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Abstract Ample evidence reveals that glycolysis is crucial to tumor progression; however, the underlying mechanism of its drug resistance is still worth being further explored. TRAF6, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, is well recognized to overexpress in various types of cancer, which predicts a poor prognosis. In our study, we discovered that TRAF6 was expressed more significantly in the case of triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) than in other of breast cancers, promoting chemoresistance to paclitaxel; that inhibited TRAF6 expression in the chemoresistant TNBC (TNBC‐CR) cells enhanced the sensitivity by decreasing glucose uptake and lactate production; that TRAF6 regulated glycolysis and facilitated chemoresistance via binding directly to PKM2; and that overexpressing PKM2 in the TNBC‐CR cells with TRAF6 knocked down regained significantly TRAF6‐dependent drug resistance and glycolysis. Additionally, we verified that TRAF6 could facilitate PKM2‐mediated glycolysis and chemoresistance in animal models and clinical tumor tissues. Thus, we identified the novel function of TRAF6 to promote glycolysis and drug resistance in TNBC with the regulation of PKM2, which could provide a potential molecular target for TNBC treatment.

Abstract Background Chemotherapy resistance is a primary reason of ovarian cancer therapy failure; hence it is important to investigate the underlying mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance and develop novel potential therapeutic targets. Methods RNA sequencing of cisplatin‐resistant and ‐sensitive (chemoresistant and chemosensitive, respectively) ovarian cancer organoids was performed, followed by detection of the expression level of fibrillin‐1 (FBN1) in organoids and clinical specimens of ovarian cancer. Subsequently, glucose metabolism, angiogenesis, and chemosensitivity were analyzed in structural glycoprotein FBN1‐knockout cisplatin‐resistant ovarian cancer organoids and cell lines. To gain insights into the specific functions and mechanisms of action of FBN1 in ovarian cancer, immunoprecipitation, silver nitrate staining, mass spectrometry, immunofluorescence, Western blotting, and Fӧrster resonance energy transfer‐fluorescence lifetime imaging analyses were performed, followed by in vivo assays using vertebrate model systems of nude mice and zebrafish. Results FBN1 expression was significantly enhanced in cisplatin‐resistant ovarian cancer organoids and tissues, indicating that FBN1 might be a key factor in chemoresistance of ovarian cancer. We also discovered that FBN1 sustained the energy stress and induced angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo, which promoted the cisplatin‐resistance of ovarian cancer. Knockout of FBN1 combined with treatment of the antiangiogenic drug apatinib improved the cisplatin‐sensitivity of ovarian cancer cells. Mechanistically, FBN1 mediated the phosphorylation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) at the Tyr1054 residue, which activated its downstream focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/protein kinase B (PKB or AKT) pathway, induced the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 2 (STAT2) at the tyrosine residue 690 (Tyr690), promoted the nuclear translocation of STAT2, and ultimately altered the expression of genes associated with STAT2‐mediated angiogenesis and glycolysis. Conclusions The FBN1/VEGFR2/STAT2 signaling axis may induce chemoresistance of ovarian cancer cells by participating in the process of glycolysis and angiogenesis. The present study suggested a novel FBN1‐targeted therapy and/or combination of FBN1 inhibition and antiangiogenic drug for treating ovarian cancer.

Abstract Background Although programmed cell death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1) plays a well‐known function in immune checkpoint response by interacting with programmed cell death‐1 (PD‐1), the cell‐intrinsic role of PD‐L1 in tumors is still unclear. Here, we explored the molecular regulatory mechanism of PD‐L1 in the progression and metastasis of ovarian cancer. Methods Immunohistochemistry of benign tissues and ovarian cancer samples was performed, followed by migration, invasion, and angiogenesis assays in PD‐L1‐knockdown ovarian cancer cells. Immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, and chromatin immunoprecipitation were conducted along with zebrafish and mouse experiments to explore the specific functions and mechanisms of PD‐L1 in ovarian cancer. Results Our results showed that PD‐L1 induced angiogenesis, which further promoted cell migration and invasion in vitro and in vivo of ovarian cancer. Mechanistically, PD‐L1 was identified to directly interact with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor‐2 (VEGFR2) and then activated the FAK/AKT pathway, which further induced angiogenesis and tumor progression, leading to poor prognosis of ovarian cancer patients. Meanwhile, PD‐L1 was found to be regulated by the oncogenic transcription factor c‐JUN at the transcriptional level, which enhanced the expression of PD‐L1 in ovarian cancer. Furthermore, we demonstrated that PD‐L1 inhibitor durvalumab, combined with the antiangiogenic drug, apatinib, could enhance the effect of anti‐angiogenesis and the inhibition of cell migration and invasion. Conclusion Our results demonstrated that PD‐L1 promoted the angiogenesis and metastasis of ovarian cancer by participating in the c‐JUN/VEGFR2 signaling axis, suggesting that the combination of PD‐L1 inhibitor and antiangiogenic drugs may be considered as a potential therapeutic approach for ovarian cancer patients.