Enhanced Glycolysis Supports Cell Survival in EGFR-Mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma by Inhibiting Autophagy-Mediated EGFR Degradation

Oncogenic EGFR is essential for the development and growth of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but the precise roles of EGFR in lung cancer metabolism remain unclear. Here, we show that EGFR mutation-mediated enhancement of glycolysis is critical for EGFR stability. EGFR knockdown significantly decreased levels of glycolytic pathway intermediates via transcriptional regulation of glycolytic genes. EGFR mutation-enhanced glycolysis was required for fueling the tricarboxylic acid cycle, a critical component of EGFR stability. Nonsustained ATP production enhanced reactive oxygen species accumulation and subsequent JNK-mediated activation of autophagy, which in turn induced EGFR degradation. Our data show that EGFR-mutant NSCLCs require EGFR mutation-enhanced glycolysis to maintain EGFR stability. This pathway may serve as an attractive therapeutic target for EGFR-mutant NSCLCs.Significance: Enhanced glycolysis by EGFR mutation is required for maintaining EGFR levels via inhibition of JNK-induced autophagy. This provides a promising rationale for use of JNK activators in patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC. Cancer Res; 78(16); 4482–96. ©2018 AACR.

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