Journal
Cancer Discovery, 2021
Authors
Hai-Feng Zhang, Christopher S Hughes, Wei Li, Jian-Zhong He, Didier Surdez, Amal M El-Naggar, Hongwei Cheng, Anna Prudova, Alberto Delaidelli, Gian Luca Negri, Xiaojun Li, Maj Sofie Orum-Madsen, Michael M Lizardo, Htoo Zarni Oo, Shane Colborne, Taras Shyp, Renata Scopim-Ribeiro, Colin A Hammond, Anne-Chloe Dhez, Sofya Langman, Jonathan Km Lim, Sonia Hy Kung, Amy Li, Anne Steino, Mads Daugaard, Seth J Parker, Ramon I Klein Geltink, Rimas J Orentas, Li-Yan Xu, Gregg B Morin, Olivier Delattre, Dimiter S Dimitrov, Poul H Sorensen

Cancer cells must overcome anoikis (detachment-induced death) to successfully metastasize. Using proteomic screens, we found that distinct oncoproteins upregulate IL-1 receptor accessory protein (IL1RAP) to suppress anoikis. IL1RAP is directly induced by oncogenic fusions of Ewing sarcoma (EwS), a highly metastatic childhood sarcoma. IL1RAP inactivation triggers anoikis and impedes metastatic dissemination of EwS cells. Mechanistically, IL1RAP binds the cell surface system Xc- transporter to enhance exogenous cystine uptake, thereby replenishing cysteine and the glutathione antioxidant. Under cystine depletion, IL1RAP induces cystathionine gamma lyase (CTH) to activate the transsulfuration pathway for de novo cysteine synthesis. Therefore IL1RAP maintains cyst(e)ine and glutathione pools which are vital for redox homeostasis and anoikis resistance. IL1RAP is minimally expressed in pediatric and adult normal tissues, and human anti-IL1RAP antibodies induce potent antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity of EwS cells. Therefore, we define IL1RAP as a new cell surface target in EwS, which is potentially exploitable for immunotherapy.

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