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J Cancer Metastasis Treat 2020;6:5 I http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-4722.2020.13 Page 33 of 38

was discovered almost 100 years ago, it is still not known whether it is a cause or a consequence of cancer.
Interestingly, there are few studies investigating the association between the known carcinogenic factors
and the Warburg effect. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between carcinogenic metal
cadmium (Cd) and the Warburg effect in breast cancer.

Experimental procedure: We conducted an observational study on 100 women with breast cancer, from
whom fragments of tumor tissue and tumor-adjacent tissue were collected, in order to compare Cd
contents and molecular effect of the Warburg effect. In both types of tissue, we determined Cd content and
the expression of mRNA of HIF-1α (the key driver of the Warburg effect) and other proteins associated
with the Warburg effect (including glucose transporters, glycolytic enzymes, or kinases regulating
glycolysis). In addition, urinary Cd concentration as a marker of environmental exposure was analyzed. To
investigate the effect of Cd on the Warburg effect in vitro, we analyzed molecular and metabolic markers
of the Warburg effect (lactate concentration and pyruvate kinase activity) in MCF-7 cells exposed to non-
toxic, environmentally relevant concentrations of Cd for 72 h (short term exposure) and six months
(imitation of chronic exposure to Cd).

Results: In the preliminary study of 15 patients, we observed significant positive correlation between
urinary Cd concentration and the expression of HIF-1α, in both tumor (r = 0.80, P < 0.001) and tumor-
adjacent tissues (r = 0.75, P < 0.001). Cd content in tumor tissue was also significantly correlated with the
expression of PDK1 (pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1; r = 0.48, P < 0.001). Preliminary data analysis of MCF-
7 cell line showed that HIF-1α expression was also significantly increased upon Cd exposure (1-20 µM).

Conclusion: Preliminary results of this study may suggest a possible link between Cd exposure and the
molecular effects of the Warburg effect. Complete data analysis, including metabolic markers, will allow
formulating final conclusions.

46. The oyster can adapt to a harsh environment in the marine coast: does it mimic cancer

cells?

2
1
Charlotte Corporeau , Catherine Brenner , Nathalie Mazure 3
1 Team supported by the ARC foundation, Ifremer, Laboratoire des sciences de l’Environnement Marin (UMR
6539, LEMAR), Plouzané 29280, France.
2 INSERM U1180, Université Paris Sud, 5 rue J.B. Clément, Châtenay-Malabry 92296, France.
3 INSERM U1065, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire, 151 route St Antoine de Ginestière, Nice
06204, France.

Background and aim: The tumor physical microenvironment is extreme. Interestingly, the rocky intertidal
zone is among the most physically harsh environments on Earth. The oyster Crassostrea gigas, living in this
habitat, is among the champions of physiological adaptation to extreme environments. Our hypothesis is
that environmental adaptation of oyster cells can mimic cancer cells inside the tumor.

Experimental procedure: Oysters were challenged to three extreme environments in the field, at high,
medium, and low bathymetric levels. Biochemical analysess were done to identify the environmental
responses.

Results: At two times during the experiment, we sampled all the organs of oysters in the field, extracted
total proteins from flesh, and performed laboratory analysis, in order to obtain a rapid picture of metabolic