BRAF V600E /p-ERK/p-DRP1(Ser616) Promotes Tumor Progression and Reprogramming of Glucose Metabolism in Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Background: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) with the BRAF^V600E mutation is associated with a poorer prognosis. BRAF inhibitors may demonstrate limited efficacy due to emerging drug resistance. The Warburg effect may have cancer therapeutic implications. It is not known if the BRAF^V600E mutation is associated with altered glucose metabolism in PTC. Methods: This study examined the effect of BRAF^V600E and dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) on various cellular processes in PTC cells, including cell proliferation, migration, invasion, mitochondrial fission, glucose metabolism, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and apoptosis. We used RT-qPCR to assess the expression of key glycolytic enzymes in thyroid cancer tissues. Additionally, the regulatory interaction between BRAF^V600E and DRP1 was investigated through Western blot and immunohistochemical staining. We further evaluated the impact of DRP1 in PTC and the inhibitory effects of dabrafenib and 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG) in vitro and in vivo. Results: We found that the BRAF^V600E mutation significantly augments aerobic glycolysis while suppressing oxidative phosphorylation in PTC. We identified the BRAF^V600E/p-ERK/p-DRP1(Ser616) signaling pathway as a critical mediator in PTC progression. First, the BRAF^V600E/p-ERK/p-DRP1(Ser616) signaling pathway enhances cell proliferation by upregulating hexokinase 2 expression and thereby increasing aerobic glycolysis. Second, it inhibits apoptosis by promoting mitochondrial fission and reducing ROS levels. Moreover, we demonstrated that the combination therapy of 2-DG and dabrafenib markedly impedes the progression of BRAF^V600E-positive PTC. Conclusion: The BRAF^V600E/p-ERK/p-DRP1(Ser616) signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in glucose metabolism reprogramming, contributing to the aggressiveness and progression of BRAF^V600E-positive PTC. Our findings suggest that a combined therapeutic approach using 2-DG and dabrafenib has the potential to improve the outcome of PTC patients with BRAF^V600E.