Research Article

INVESTIGATING THE ANTICANCER EFFECTS OF 3-BROMOPYRUVIC ACID ON METABOLIC ALTERATIONS IN PANCREATIC CANCER CELLS IN VITRO

Volume: 88 Number: 3 July 31, 2025
TR EN

INVESTIGATING THE ANTICANCER EFFECTS OF 3-BROMOPYRUVIC ACID ON METABOLIC ALTERATIONS IN PANCREATIC CANCER CELLS IN VITRO

Abstract

Objective: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive cancers, characterised by a high mortality rate and resistance to chemotherapeutics. Frequent mutations in TP53, SMAD4, and CDKN2A drive metabolic reprogramming and contribute to tumour progression and treatment resistance. Hexokinase 2 (HK2), a key glycolytic enzyme, is commonly overexpressed in PDAC and represents a promising therapeutic target. This study aimed to investigate the anticancer effects of 3-bromopyruvic acid (3-BrPA) on metabolic pathways, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis in BXPC-3 PDAC cells harbouring TP53, SMAD4, and CDKN2A mutations. Material and Methods: BXPC-3 cells were administered with various concentrations of 3-BrPA, and cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay to determine the IC₅₀. The morphological changes were evaluated via light microscopy. HK2 expression and the enzymatic activities of GST, G6PD, 6-PGD, and GR were measured, along with the glutathione redox status and intracellular iron levels. CPT1C activity was additionally assessed to evaluate the metabolic alterations associated with the fatty acid oxidation pathways. Results: 3-BrPA administration significantly decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner and downregulated HK2 expression. It inhibited glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway enzymes, reduced the antioxidant capacity, and elevated oxidative stress markers. These changes were associated with increased intracellular iron levels and decreased GSH/GSSG ratios, indicating the induction of ferroptosis. Furthermore, CPT1C activity was upregulated, indicating increased fatty acid oxidation. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that 3-BrPA disrupts glucose metabolism, induces oxidative stress, and triggers ferroptosis in PDAC cells through HK2 inhibition. This study highlights 3-BrPA’s therapeutic potential in targeting cancer metabolism and ferroptosis.

Keywords

References

  1. Sun Y, Ren D, Zhou Y, Shen J, Wu H, Jin X. Histone acetyltransferase 1 promotes gemcitabine resistance by regulating the PVT1/EZH2 complex in pancreatic cancer. Cell Death Dis 2021;12(10):878. google scholar
  2. Khaira R, Sharma J, Saini V. Development and characterization of nanoparticles for the delivery of gemcitabine hydrochloride. ScientificWorldJournal 2014;2014:560962. google scholar
  3. Ju HQ, Gocho T, Aguilar M, Wu M, Zhuang ZN, Fu J, et al. Mechanisms of overcoming intrinsic resistance to gemcitabine in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma through the redox modulation. Mol Cancer Ther 2015;14(3):788-98. google scholar
  4. Orth M, Metzger, P, Gerum S, Mayerle J, Schneider G, Belka C et al. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: biological hallmarks, current status, and future perspectives of combined modality treatment approaches. Radiation Oncology 2019;14(1):141. google scholar
  5. Liu J, Zhang C, Hu W, Feng Z. Tumor suppressor p53 and metabolism. J Mol Cell Biol 2019;11(4):284-92. google scholar
  6. Liu P, Wang Y, Li X. Targeting the untargetable KRAS in cancer therapy. Acta Pharm Sin B 2019;9(5):871-9. google scholar
  7. Ghanavat M, Shahrouzian M, Deris Zayeri Z, Banihashemi S, Kazemi SM, Saki N. Digging deeper through glucose metabolism and its regulators in cancer and metastasis. Life Sci 2021;264:118603. google scholar
  8. Liu M, Liu W, Qin Y, Xu X, Yu X, Zhuo Q, et al. Regulation of metabolic reprogramming by tumor suppressor genes in pancreatic cancer. Exp Hematol Oncol 2020;9(1):23. google scholar

