Dual lipid modulation overcomes ferroptosis resistance in high-risk neuroblastoma

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • Ine Koeken - , University of Antwerp (Autor:in)
  • Magali Walravens - , University of Antwerp (Autor:in)
  • Roberto Fernández-Acosta - , University of Antwerp (Autor:in)
  • Ruben Van Hoyweghen - , University of Antwerp (Autor:in)
  • Iuliana Vintea - , Ghent University (Autor:in)
  • Yingyi Kong - , Nagoya University (Autor:in)
  • Bianka Golba - , Ghent University (Autor:in)
  • Jonas Dehairs - , KU Leuven (Autor:in)
  • Ali Talebi - , KU Leuven (Autor:in)
  • Johannes V Swinnen - , KU Leuven (Autor:in)
  • Kaat Durinck - , Ghent University (Autor:in)
  • Adriana Mañas - , Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO) (Autor:in)
  • Shinya Toyokuni - , Center for Integrated Sciences of Low‑temperature Plasma Core Research (iPlasma Core) (Autor:in)
  • Gerben Menschaert - , Ghent University (Autor:in)
  • Maria Fedorova - , Zentrum für Membranbiochemie und Lipidforschung (Autor:in)
  • Bruno G De Geest - , Ghent University (Autor:in)
  • Behrouz Hassannia - , Ghent University (Autor:in)
  • Tom Vanden Berghe - , Ghent University (Autor:in)

Abstract

Ferroptosis-an iron-dependent form of cell death triggered by phospholipid peroxidation-has emerged as a promising therapeutic avenue in cancer treatment. Although neuroblastoma (NB) has been identified as a ferroptosis susceptible cancer, our studies reveal striking heterogeneity in ferroptosis sensitivity across high-risk NB models. Through a targeted metabolic compound screen, we identified stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1)-a key enzyme in monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) synthesis-as a robust ferroptosis-sensitizing target. Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of SCD1 restored ferroptosis sensitivity in resistant NB cells. Notably, high SCD1 expression correlates with poor patient prognosis. Co-treatment with arachidonic acid (AA), a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), further enhanced ferroptotic cell death via increased PUFA/MUFA ratio. Nevertheless, neither baseline lipidomic profiles nor transcriptomes of key ferroptosis regulators reliably predicted ferroptosis sensitivity. To overcome AA's poor solubility, we engineered AA-loaded lipid nanoparticles (AA-LNPs), which selectively accumulated in high-risk NB tumors and synergized with SCD1 inhibition. This dual-sensitization strategy, termed LipidSens, significantly suppressed tumor growth and induced ferroptosis in cell-derived xenograft mouse models without systemic toxicity. Together, these findings establish MUFA synthesis blockade and PUFA enrichment as a tumor-targeted, ferroptosis-enhancing strategy, and offer a nanomedicine-based therapeutic platform for high-risk NB.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
FachzeitschriftCell death and differentiation
PublikationsstatusElektronische Veröffentlichung vor Drucklegung - 26 Nov. 2025
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

Scopus 105023072493
ORCID /0000-0002-4692-3885/work/200630949

Schlagworte

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung