The EPRS-ATF4-COLI pathway axis is a potential target for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma therapy

Background Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is recognized as the most aggressive and malignant form of thyroid cancer, underscoring the critical need for effective therapeutic strategies to curb its progression and improve patient prognosis. Halofuginone (HF), a derivative of febrifugine, has displayed antitumor properties across various cancer types. However, there is a paucity of published research focused on the potential of HF to enhance the clinical efficacy of treating ATC. Objective In this study, we thoroughly investigated the antitumor effects and mechanisms of HF in ATC, aiming to discover lead compounds for treating ATC and reveal novel therapeutic targets for ATC tumors. Methods A series of assays, including CCK8, colony formation, tumor xenograft models, and ATC tumor organoid experiments, were conducted to evaluate the anticancer properties of HF both in vitro and in vivo. Techniques such as drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS), western blot, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry were employed to pinpoint HF target proteins within ATC. Furthermore, we harnessed the GEPIA and GEO databases and performed immunohistochemistry to validate the therapeutic potential of the glutamyl-prolyl-tRNA-synthetase (EPRS)- activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4)- type I collagen (COLI) pathway axis in the context of ATC. The study also incorporated RNA sequencing analysis, confocal imaging, and flow cytometry to delve into the molecular mechanisms of HF in ATC. Results HF exhibited a substantial inhibitory impact on cell proliferation in vitro and on tumor growth in vivo. The DARTS results highlighted HF's influence on EPRS within ATC cells, triggering an amino acid starvation response (AASR) by suppressing EPRS expression, consequently leading to a reduction in COLI expression in ATC cells. The introduction of proline mitigated the effect of HF on ATF4 and COLI expression, indicating that the EPRS-ATF4-COLI pathway axis was a focal target of HF in ATC. Analysis of the expression levels of the EPRS, ATF4, and COLI proteins in thyroid tumors, along with an examination of the relationship between COLI expression and thyroid tumor stage, revealed that HF significantly inhibited the growth of ATC tumor organoids, demonstrating the therapeutic potential of targeting the EPRS-ATF4-COLI pathway axis in ATC. RNA sequencing analysis revealed significant differences in the pathways associated with metastasis and apoptosis between control and HF-treated cells. Transwell assays and flow cytometry experiments provided evidence of the capacity of HF to impede cell migration and induce apoptosis in ATC cells. Furthermore, HF hindered cell metastasis by suppressing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway, acting through the inhibition of FAK-AKT-NF-κB/Wnt-β-catenin signaling and restraining angiogenesis via the VEGF pathway. HF also promoted apoptosis through the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Conclusion This study provides inaugural evidence suggesting that HF could emerge as a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of ATC. The EPRS-ATF4-COLI pathway axis stand out as a prospective biomarker and therapeutic target for ATC.