Glucose starvation suppresses gastric cancer through targeting miR-216a-5p/Farnesyl-Diphosphate Farnesyltransferase 1 axis

BACKGROUND: Fasting mimic diet is an effect approach for gastric cancer (GC) treatment. Exploring mechanisms of glucose deprivation-mediated GC suppression is required to develop novel therapeutic regimens. Farnesyltransferase 1 (FDFT1), as a novel target in basic research, has been reported to regulate malignant progression in some types of cancer. However, biological functions of FDFT1 in GC are still unclear. This study focused on biological functions of FDFT1 in GC and the association between glucose starvation (GS) and FDFT1. METHODS: The data derived from the Kaplan–Meier Plotter database were collected to identify the relationship between survival time and FDFT1 expression levels of GC patients. Bioinformatic analysis was performed to explore the biological functions of FDFT1. The expression levels of targeted genes and microRNAs (miRNAs) were detected with immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time PCR and western blot. Malignant behaviors were measured using cell counting, cell counting kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine, wound healing, invasion transwell assays in vitro and constructions of subcutaneous and lung-metastatic tumors in vivo. The glycolysis of GC cells was determined by a series of metabolites, including lactate acid, pyruvic acid, ATP production, rates of glucose uptake, extracellular acidification rate and oxygen consumption rate. RESULTS: FDFT1 was downregulated in GC and negatively correlated with pathological T stage, pathological TNM stage and cancer differentiation. High expression of FDFT1 also indicated better prognosis of GC patients. FDFT1 upregulation attenuated proliferation, migration and invasion of GC. miR-216a-5p was identified as a critical suppressor of FDFT1 expression and miR-216a-5p/FDFT1 axis regulated malignant behaviors and glycolysis of GC cells. GS suppressed malignant behaviors of GC by targeting miR-216a-5p/FDFT1 axis both in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION: This study illustrated novel mechanisms by which GS effectively suppresses GC. FDFT1 may become a potential prognostic indicator and novel target of GC therapy. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-021-02416-7.