Gain-of-function mutant p53 and metabolic reprogramming in colorectal cancer

Tumor suppressor p53 plays a central role in tumor prevention. p53 is frequently mutated in human cancer, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Many mutant p53 (mutp53) proteins not only lose tumor suppressive function of wild-type p53, but also gain new oncogenic activities to promote tumorigenesis, which is defined as mutp53 gain-of-function (GOF). Maintaining metabolic homeostasis is a novel and critical mechanism of p53 in tumor suppression. Cancer cells often display lipid metabolic reprogramming, which contributes greatly to cancer progression. Currently, the role and mechanism of mutp53 in cancer metabolic reprogramming are poorly defined. Our preliminary studies suggest that mutp53 drives lipid metabolic reprogramming as a critical GOF in CRC cells, and targeting lipid metabolic reprogramming compromises mutp53 GOF in colorectal tumorigenesis. Based on our preliminary results, we hypothesize that GOF mutp53 drives lipid metabolic reprogramming as a critical mechanism to promote colorectal tumorigenesis, which can be targeted for therapy in CRC carrying mutp53. In this proposed study, we will determine the role (Aim 1) and mechanism (Aim 2) of GOF mutp53 in driving lipid metabolic reprogramming in CRC. We will further assess targeting mutp53-driven lipid metabolic reprogramming as a potential therapeutic strategy for CRC carrying mutp53 (Aim 3). The goal of this study is to determine the mechanism of GOF mutp53 in CRC to provide effective targets and strategies for CRC therapy. Metabolic reprogramming and p53 mutations are common events in cancer, and have become extremely attractive targets for cancer therapy. We expect that the results from this proposed study will deepen our understanding of the role and mechanism of mutp53 in metabolic reprogramming and tumorigenesis, and provide the rationale and base for the development of new therapeutic targets and strategies for cancers carrying mutp53.