Metabolic profiling of patient-derived organoids reveals nucleotide synthesis as a metabolic vulnerability in malignant rhabdoid tumors

Abstract

Malignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) is one of the most aggressive childhood cancers for which no effective treatment options are available. Reprogramming of cellular metabolism is an important hallmark of cancer, with various metabolism-based drugs being approved as a cancer treatment. In this study, we use patient-derived tumor organoids (tumoroids) to map the metabolic landscape of several pediatric cancers. Combining gene expression analyses and metabolite profiling using mass spectrometry, we find nucleotide biosynthesis to be a particular vulnerability of MRT. Treatment of MRT tumoroids with de novo nucleotide synthesis inhibitors methotrexate (MTX) and BAY-2402234 lowers nucleotide levels in MRT tumoroids and induces apoptosis. Lastly, we demonstrate in vivo efficacy of MTX in MRT patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models. Our study reveals nucleotide biosynthesis as an MRT-specific metabolic vulnerability, which can ultimately lead to better treatment options for children suffering from this lethal pediatric malignancy.