Caveolin-1 mediates the utilization of extracellular proteins for survival in refractory gastric cancer

Abstract

Despite advances in cancer therapy, the clinical outcome of patients with gastric cancer remains poor, largely due to tumor heterogeneity. Thus, finding a hidden vulnerability of clinically refractory subtypes of gastric cancer is crucial. Here, we report that chemoresistant gastric cancer cells rely heavily on endocytosis, facilitated by caveolin-1, for survival. caveolin-1 was highly upregulated in the most malignant stem-like/EMT/mesenchymal (SEM)-type gastric cancer cells, allowing caveolin-1-mediated endocytosis and utilization of extracellular proteins via lysosomal degradation. Downregulation of caveolin-1 alone was sufficient to induce cell death in SEM-type gastric cancer cells, emphasizing its importance as a survival mechanism. Consistently, chloroquine, a lysosomal inhibitor, successfully blocked caveolin-1-mediated endocytosis, leading to the marked suppression of tumor growth in chemorefractory gastric cancer cells in vitro, including patient-derived organoids, and in vivo. Together, our findings suggest that caveolin-1-mediated endocytosis is a key metabolic pathway for gastric cancer survival and a potential therapeutic target. A new study reveals that Caveolin-1 (CAV1) is specifically expressed in the most malignant SEM-type gastric cancer (GC), and CAV1-driven endocytosis is a critical survival mechanism of malignant GC. Researchers found that chloroquine (CQ), an anti-malarial drug known to block endocytosis, effectively induced cell death in CAV1-positive SEM-type GC cells by impairing lysosomal activity and extracellular nutrient uptake. In patient-derived organoids and mouse models, CQ treatment significantly reduced tumor growth and improved survival rates, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic alternative for chemo-resistant SEM-type GC patients. The study highlights the importance of targeting endocytosis in cancer treatment and provides new insights into the development of personalized therapies for GC patients.