Targeting YAP Activity and Glutamine Metabolism Cooperatively Suppresses Tumor Progression by Preventing Extracellular Matrix Accumulation

Abstract

Cancer cells use multiple mechanisms to evade the effects of glutamine metabolism inhibitors. The pathways that govern responses to alterations in glutamine availability within the tumor may represent therapeutic targets for combinatorial strategies with these inhibitors. Here, we showed that targeting glutamine utilization stimulated Yes-associated protein (YAP) signaling in cancer cells by reducing cyclic adenosine monophosphate/protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent phosphorylation of large tumor suppressor (LATS). Elevated YAP activation induced extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition by increasing the secretion of connective tissue growth factor that promoted the production of fibronectin and collagen by surrounding fibroblasts. Consequently, inhibiting YAP synergized with inhibition of glutamine utilization to effectively suppress tumor growth in vivo, along with a concurrent decrease in ECM deposition. Blocking ECM remodeling also augmented the tumor suppressive effects of the glutamine utilization inhibitor. Collectively, these data reveal mechanisms by which targeting glutamine utilization increases ECM accumulation and identify potential strategies to reduce ECM levels and increase the efficacy of glutamine metabolism inhibitors. Significance: Blocking glutamine utilization activates YAP to promote ECM deposition by fibroblasts, highlighting the potential of YAP inhibitors and antifibrotic strategies as promising approaches for effective combination metabolic therapies in cancer.