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Lipid-Rich Macrophages at the Tumor-Adipose Interface: A New Target for Locally-Invasive Prostate Cancer Therapy

Award Number: R21CA291898
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/18/2024
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2027

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Lipid-Rich Macrophages at the Tumor-Adipose Interface: A New Target for Locally-Invasive Prostate Cancer Therapy - SUMMARY Macrophages are important contributors to the biology of the tumor microenvironment. As tumors penetrate the prostatic capsule they invade a lipid-rich depot known as the peri-prostatic fat (PPF). An ability to utilize this energy source is important for tumor progression. PPF is a white adipose tissue (WAT) that encases the prostate and is a depot of adipocytes and resident macrophages termed adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs). PPF and activated ATMs are relatively understudied components of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Adipose tissues represent a nutrient reservoir from which tumor cells can gain access to adipokines. “Browning” of WAT results in a more vascular and multilocular fat phenotype and it is not clear whether this represents an adaptive metabolic response in PPF to suppress or accelerate tumor growth. There is heterogeneity in lipid availability in the prostate TME: ATMs reside in a lipid-rich storage environment composed primarily of adipocytes whereas tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) inhabit stroma where there is a paucity of adipocytes. Metabolic reprogramming in tumor cells is well documented; however, limited recent studies have reported that ATMs in visceral fat or breast TME can acquire a metabolically activated phenotype (MMe) distinct from the M1/M2 phenotypes. Our preliminary studies identified a potentially critical immuno-metabolic signaling axis in macrophages involving pro-inflammatory receptor interacting protein 140 (RIP140), lipid-regulating fatty acid binding proteins 4/5 (FABP4/5) and Diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) that synthesizes neutral lipids and is required for fat absorption and storage. RIP140, a co-activator of NF-kB, is important for promoting pro- inflammatory cytokines characteristic of M1 activation, in macrophage M1/M2 polarization, and in browning of WAT. Both FABPs and DGAT1 can be regulated in vivo and in vitro using small molecule inhibitors some of which are in development and being tested as potential therapies. The proposed study will investigate a central hypothesis: PPF is a highly dynamic depot, and increased lipid stores in the TME can promote tumor progression by triggering lipid-rich ATMs to secrete pro-tumorigenic cytokines/chemokines and lipid mediators, thus, switching ATMs to a harmful pro-inflammatory MMe phenotype. We will use in vivo and in vitro models to test whether altering DGAT1 or FABP4/5 activity is tumor suppressive. Our aims will define mechanisms regulating the immuno-metabolic axis in ATMs and TAMs in prostate cancer (PCa), and determine whether the MMe phenotype subpopulation is increased in locally invasive PCa. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the role and functional significance of an understudied phenotype, MMe, that merges both inflammatory and lipid signaling pathways in the prostate TME. Targeted therapies will be tested in multicellular organoid cultures and relevant murine xenograft models. Successful completion of these studies will set the stage for more comprehensive pre-clinical investigations and potential translation to the clinic in the medium term.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2026	2024	ENDEAVOR HEALTH CLINICAL OPERATIONS	1301 CENTRAL ST	EVANSTON	IL	60201	COOK	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	000	1	9/18/2026	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $433,157 )
2024	2024	NORTHSHORE UNIVERSITY HEALTHSYSTEM	SUITE 301	EVANSTON	IL	60201	COOK	USA	Cancer Treatment Research	000	1	7/18/2024	NEW	$433,157
														Subtotal = $433,157

Grand Total All Awards = $433,157

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Lipid-Rich Macrophages at the Tumor-Adipose Interface: A New Target for Locally-Invasive Prostate Cancer Therapy

Award Number: R21CA291898

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/18/2024

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2027

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