UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase regulates hyaluronic acid production and promotes breast cancer progression.

ABSTRACT: An improved understanding of the biochemical alterations that accompany tumor progression and metastasis is necessary to inform the next generation of diagnostic tools and targeted therapies. Metabolic reprogramming is known to occur during the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process that promotes metastasis. Here, we identify metabolic enzymes involved in extracellular matrix remodeling that are upregulated during EMT and are highly expressed in patients with aggressive mesenchymal-like breast cancer. Activation of EMT significantly increases production of hyaluronic acid, which is enabled by the reprogramming of glucose metabolism. Using genetic and pharmacological approaches, we show that depletion of the hyaluronic acid precursor UDP-glucuronic acid is sufficient to inhibit

SUBMITTER: Arnold JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6960374 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature