SGLT2 is upregulated to acquire cisplatin resistance and SGLT2 inhibition reduces cisplatin resistance in hepatoblastoma

Abstract Background Cancer cells can alter glucose metabolism and regulate the expression of glucose transporters. Hepatoblastoma patients undergo cisplatin‐based chemotherapy; however, 22.3% of patients develop cisplatin resistance and thus face a poor prognosis. We hypothesized that glucose transporters are associated with acquiring cisplatin resistance with increasing sugar intake inhibiting glucose transporters could reduce cisplatin resistance in hepatoblastoma patients. Methods We established cisplatin‐resistant HepG2 and HuH6 cells by continuous treatment with cisplatin. We evaluated the relationship between cisplatin resistance and glucose uptake. We used an expression array to select cisplatin‐resistant associated glucose transporters and selected sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2). We used dapagliflozin as an SGLT2 inhibitor and evaluated glucose uptake and IC50 after dapagliflozin treatment in wild‐type and resistant hepatoblastoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Results We found a strong relationship between cisplatin resistance and glucose uptake. Additionally, SGLT2 was upregulated in resistant cells after cisplatin treatment. After dapagliflozin treatment, glucose uptake and cisplatin resistance decreased in resistant cells. Conclusions Cisplatin‐resistant hepatoblastoma cells exhibited upregulated SGLT2 expression and activated glucose uptake to survive under cisplatin stress. SGLT2 inhibition decreased cellular resistance to cisplatin. SGLT2 inhibition with cisplatin therapy could be a novel therapeutic strategy for cisplatin‐resistant hepatoblastoma patients.