Inhibition of STAT3-ferroptosis negative regulatory axis suppresses tumor growth and alleviates chemoresistance in gastric cancer

• Published in: Redox biology Vol. 52; p. 102317
• Main Authors: Ouyang, Shumin, Li, Huaxuan, Lou, Linlin, Huang, Qiuyao, Zhang, Zhenhua, Mo, Jianshan, Li, Min, Lu, Jiaye, Zhu, Kai, Chu, Yunjie, Ding, Wen, Zhu, Jianzheng, Lin, Ziyou, Zhong, Lin, Wang, Junjian, Yue, Peibin, Turkson, James, Liu, Peiqing, Wang, Yuanxiang, Zhang, Xiaolei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-06-2022; Elsevier
• Subjects: Cell Line, Tumor; Chemotherapy resistance; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm - genetics; Ferroptosis; Ferroptosis - genetics; Fluorouracil - pharmacology; Gastric cancer; Humans; Research Paper; STAT3 inhibitor; STAT3 Transcription Factor - genetics; STAT3 Transcription Factor - metabolism; Stomach Neoplasms - drug therapy; Stomach Neoplasms - genetics; Stomach Neoplasms - metabolism; Chemotherapy resistance; 4-HNE; PDX; STAT3; Ferroptosis; FPR; FNR; MDA; STAT3 inhibitor; Gastric cancer; 5-FU
• ISSN: 2213-2317; 2213-2317
• DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2022.102317

Chemotherapy is still one of the principal treatments for gastric cancer, but the clinical application of 5-FU is limited by drug resistance. Here, we demonstrate that ferroptosis triggered by STAT3 inhibition may provide a novel opportunity to explore a new effective therapeutic strategy for gastric cancer and chemotherapy resistance. We find that ferroptosis negative regulation (FNR) signatures are closely correlated with the progression and chemoresistance of gastric cancer. FNR associated genes (GPX4, SLC7A11, and FTH1) and STAT3 are upregulated in 5-FU resistant cells and xenografts. Further evidence demonstrates that STAT3 binds to consensus DNA response elements in the promoters of the FNR associated genes (GPX4, SLC7A11, and FTH1) and regulates their expression, thereby establishing a negative STAT3-ferroptosis regulatory axis in gastric cancer. Genetic inhibition of STAT3 activity triggers ferroptosis through lipid peroxidation and Fe2+ accumulation in gastric cancer cells. We further develop a potent and selective STAT3 inhibitor, W1131, which demonstrates significant anti-tumor effects in gastric cancer cell xenograft model, organoids model, and patient-derived xenografts (PDX) model partly by inducing ferroptosis, thus providing a new candidate compound for advanced gastric cancer. Moreover, targeting the STAT3-ferroptosis circuit promotes ferroptosis and restores sensitivity to chemotherapy. Our finding reveals that STAT3 acts as a key negative regulator of ferroptosis in gastric cancer through a multi-pronged mechanism and provides a new therapeutic strategy for advanced gastric cancer and chemotherapy resistance.
Targeting the STAT3-ferroptosis circuit provides a new therapeutic strategy for advanced gastric cancer and chemotherapy resistance. Genetic inhibition of STAT3 triggers iron-dependent oxidative damage of ferroptosis through down-regulation of SLC7A11, GPX4, and FTH1. Novel STAT3 inhibitor W1131 suppresses gastric cancer progression and alleviates chemoresistance partly by induction of ferroptosis. [Display omitted]
•Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of STAT3 triggers ferroptosis by transcriptionlly regulation of GPX4, SLC7A11, and FTH1 in gastric cancer.•A potent and selective STAT3 inhibitor W1131, with strong anti-tumor effects, is developed.•Ferroptosis plays a key role in the progression and chemoresistance of gastric cancer.•Targeting the STAT3-ferroptosis circuit provides a new therapeutic strategy for advanced gastric cancer and chemotherapy resistance.