Isoproterenol Alters Metabolism, Promotes Survival and Migration in 5-Fluorouracil-Treated SW480 Cells with and without Beta-hydroxybutyrate

People with cancer often experience long-term physical and psychological stress, which can have a significant impact on tumor metabolism and treatment. The effects of adrenergic signaling on metabolic pathways are well known, but only a few studies have looked into the connection between this signaling and tumor metabolism. This study examined the effects of treatment with isoproterenol (Iso) alone and in combination with β-hydroxybutyrate (βHB), a mitochondrial fuel, on the metabolism, survival, and migration of SW480 colon cancer cells treated with 5-fluorouracil (5FU). The researchers measured the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) to determine the metabolic profile of these cells. They also analyzed the gene expression of PGC-1α, c-MYC, and NANOG to investigate the relationship between metabolic phenotype and stemness status. Scratch assays were used to assess cell migration. The results showed that Iso treatment increased cell viability in both SW480 and 5FU-treated SW480 cells. There was a significant decrease in ECAR and an increase in OCR after Iso treatment in both cell types. The expression of c-MYC and NANOG, genes associated with stemness, increased, while the expression of PGC-1α, a gene related to oxidative phosphorylation, decreased following Iso treatment. Iso treatment also increased the migration potential of both SW480 and 5FU-treated SW480 cells. These findings suggest that under stressful conditions, 5FU-treated colon cancer cells can utilize the oxidative phosphorylation pathway for growth and migration.