2. Academic Validation
  3. Propafenone facilitates mitochondrial-associated ferroptosis and synergizes with immunotherapy in melanoma

Propafenone facilitates mitochondrial-associated ferroptosis and synergizes with immunotherapy in melanoma

  • J Immunother Cancer. 2024 Nov 24;12(11):e009805. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2024-009805.
Qian Zhou # 1 2 3 4 5,  Yating Dian # 1 2 3 4 5,  Yi He # 1 2 3 4 5,  Lei Yao 6,  Hui Su 1 2 3 4 5,  Yu Meng 1 2 3 4 5,  Yuming Sun 7,  Daishi Li 1 2 3 4 5,  Yixiao Xiong 8,  Furong Zeng # 9,  Xiaowei Liang # 10 2 3 4 5,  Hong Liu # 10 2 3 4 5,  Xiang Chen # 10 2 3 4 5,  Guangtong Deng # 10 2 3 4 5
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
  • 2 National Engineering Research Center of Personalized Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
  • 3 Furong Laboratory, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
  • 4 Hunan Key Laboratory of Skin Cancer and Psoriasis, Hunan Engineering Research Center of Skin Health and Disease, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
  • 5 National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
  • 6 Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
  • 7 Department of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
  • 8 Department of Dermatology, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
  • 9 Department of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China zengflorachn@hotmail.com xiaowei.liang@csu.edu.cn hongliu1014@csu.edu.cn chenxiangck@126.com dengguangtong@csu.edu.cn.
  • 10 Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China zengflorachn@hotmail.com xiaowei.liang@csu.edu.cn hongliu1014@csu.edu.cn chenxiangck@126.com dengguangtong@csu.edu.cn.
  • # Contributed equally.
PMID: 39581704 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2024-009805
Abstract

Background: Despite the successful application of immunotherapy, both innate and acquired resistance are typical in melanoma. Ferroptosis induction appears to be a potential strategy to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy. However, the relationship between the status of Ferroptosis and the effectiveness of immunotherapy, as well as viable strategies to augment Ferroptosis, remains unclear.

Methods: A screening of 200 cardiovascular drugs obtained from the Food and Drug Administration-approved drug library was conducted to identify the potential Ferroptosis sensitizer. In vitro and in vivo experiments explored the effects of propafenone on Ferroptosis in melanoma. Animal models and transcriptomic analyses evaluated the therapeutic effects and survival benefits of propafenone combined with Immune Checkpoint blockades (ICBs). The relationship between propafenone targets and the efficacy of ICBs was validated using the Xiangya melanoma data set and publicly available clinical data sets.

Results: Through large-scale drug screening of cardiovascular drugs, we identified propafenone, an anti-arrhythmia medication, as capable of synergizing with Ferroptosis inducers in melanoma. Furthermore, we observed that propafenone, in combination with Glutathione Peroxidase 4 inhibitor RSL3, collaboratively induces mitochondrial-associated Ferroptosis. Mechanistically, propafenone transcriptionally upregulates mitochondrial heme oxygenase 1 through the activation of the Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/JUN signaling pathway under RSL3 treatment, leading to overloaded ferrous iron and Reactive Oxygen Species within the mitochondria. In xenograft models, the combination of propafenone and Ferroptosis induction led to nearly complete tumor regression and prolonged survival. Consistently, propafenone enhances immunotherapy-induced tumorous Ferroptosis and antitumor immunity in tumor-bearing mice. Significantly, patients exhibiting high levels of Ferroptosis/JUN/HMOX1 exhibited improved efficacy of immunotherapy and prolonged progression-free survival.

Conclusions: Taken together, our findings suggest that propafenone holds promise as a candidate drug for enhancing the efficacy of immunotherapy and Other ferroptosis-targeted therapies in the treatment of melanoma.

Keywords

Immunotherapy; Melanoma.

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