CPT1A-mediated IDO1 succinylation shapes EGFRvIII-driven resistance to tumor electric field therapy in glioblastoma.

Tumor Electric Field Therapy (TEFT) disrupts mitosis in glioblastoma (GBM), but responses vary markedly among patients. In a retrospective cohort of TEFT-treated GBM, EGFR variant III (EGFRvIII) alteration is associated with shorter progression-free survival, prompting us to investigate a genotype-linked resistance mechanism. TEFT triggers a broadly shared bioenergetic stress response marked by activation of the AMPK-PPARα-CPT1A axis, whereas EGFRvIII primes IDO1 transcription through NF-κB. CPT1A further stabilizes IDO1 by promoting succinylation at lysine 377 through non-canonical LSTase-related activity, thereby limiting TRIM21-dependent ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. Accumulated IDO1 increases kynurenine production and activates AhR, which upregulates DCLK1 and ARHGEF2 to preserve spindle organization and microtubule dynamics during electric-field exposure. Thus, EGFRvIII converts a general stress-adaptation pathway into a selective cytoprotective program. Genetic or pharmacological disruption of this pathway restores TEFT sensitivity in established and patient-derived GBM cells, organoids, and orthotopic models. Osimertinib suppresses the EGFRvIII-NF-κB-IDO1 arm and enhances TEFT efficacy, while exploratory clinical cases provide preliminary mechanism-informed support for the combination in recurrent EGFR-driven GBM. These findings define a genotype-field convergence mechanism linking metabolic adaptation to mitotic protection and support prospective evaluation of osimertinib plus TEFT.
Cancer
Care/Management

Authors

Feng Feng, Li Li, Zhang Zhang, Wang Wang, Ma Ma, Wang Wang, Xia Xia, Zhao Zhao, Zhao Zhao, Zhang Zhang, Wang Wang, Zhang Zhang, Wang Wang, Hao Hao, Qi Qi, Gao Gao, Pan Pan, Qiu Qiu, Han Han, Liu Liu, Wang Wang, Li Li, Xue Xue
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