mutated glioma by prompting glutathione synthesis. Targeting NRF2 governed glutathione metabolism could serve as a valuable synthetic lethality approach for IDH1-mutated malignancies.