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Clinical Oncology

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

July 31, 2025

Submission Date

May 21, 2025

Acceptance Date

July 7, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 88 Number: 3

APA
Aydemir, D., & Ulusu, N. (2025). INVESTIGATING THE ANTICANCER EFFECTS OF 3-BROMOPYRUVIC ACID ON METABOLIC ALTERATIONS IN PANCREATIC CANCER CELLS IN VITRO. Journal of Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, 88(3), 207-215. https://doi.org/10.26650/IUITFD.1703970
AMA
1.Aydemir D, Ulusu N. INVESTIGATING THE ANTICANCER EFFECTS OF 3-BROMOPYRUVIC ACID ON METABOLIC ALTERATIONS IN PANCREATIC CANCER CELLS IN VITRO. İst Tıp Fak Derg. 2025;88(3):207-215. doi:10.26650/IUITFD.1703970
Chicago
Aydemir, Duygu, and Nuray Ulusu. 2025. “INVESTIGATING THE ANTICANCER EFFECTS OF 3-BROMOPYRUVIC ACID ON METABOLIC ALTERATIONS IN PANCREATIC CANCER CELLS IN VITRO”. Journal of Istanbul Faculty of Medicine 88 (3): 207-15. https://doi.org/10.26650/IUITFD.1703970.
EndNote
Aydemir D, Ulusu N (July 1, 2025) INVESTIGATING THE ANTICANCER EFFECTS OF 3-BROMOPYRUVIC ACID ON METABOLIC ALTERATIONS IN PANCREATIC CANCER CELLS IN VITRO. Journal of Istanbul Faculty of Medicine 88 3 207–215.
IEEE
[1]D. Aydemir and N. Ulusu, “INVESTIGATING THE ANTICANCER EFFECTS OF 3-BROMOPYRUVIC ACID ON METABOLIC ALTERATIONS IN PANCREATIC CANCER CELLS IN VITRO”, İst Tıp Fak Derg, vol. 88, no. 3, pp. 207–215, July 2025, doi: 10.26650/IUITFD.1703970.
ISNAD
Aydemir, Duygu - Ulusu, Nuray. “INVESTIGATING THE ANTICANCER EFFECTS OF 3-BROMOPYRUVIC ACID ON METABOLIC ALTERATIONS IN PANCREATIC CANCER CELLS IN VITRO”. Journal of Istanbul Faculty of Medicine 88/3 (July 1, 2025): 207-215. https://doi.org/10.26650/IUITFD.1703970.
JAMA
1.Aydemir D, Ulusu N. INVESTIGATING THE ANTICANCER EFFECTS OF 3-BROMOPYRUVIC ACID ON METABOLIC ALTERATIONS IN PANCREATIC CANCER CELLS IN VITRO. İst Tıp Fak Derg. 2025;88:207–215.
MLA
Aydemir, Duygu, and Nuray Ulusu. “INVESTIGATING THE ANTICANCER EFFECTS OF 3-BROMOPYRUVIC ACID ON METABOLIC ALTERATIONS IN PANCREATIC CANCER CELLS IN VITRO”. Journal of Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, vol. 88, no. 3, July 2025, pp. 207-15, doi:10.26650/IUITFD.1703970.
Vancouver
1.Duygu Aydemir, Nuray Ulusu. INVESTIGATING THE ANTICANCER EFFECTS OF 3-BROMOPYRUVIC ACID ON METABOLIC ALTERATIONS IN PANCREATIC CANCER CELLS IN VITRO. İst Tıp Fak Derg. 2025 Jul. 1;88(3):207-15. doi:10.26650/IUITFD.1703970

Contact information and address

Addressi: İ.Ü. İstanbul Tıp Fakültesi Dekanlığı, Turgut Özal Cad. 34093 Çapa, Fatih, İstanbul, TÜRKİYE

Email: itfdergisi@istanbul.edu.tr

Phone: +90 212 414 21 61