Abstract 1562: HMGA2 regulates GPX4 expression and oxidative stress

Abstract Prostate cancer (PCa) is a leading cause of mortality, primarily due to its ability to metastasize to the bone. The High Mobility Group AT-Hook 2 (HMGA2) plays a crucial role in regulating gene expression and has been implicated in tumorigenesis and the metastatic process. Our recent study revealed that overexpression of the wild-type/full-length HMGA2 isoform in PCa cells promotes cancer progression by triggering epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), whereas truncated HMGA2 isoform promotes progression through oxidative stress signaling. We hypothesize that HMGA2 regulates GPX4 expression and oxidative stress in PCa. We studied the expression of HMGA2 and GPX4 in various PCa cell lines including enzalutamide resistant cell line (C4-2B MDVR), LNCaP cells overexpressing HMGA2 isoforms (wild type and truncated HMGA2). Our analysis of HMGA2 and GPX4 expression in diverse PCa cell lines, shows an inverse relationship between HMGA2 and GPX4 levels. Elevated HMGA2 expression coincides with reduced GPX4 expression, leading to heightened oxidative stress and susceptibility to ferroptosis. Moreover, treatment of enzalutamide resistant cell line C4-2B MDVR with ferroptosis inducer RSL3, further suppresses GPX4 expression, resulting in decreased cell proliferation. Our results unveils the intricate relationship between HMGA2, GPX4 regulation and oxidative stress in the context of prostate cancer progression. Exploiting this oxidative stress pathway offers a promising therapeutic approach for cancer treatment, especially for enzalutamide-resistant cancer cells. Acknowledgements: These studies were supported by NIH/NIGMS/RISE SR25GM060414 and NIH/NIMHD 2U54MD007590; 5U54MD013376. Citation Format: Precious Elechi Dike, Taaliah Campbell, Mojisoluwa Awolowo, Valerie Odero-Marah. HMGA2 regulates GPX4 expression and oxidative stress [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1562.