EGFR modulates monounsaturated fatty acid synthesis through phosphorylation of SCD1 in lung cancer

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a well-known oncogenic driver, contributes to the initiation and progression of a wide range of cancer types. Aberrant lipid metabolism including highly produced monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) is recognized as a hallmark of cancer. However, how EGFR regulates MUFA synthesis in cancer remains elusive. This is the focus of our study.

The interaction between EGFR and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) was detected byco-immunoprecipitation. SCD1 protein expression, stability and phosphorylation were tested by western blot. The synthesis of MUFA was determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The growth of lung cancer was detected by CCK-8 assay, Annexin V/PI staining, colony formation assay and subcutaneous xenograft assay. The expression of activated EGFR, phosphorylated and total SCD1 was tested by immunohistochemistry in 90 non-small cell lung cancersamples. The clinical correlations were analyzed by Chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis and Cox regression.

EGFR binds to and phosphorylates SCD1 at Y55. Phosphorylation of Y55 is required for maintaining SCD1 protein stability and thus increases MUFA level to facilitate lung cancer growth. Moreover, EGFR-stimulated cancer growth depends on SCD1 activity. Evaluation of non-small cell lung cancersamples reveals a positive correlation among EGFR activation, SCD1 Y55 phosphorylation and SCD1 protein expression. Furthermore, phospho-SCD1 Y55 can serve as an independent prognostic factor for poor patient survival.

Ourstudy demonstrates that EGFR stabilizes SCD1 through Y55 phosphorylation, thereby up-regulating MUFA synthesis to promote lung cancer growth. Thus, we provide the first evidence that SCD1 can be subtly controlled by tyrosine phosphorylation and uncover a previously unknown direct linkage between oncogenic receptor tyrosine kinase and lipid metabolism in lung cancer. We also propose SCD1 Y55 phosphorylation as a potential diagnostic marker for lung cancer.