Enterocyte-like differentiation defines metabolic gene signatures of CMS3 colorectal cancers and provides therapeutic vulnerability

Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) is stratified into four consensus molecular subtypes (CMS1-4). CMS3 represents the metabolic subtype, but its wiring remains largely undefined. To identify the underlying tumorigenesis of CMS3, organoids derived from 16 genetically engineered mouse models are analyze...

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Main Authors: Arezo Torang, Aleksandar B. Kirov, Veerle Lammers, Kate Cameron, Valérie M. Wouters, Rene F. Jackstadt, Tamsin R. M. Lannagan, Joan H. de Jong, Jan Koster, Owen Sansom, Jan Paul Medema
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55574-3
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author Arezo Torang
Aleksandar B. Kirov
Veerle Lammers
Kate Cameron
Valérie M. Wouters
Rene F. Jackstadt
Tamsin R. M. Lannagan
Joan H. de Jong
Jan Koster
Owen Sansom
Jan Paul Medema
author_facet Arezo Torang
Aleksandar B. Kirov
Veerle Lammers
Kate Cameron
Valérie M. Wouters
Rene F. Jackstadt
Tamsin R. M. Lannagan
Joan H. de Jong
Jan Koster
Owen Sansom
Jan Paul Medema
author_sort Arezo Torang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) is stratified into four consensus molecular subtypes (CMS1-4). CMS3 represents the metabolic subtype, but its wiring remains largely undefined. To identify the underlying tumorigenesis of CMS3, organoids derived from 16 genetically engineered mouse models are analyzed. Upon in vitro Cre-recombinase activation, transformation is established and transcriptional profiling reveals that distinct CMSs (CMS2-4) are modeled with different organoids. CMS3-like, metabolic signature-positive, organoids are induced by KRAS mutations. Interestingly, metabolic signatures are subsequently shown to result from enterocyte-like differentiation both in organoids and human cancers. Further analysis reveals carbamoyl-phosphate synthase 1 (CPS1) and sucrase-isomaltase (SI) as signature proteins. More importantly, CPS1 is crucial for de novo pyrimidine synthesis in CMS3 and its inhibition targets proliferation and stemness, facilitating enterocyte-like differentiation, while CMS2 and CMS4 models are not affected. Our data point to an enterocyte-like differentiation of CMS3 CRCs and reveal a selective vulnerability of this subtype through CPS1 inhibition.
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spelling doaj-art-d30874535a2f4405a197ebf7d3ce5dd42025-08-20T02:46:00ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-01-0116111610.1038/s41467-024-55574-3Enterocyte-like differentiation defines metabolic gene signatures of CMS3 colorectal cancers and provides therapeutic vulnerabilityArezo Torang0Aleksandar B. Kirov1Veerle Lammers2Kate Cameron3Valérie M. Wouters4Rene F. Jackstadt5Tamsin R. M. Lannagan6Joan H. de Jong7Jan Koster8Owen Sansom9Jan Paul Medema10Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, University of AmsterdamLaboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, University of AmsterdamLaboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, University of AmsterdamLaboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, University of AmsterdamLaboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, University of AmsterdamHeidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM gGmbH)Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute, Garscube EstateLaboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, University of AmsterdamLaboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, University of AmsterdamCancer Research UK Scotland Institute, Garscube EstateLaboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, University of AmsterdamAbstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) is stratified into four consensus molecular subtypes (CMS1-4). CMS3 represents the metabolic subtype, but its wiring remains largely undefined. To identify the underlying tumorigenesis of CMS3, organoids derived from 16 genetically engineered mouse models are analyzed. Upon in vitro Cre-recombinase activation, transformation is established and transcriptional profiling reveals that distinct CMSs (CMS2-4) are modeled with different organoids. CMS3-like, metabolic signature-positive, organoids are induced by KRAS mutations. Interestingly, metabolic signatures are subsequently shown to result from enterocyte-like differentiation both in organoids and human cancers. Further analysis reveals carbamoyl-phosphate synthase 1 (CPS1) and sucrase-isomaltase (SI) as signature proteins. More importantly, CPS1 is crucial for de novo pyrimidine synthesis in CMS3 and its inhibition targets proliferation and stemness, facilitating enterocyte-like differentiation, while CMS2 and CMS4 models are not affected. Our data point to an enterocyte-like differentiation of CMS3 CRCs and reveal a selective vulnerability of this subtype through CPS1 inhibition.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55574-3
spellingShingle Arezo Torang
Aleksandar B. Kirov
Veerle Lammers
Kate Cameron
Valérie M. Wouters
Rene F. Jackstadt
Tamsin R. M. Lannagan
Joan H. de Jong
Jan Koster
Owen Sansom
Jan Paul Medema
Enterocyte-like differentiation defines metabolic gene signatures of CMS3 colorectal cancers and provides therapeutic vulnerability
Nature Communications
title Enterocyte-like differentiation defines metabolic gene signatures of CMS3 colorectal cancers and provides therapeutic vulnerability
title_full Enterocyte-like differentiation defines metabolic gene signatures of CMS3 colorectal cancers and provides therapeutic vulnerability
title_fullStr Enterocyte-like differentiation defines metabolic gene signatures of CMS3 colorectal cancers and provides therapeutic vulnerability
title_full_unstemmed Enterocyte-like differentiation defines metabolic gene signatures of CMS3 colorectal cancers and provides therapeutic vulnerability
title_short Enterocyte-like differentiation defines metabolic gene signatures of CMS3 colorectal cancers and provides therapeutic vulnerability
title_sort enterocyte like differentiation defines metabolic gene signatures of cms3 colorectal cancers and provides therapeutic vulnerability
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55574-3
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